AD Agencies
McCann Worldgroup India announces key creative leadership
MUMBAI: McCann Worldgroup has announced key senior creative leadership changes: promotions, and inclusion of senior level talent, for its India operations.
Pradyumna Chauhan and Prateek Bhardwaj have been assigned the position of joint National Creative Directors. Both will report to McCann Worldgroup executive chairman and CEO and south Asia president Prasoon Joshi.
Announcing the changes, Joshi said, “As an agency we are committed to our clients’ business and do everything possible to bring the best and most cutting-edge talent onboard. These are carefully selected professionals in whom I have great faithand high expectations. I am positive that they will further enhance our creative product and add yet another dimension to the McCann offering.”
Chauhan has been with McCann for a year, and comes with over a decade and a half of experience across brands such as MP Tourism, Star Network, Airtel, ICICI Bank, Birla Sun life, Asian Paints and others.
This is Bhardwaj’s second stint with McCann. He has extensive experience in the industry across agencies and brands such as Sprite, Kinley, Chlormint, MasterCard, HP and Reebok. Bhardwaj co-founded and ran an independent agency, Eleven Brandworks, and brings along this entrepreneurial mindset, together with the exposure to big brands.
These two talents shall further bolster McCann’s creative prowess. “McCann has a stellar creative reputation, and I am excited with the new role. I look forward to taking the agency to greater heights,” said Chauhan. Bhardwaj added here, “Having worked here earlier and having seen the world I am certain that I can tangibly add value to our clients with the new responsibility entrusted to us.”
Other senior creative leadership announcements include:
Mumbai:
Akshay Kapnadak and Abhinav Tripathi have been elevated to the role of Creative Heads of McCann’s advertising operations in Mumbai. Denzil Machado will now head McCann’s Craft Excellence for Mumbai. This trio will be responsible for the Creative Department in McCann, Mumbai.
South region:
McCann’s Creative Head for South, Anil Thomas, will now have extended responsibilities as his role expands across South Asia, where he shall provide creative inputs and vision on a need basis.
New Delhi:
ECDs Ravinder Siwach and Kapil Batra will continue to lead their respective responsibilities.
AD Agencies
Publicis Groupe to acquire 160over90 from WME Group
Deal aims to build data-led platform linking brands, fans and culture at scale
MUMBAI: Publicis Groupe has agreed to acquire 160over90 from WME Group, in a move that signals a major push into the fast-growing world of sports and culture-led marketing.
The deal, subject to regulatory approvals, will see Publicis combine its existing Publicis Sports capabilities with 160over90’s global footprint to create what it calls a unified, end-to-end platform connecting brands with audiences through sport, entertainment and culture.
Founded as a division of WME Group, 160over90 has built a reputation for delivering high-impact campaigns across some of the world’s biggest sporting moments, including the Super Bowl, Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup. With over 670 employees across the US, UK, EMEA and Apac, the agency works with global brands to create experiences that resonate both on and off the field.
The acquisition reflects a broader shift in marketing, where sport has become a central pillar of premium media. With the global sports media market estimated at $150 billion and sponsorships crossing $90 billion, brands are increasingly looking for more integrated ways to engage audiences.
Publicis is betting that a data-led approach will be the differentiator. By integrating 160over90 with its own capabilities, including the Epsilon identity ecosystem and Influential network, the company aims to offer marketers a seamless way to plan, activate and measure campaigns across media, sponsorships, live events and creator partnerships.
Publicis Groupe CEO Arthur Sadoun said, “After building our industry-leading position in identity resolution, commerce, and creators, our next big bet is sport. In the age of AI, it has become one of the most high-value channels for clients.”
He added that combining 160over90’s expertise with Publicis’ data and technology stack would help “connect brands to fans in ways that are both meaningful and measurable”.
Echoing the sentiment, Publicis Connected Media CEO Dave Penski said, “Sport has become the most powerful intersection of culture, commerce and community,” highlighting the growing need to treat sports marketing as a measurable channel rather than just brand-building.
As part of the deal, Publicis will also enter into a strategic partnership with WME Group, enabling closer collaboration on talent, content and brand partnerships. WME Group president Mark Shapiro said the tie-up would open up new opportunities for talent and brands to scale their ambitions globally.
Post acquisition, the combined Publicis Sports entity will report to Suzy Deering, while Robbie Henchman will remain with WME Group to oversee the ongoing partnership.
The move builds on Publicis’ recent investments in the space, including acquisitions of Adopt and Bespoke in 2025 and a partnership with Magic Johnson Enterprises, underscoring its intent to dominate the intersection of sport, culture and commerce.
As brands chase both attention and accountability, Publicis’ latest play suggests the future of sports marketing may be less about moments alone and more about measurable impact at scale.
