MAM
L’Oreal India appoints Amit Jain as managing director
MUMBAI: L’Oreal India has appointed Amit Jain as a new India managing director succeeding Jean Christophe Letellier who will shift within L’Oréal group after a five-year stint in the country.
L’Oreal is one of the largest cosmetics company and has developed activities in the field of hair colour, skin care, sun protection and many others.
Jain will join the company from August this year and will be the first Indian MD after the French cosmetics giant entered in 1991.
L’Oreal South Asia Pacific Zone vice president Pierre-Yves Arzel said, “We believe that Amit’s rich global experience with a deep understanding of India, transformational leadership skills and inclusive personality will be an important asset in further developing L’Oréal’s business in India. His mission is to build on our rich talent base and global brands, to make L’Oréal India an engine for growth in Asia,”
Prior to this, Jain was the managing director of North-West Europe for Akzo Nobel, based in Amsterdam. Jain has also worked in companies including Coca- Cola and Viacom.
Under Jean-Christophe Letellier’s leadership, India saw significant sales growth, revolutionised digital and e-commerce platforms, and achieved ambitious targets in skill development and environmental sustainability.
The company, which is almost synonymous with Bollywood actress and its brand ambassador Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in India, face competition from global rivals Unilever and Procter and Gamble
MAM
Kenneth Roman, former Ogilvy CEO and ad industry veteran, passes away at 95
Longtime Ogilvy & Mather leader and David Ogilvy biographer leaves lasting legacy
NEW YORK: Kenneth Roman, the former chairman and chief executive of Ogilvy & Mather and a defining figure of Madison Avenue’s golden era, has passed away at the age of 95. He died on 22 April 2026 at his home in Manhattan.
Roman spent more than two decades at Ogilvy, joining in 1963 as an account executive and steadily rising through the ranks to lead the agency as chairman and CEO from 1985 to 1989. His tenure coincided with a pivotal period in the company’s history, including its acquisition by WPP.
Beyond the boardroom, Roman was widely respected as the definitive chronicler of the agency’s founder, David Ogilvy. His biography, The King of Madison Avenue, remains one of the most authoritative accounts of modern advertising’s evolution. He also co-authored influential titles such as How to Advertise and Writing That Works, both regarded as essential reading in the industry.
In a tribute, Ogilvy described Roman as a “quietly determined” leader and a lifelong custodian of the agency’s culture. Even after retirement, he remained closely connected to the firm, contributing articles, mentoring talent and serving as a trusted voice on its history and values.
Colleagues remember him not just for his leadership, but for his generosity and commitment to the craft of writing and storytelling. His presence at industry events and continued engagement with the Ogilvy community reflected a career that never quite slowed down.
Roman’s passing marks the end of an era for the original Madison Avenue generation. He leaves behind a legacy shaped by leadership, authorship and an enduring belief in the power of ideas and people.
