MAM
MEC Africa launched; Monica Kambo to head
MUMBAI: Media agency MEC has officially opened its doors to a new Sub-Saharan network, headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya.
Following WPP’s move to a controlling stake in ScanGroup last year, MEC Africa has launched with a team of over 20 people and will cover 22 markets in East and West Africa, supplementing MEC’s existing offering in South Africa and North Africa.
Monica Kambo has been named as managing director of the new office, and will work closely with MEC’s international team, Global Solutions, in London.
MEC Africa will work with existing ScanGroup clients and with MEC international clients in the region.
MEC global COO and EMEA chairman Alastair Aird said, “Launching MEC in new markets is always exciting, so I’m personally delighted to be welcoming 22 new markets into the MEC EMEA family. Africa is a complex but fascinating region, with many great opportunities, so it’s a truly exciting time to be partnering with our clients here. With the support of our collaborative and experienced network, and with Monica at the helm, I’m confident we’ll be able to integrate the same rigour and strategic leadership to our work for our clients as we do elsewhere in the world, and that for us is key to delivering growth to them.”
Brands
Pocket FM elevates Lalit Gangwar to COO to drive global growth
Founding member to lead operations, monetisation and expansion across markets
MUMBAI: Pocket FM has elevated Lalit Gangwar to chief operating officer, tasking the founding team member with leading global business operations as the company sharpens its international growth strategy.
In his new role, Gangwar will oversee end-to-end operations across markets, including growth, monetisation and execution for the company’s audio business. The appointment comes as Pocket FM looks to strengthen its operating foundation and build a more predictable, scalable global business.
Gangwar has been closely involved in shaping the company’s trajectory from its early days. He played a key role in building the growth and marketing playbook in India, helping the platform scale to over 150 million users within its first year and establish a strong foothold in the audio storytelling category.
He later led Pocket FM’s expansion into the United States, where he set up teams, defined market strategy and drove scale, contributing significantly to the company’s international ambitions.
Pocket FM co-founder and CEO Rohan Nayak said, “Lalit has been central to Pocket FM’s journey from the very beginning. He has built our growth engine and scaled our business across markets.” He added that the company’s focus on nurturing internal talent makes Gangwar a natural choice to lead the next phase.
Gangwar said, “Pocket FM has always been driven by a simple belief that powerful stories can travel across borders and create meaningful impact.” He noted that the company will continue to focus on scaling markets, investing in AI-led storytelling and strengthening monetisation.
As COO, Gangwar is expected to bring greater operating discipline while building systems, talent and processes to support long-term growth.
With leadership continuity and a clear global focus, Pocket FM appears to be turning the page to its next chapter, one that aims to take its storytelling playbook well beyond home turf.
