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Miq names Varun Mohan as chief commercial officer to supercharge India’s programmatic play
MUMBAI: From crunching numbers to cracking markets, Varun Mohan is now calling the commercial shots at Miq India. The programmatic media powerhouse promoted Mohan to chief commercial officer (CCO) for India, marking a bold step to consolidate its position in the country’s red-hot digital ad space.
Mohan has spent the last five years as head of growth & revenue, steering Miq through rapid growth phases with a blend of data muscle and business instinct. Under his leadership, Miq India became a magnet for high-performance campaigns and was lauded for industry-first innovations. In 2024, he was named one of India’s Top 35 Growth Visionaries by Indian StartupTimes.
Now as CCO, Mohan will lead all commercial operations in India, focusing on revenue acceleration, strategic partnerships, and assembling a next-gen programmatic talent pool.
“Miq has seen exceptional growth in India in recent years, which is one of the most dynamic and fastest-evolving programmatic markets globally,” said Miq co-founder Lee Puri. “Varun has been an instrumental part of driving and leading this growth, and his elevation to CCO is both a recognition of past success and a strategic investment in Miq’s future. Varun’s unmatched leadership abilities, combined with his understanding of Miq’s proprietary technology and deep market insights in the Indian digital marketing ecosystem have transformed how our partner brands and agencies harness the power of programmatic. As we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible, we expect Varun to lead the India team to greater success, further cementing our relationships with partners and strengthening Miq’s position as the clear leader in the Indian market.”
Mohan’s appointment lands at a key inflection point in Indian advertising. Connected TV (CTV) viewership is surging and platforms like Youtube are rewriting performance marketing playbooks—territory where Miq’s CTV capabilities are already making waves.
“India’s digital advertising landscape is at a critical inflection point, with programmatic adoption accelerating,” said Mohan. “Brands are no longer asking why programmatic, but instead want to know how fast we can scale it. What makes Miq truly differentiated is our ability to blend smart technology with local intelligence. I’m excited to lead our extraordinary team as we pioneer new innovations tailored for India’s diverse audiences and help our clients capitalise on emerging opportunities.”
Mohan now leads the charge on Miq’s strategic investments in tech, talent, and partnerships. As the adtech race heats up, Miq is banking on Mohan’s playbook to keep them ahead of the curve.
MAM
Coca-cola launches ‘Har Meal Aaaah’ campaign with Mamitha Baiju
Hyperlocal film turns parotta into ‘Parotaaaaaah’ to celebrate meal moments
MUMBAI: One sip, one sound and suddenly, every meal gets its moment. Coca-cola has unveiled its latest campaign, ‘Har Meal Aaaah’, aiming to turn everyday dining into something a little more memorable and a lot more refreshing. Fronted by Mamitha Baiju, the campaign leans into Coca-cola’s iconic “Aaaah” mnemonic that unmistakable expression after the first sip reimagining it as a cultural thread that ties together food, flavour and feeling across regions. The film, rooted in Tamil Nadu’s culinary culture, spotlights the beloved parotta, playfully stretching it into “Parotaaaaaah” to capture the joy of the perfect pairing.
Conceptualised by Ogilvy and extended regionally by Studio X, the campaign blends local insight with global brand cues. It reflects Coca-cola’s ongoing strategy of embedding itself into everyday rituals, this time, not through grand occasions, but through the quiet, familiar moments around food.
The idea is simple but sharply executed: position Coca-cola not as an add-on, but as an essential companion to meals. By tapping into hyperlocal food habits while retaining a universally recognisable brand cue, the campaign aims to deepen emotional recall across diverse audiences.
Early traction suggests the approach is resonating. The campaign has already sparked organic engagement online, with memes and user reactions amplifying its reach proof that sometimes, the smallest ideas travel the furthest.
At a time when brands are competing for attention in increasingly fragmented markets, ‘Har Meal Aaaah’ takes a different route zooming in rather than out. Because in the end, Coca-Cola’s bet is clear: if you can own the moment after the first sip, you can own the meal.
