MAM
Madison wins Essel media account
In a hotly contested pitch in which leading media specialists participated, Madison Media has won the Rs 1,000 million media account of the Rs 45,000-million Essel Group.
The size of the account has been valued at Rs 1000 million after factoring in the just launched Super Lotto on-line lottery of Playwin Infravest Pvt. Ltd. which contributes substantially to the billing, an official release states. Madison will also be handling the Zee bouquet of 13 channels as well as Agrani Convergence Ltd.
The lottery business in India is already very huge and is estimated to be worth Rs 500 billion. With on-line lotteries coming in, this business is bound to expand and Essel Group’s Playwin through aggressive advertising in press, television and outdoor hopes to enlarge the market and win a substantial share of the enlarged market. On-line lottery is a huge business globally with a market size of $125 billion and an estimated 80 per cent of the UK population participates in on-line lotteries.
The group companies have separately also decided to place all outdoor business through MOMS, the independent specialist outdoor unit of Madison.
Says Punitha Arumugam, COO of Madison Media (West) who led the pitch: “We will make media a key driver to build the various brands of the Essel Group.”
The big clients that Madison Media handles include Coca Cola, P&G, Godrej Consumer Products, Godrej Sara Lee, Kinetic, Maruti and BPL. Madison Media is a part of Madison Communications, which has specialized units in Creative, Media, PR, Rural and Outdoor.
Brands
Devyani International names Sandeep Anand, Robinder Singh in key roles
Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee businesses see leadership refresh from April
MUMBAI: Devyani International has strengthened its senior leadership bench with a fresh set of appointments across its key brands, Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee, signalling a sharper focus on growth and brand momentum.
The company has appointed Sandeep Anand as chief marketing officer and business head for Pizza Hut. His appointment, approved by the board via a circular resolution on April 3, follows a recommendation by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, as reported by CNBC-TV18. Anand will officially step into the role on April 6, 2026.
He takes over from Vijay Gogate, who currently serves as chief executive officer for Pizza Hut within the company’s operations. The move marks a strategic transition as the brand looks to sharpen its marketing and business playbook in a competitive quick service restaurant market.
Anand brings over two decades of experience across the food and FMCG sectors, with a strong track record in brand building and innovation. His career spans roles at major consumer-facing companies including Domino’s, Zydus Wellness, Zomato, GSK Consumer Healthcare, Reckitt and Ranbaxy, giving him a well-rounded perspective on both scale and agility.
Alongside this, Robinder Singh has been appointed business head for Costa Coffee and the company’s airport operations. He too will assume his new role on April 6, bringing more than 18 years of experience in operations, business expansion and customer experience transformation.
The twin appointments come at a time when Devyani International is doubling down on leadership depth to steer its portfolio through evolving consumer preferences and heightened competition. With fresh faces at the helm of two key verticals, the company appears set to brew up its next phase of growth with renewed energy.
