MAM
Mattel toys India appoints Sanjay Luthra as MD
MUMBAI: Mattel Toys India Pvt Ltd has appointed Sanjay Luthra as its new managing director. The leading toy manufacturer in the world is a 100 per cent subsidiary of Mattel Inc.
Prior to being appointed MD, Luthra was the sales director of Mattel Toys India. As MD, Luthra will be responsible for the overall operation of all Mattel India brands including Barbie, Hot Wheels and Fisher Price. He would also be responsible for Mattel distributor operations in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives and Mauritius, says a company release.
While he was sales director, Luthra led several assignments on sales, corporate and brand strategies for the company. He has over 13 years of selling and marketing experience. Before joining Mattel Toys, he was associated with Escorts – Yamaha two-wheelers, Bausch & Lomb – Rayban Sunglasses and Business Standard, the release says.
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.
