MAM
Millward Brown appoints Surekha Poddar as MD
Mumbai: Brand media and communications research company Millward Brown has appointed Surekha Poddar as MD for its Mumbai operation. Poddar replaces Muder Chiba who has decided to leave the company to pursue other interests.
Poddar will report to recently appointed South Asiamanaging director Prasun Basu. In her core responsibility, she will lead the largest of Millward Brown’s operations in South Asia.
The company also has offices in Gurgaon, Bangalore, and newly-opened Dhaka.
Poddar has over 20 years of experience in marketing, research and strategic management from both, the agency and the client side.
Prior to this, Poddar worked as executive director of consumer research at Nielsen India. She has also worked with Bharti Airtel as VP market research and consumer insight. Apart from this, Poddar has worked in the capacity of VP in the CSMM division at IMRB and GM for Asian Information Marketing & Social Research (AIMS).
In 2005, she worked with Millward Brown as regional director for the company’s Asia Pacific region based in Singapore.
Talking about the appointment Surekha Poddar said, “I am very excited to have the opportunity to lead such a talented group of researchers and to represent a world leader in consumer insights in the Mumbai marketplace. The company works with some of the most respected brands in the region helping them to maximise their marketing investments so its a perfect fit given my passion for marketing, brand-building and consumer insight”.
Millward Brown MD of South Asia Prasun Basu said, “I am delighted to welcome Surekha to the Millward Brown family again. Her extensive experience will provide our clients and employees with a partner and trusted advisor who truly understand the important role research plays in building strong brands and making a meaningful impact in driving businesses forward.”
AD Agencies
WPP and Ogilvy top the global charts as India joins the creative elite: Warc rankings
A record five-year streak for Ogilvy while India secures a top five global spot
MUMBAI: The global advertising world has a familiar king, but a new powerhouse is gatecrashing the palace. In the latest Warc Creative 100 rankings, the industry’s definitive audit of excellence, WPP has once again been crowned the top holding company. Not to be outdone, its crown jewel, Ogilvy, has secured the top network spot for a staggering fifth consecutive year.
It is a “five-peat” that proves Ogilvy’s creative engine is not just running but purring. While many networks rely on one or two superstar offices to carry the load, Ogilvy’s dominance is a team effort across the globe. Hot on their heels is sister agency VML, which took the silver medal for networks, ensuring a WPP clean sweep at the very top of the podium.
The biggest noise, however, is coming from the East. India has officially vaulted into the top five most creative nations on Earth. Once viewed primarily as a back-office for production, the country is now a front-row leader in imagination. Driven by the brilliance of agencies like Ogilvy Mumbai and Leo Burnett India, the nation is proving that its work does more than just look good on a trophy shelf. In a market where every rupee must work twice as hard, Indian campaigns are blending high-concept artistry with ruthless commercial effectiveness.
The individual accolades saw Heineken toast to success as the top brand, finally knocking Apple off its perch. Unilever remains the world’s most awarded advertiser, proving that big business can still have a big heart through its work for Dove and Vaseline.
The title of the world’s most creative campaign went to Publicis Conseil Paris for their AXA “Three Words” initiative. By subtly adding “and domestic violence” to insurance policies to provide immediate relocation cover, the agency proved that the best advertising doesn’t just sell a service, it provides one.
The 2026 rankings also signal a shift in the industry’s DNA. The era of boring business-to-business marketing is dead, with B2B campaigns cracking the top ten for the first time. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence has moved past the gimmick stage. The winners this year used tech not for the sake of a trend, but to drive genuine human emotion.
Whether it is Paris providing a safety net for the vulnerable or India redefining the global creative order, the message from this year’s Warc rankings is clear. The best work in the world is no longer just about catching the eye, it is about changing the world.
