MAM
Madison Media promotes Keswani as Sigma CEO and Banerjee as Infinity COO
MUMBAI: Madison Media has announced a few changes in its top management that start with the promotion of Madison Media Sigma COO Vanita Keswani to CEO of Madison Media Sigma. Further, current Pinnacle SVP Shekhar Bannerjee has been elevated to COO of Madison Media Infinity.
Commenting on the new appointments, Madison Media & OOH, Group CEO, Vikram Sakhuja said, “This is a great recognition for Vanita and Shekhar. Vanita has brought solidity to a diverse portfolio and has driven consistent client value. Shekhar in his most recent avatar had driven Mondelez to a world class account. Both these promotions are truly deserved and I wish them the best in their new challenges.”
Keswani has been with Madison Media for the last 18 years and donned various key roles and today heads a large portfolio of clients including Raymond, Piramal, McDonald’s, Shaadi.com, Pidilite, Indian Oil, Lodha, DHFL, Omkar, etc.
Bannerjee joined Madison Media as a management trainee in 2004 and has risen to the top over the last 11 years. He will be responsible for Godrej, Asian Paints and Marico businesses of the Mumbai office.
These promotions are part of Madison Next, an all-encompassing programme launched by Madison three months ago, that gets the agency future ready, focus on digital, empower youngsters, promoting internal talent to senior level management roles across units and focus on research, insights and big data.
MAM
BLR Airport Launches ‘Connections’ Service to Ease Transit Travel
New initiative targets smoother transfers as Bengaluru hub traffic rises 30 per cent.
MUMBAI: Missed connections may be a traveller’s nightmare but Bengaluru is trying to make them a thing of the past. Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR Airport) has rolled out ‘Connections by BLR’, a new transfer programme designed to take the friction out of connecting journeys. Built around three pillars ease, efficiency and experience,the initiative aims to simplify what is often the most stressful leg of air travel.
The move comes as transfer traffic at BLR Airport climbs sharply, up more than 30 per cent year-on-year. Transfers currently account for around 15 per cent of total passenger traffic and are projected to touch 20 per cent by 2026, signalling a clear shift in how the airport is positioning itself within airline networks.
At its core, the programme focuses on making navigation intuitive and downtime more comfortable. Dedicated transfer desks have been set up across terminals, supported by colour-coded wayfinding blue and yellow signage designed for quick recognition. Inter-terminal movement is being streamlined through complimentary shuttle services with predictable wait times, while designated transfer zones aim to reduce passenger confusion.
Beyond logistics, the airport is leaning into experience. Travellers in transit now have access to a wider choice of lounges, curated retail and food and beverage options, as well as sleeping pods for short stays. For longer layovers, transit hotels in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 offer boutique in-terminal accommodation, an increasingly sought-after feature as global travel patterns evolve.
The timing is strategic. BLR Airport now connects to 114 passenger destinations 80 domestic and 34 international with key routes spanning Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Pune domestically, and Singapore, London Heathrow, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur internationally. Recent additions such as Hindon, Bidar and Silchar within India, alongside Dammam, Hanoi and Riyadh overseas, are further expanding its reach.
Infrastructure is also catching up with ambition. Developments including the West Cross Taxiway, Terminal 1 refurbishment and Terminal 2 expansion are laying the groundwork for higher capacity and smoother operations critical for any airport aiming to become a serious transfer hub.
Bangalore International Airport Limited chief operating officer Girish Nair framed the initiative as both a response to demand and a forward-looking play. He pointed to the growing depth of the airport’s network and the opportunity to build a more reliable transfer ecosystem that benefits both passengers and airline partners.
In an era where travel is as much about transitions as destinations, BLR Airport is betting that a seamless connection might just be the journey’s most important upgrade.
