MAM
MTS awards creative duties to Rediffusion-Y&R
MUMBAI: Telecom services provider MTS has awarded its creative duties to Rediffusion-Y&R after a multi agency pitch. Saatchi & Saatchi was the incumbent agency.
The account size is pegged at Rs 2 billion. Rediffusion-Y&R will start work on the account from its Gurgaon office with immediate effect, the company said.
Rediffusion-Y&R chairman and managing director Diwan Arun Nanda says, “We are delighted to be chosen to partner MTS to make them an iconic future generation telecom brand in India.”
MTS is present in 12 telecom circles – Kolkata, West Bengal & Sikkim, Rajasthan, Chennai & Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Bihar & Jharkhand, Mumbai, Maharashtra & Goa, Delhi & NCR, Haryana, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Its parent company Sistema Shyam TeleServices (SSTL) has been allocated spectrum to provide mobile telephony services in all the 22 circles across the country.
SSTL is a joint venture between Sistema of Russia and the Shyam Group of India. Sistema is the majority shareholder in this JV with a 74 per cent equity stake; the Shyam Group holds a 23.5 per cent and the remaining 2.5 per cent is publicly held.
SSTL chief marketing officer Leonid Musatov said, “We are glad to have Rediffusion-Y&R on board. We have found an ideal partner in them, knowing their exceptional track record in the telecom space in the past, and the zeal and passion shown by their team. I believe we will be able to take MTS to great heights with this partnership.”
MTS claims it has over seven million subscribers in the 12 telecom circles it is operating at present. Also, MBlaze, the data service of MTS, offered in 84 towns of India, has over 0.25 million subscribers so far since its launch in November 2009.
Brands
Funskool India crosses US$40 million turnover in FY 2025-26
Toy manufacturer posts steady growth despite global headwinds.
MUMBAI: Funskool India has played its cards well turning challenges into steady growth while keeping the fun alive in the toy business. The country’s leading toy manufacturer has reported a turnover of $40 million in FY 2025-26, demonstrating resilience in a difficult global environment. The company recorded an average growth of 14 per cent over the past two years, with exports growing at a healthy 19% year-on-year.
While domestic business grew at a modest single-digit pace, Funskool saw encouraging traction in key categories such as Fundough (dough) and Handycrafts (arts & crafts).
Funskool India Ltd. CEO K.A. Shabir said, “We successfully navigated the challenges posed by US tariffs last year and continued to grow both our export and domestic businesses. Given the ongoing geopolitical situation in West Asia, we are currently working with a moderate growth outlook of 12–15 per cent, with plans to revisit our targets after Q1 once the situation stabilises.”
He highlighted strengthened partnerships with global companies including Spin Master (Canada), Moose Toys (Australia), Melissa & Doug (USA), Asmodee (France), Learning Resources (USA), and Buffalo Games (USA). The expansion of the company’s Goa plant is progressing and is expected to be completed by the end of the current financial year.
Looking ahead, Funskool expects a significant shift in domestic growth momentum for FY 2026-27, driven by new categories such as friction vehicles under the brand “BlazeTrix”, remote-control cars under “VoltRush”, and the addition of popular licences like Paw Patrol.
In an industry where playtime never stops, Funskool has shown that even in turbulent times, a smart strategy and strong partnerships can keep the business ticking along nicely. As it gears up for the next financial year, the company appears well-positioned to build on its solid foundation and bring even more joy to children worldwide.
