MAM
Mullen Lowe Lintas India’s Joseph George given additional duties for South & SE Asia
MUMBAI: Lowe veteran Joseph George, who is currently Mullen Lowe Lintas Group India group CEO has been given the additional responsibility to South & Southeast Asia regions.
George will report to Mullen Lowe Group global CEO Alex Leikikh.
George said, “I’m absolutely thrilled by the challenge of taking on an additional leadership role within the APAC region for the Mullen Lowe Group. Having worked within the network for over two decades, I clearly love the spirit: distinctive, entrepreneurial, collaborative and creative.”
George has been with the Lowe network for 24 years – joining Lintas Mumbai in 1991 and spending the next 15 years between the Mumbai and Bangalore offices. He took over as the head of the Unilever business in 2006, and successfully led the growth of that business and a few specialist marketing services divisions until his appointment as deputy CEO in June 2010, and subsequently as CEO in January 2011.
Leikikh added, “Joe is exactly the leader we need as part of our hugely dynamic Asia operation – he is a seasoned professional with a proven track record of growth. A key component of his role will focus on tapping into the resources of the robust India operation that he has built up in order to develop our hyperbundled offering across the Southeast Asia markets.”
George added, “I’m absolutely thrilled by the challenge of taking on an additional leadership role within the APAC region for the Mullen Lowe Group. Having worked within the network for over two decades, I clearly love the spirit: distinctive, entrepreneurial, collaborative and creative.”
Digital
After 22 years, Google lets users finally change their Gmail IDs
New feature ends long wait, keeps emails and history intact
CALIFORNIA: In a move many users have been waiting years for, Google has begun rolling out a feature that allows people to change their Gmail username without losing their emails or account history.
The update marks a significant shift from Gmail’s long-standing rule where users were stuck with the address they first created. Now, users can switch to a new username while retaining access to their inbox, files, photos and purchase history.
Google said users will not need to create a new account to move away from outdated or awkward email IDs, noting that all existing data remains intact through the transition.
The feature works on an alias-based model. The newly chosen email becomes the primary address, while the old one is retained as an alternate. Messages sent to either address will continue to land in the same inbox, and users can sign in using both credentials.
However, the company has introduced a few guardrails. Users can only change their username once every 12 months and are limited to three changes over the lifetime of the account. The new username must also be available and cannot be reused if previously deleted by another user.
The rollout has begun in phases, starting with users in the United States, with a broader global release expected over time.
There are a few practical considerations. While Google services update automatically, users will need to manually update their email ID on third-party platforms such as banking, streaming or social media services. Devices like Chromebooks may also require a fresh sign-in to ensure seamless syncing.
The timing of the announcement has raised a few eyebrows, given Gmail famously launched on April 1 in 2004. Still, references to official updates and statements from Google leadership, including CEO Sundar Pichai, suggest this is no prank but a genuine platform upgrade.
For millions stuck with legacy usernames, the change offers a fresh start without the hassle, proving that even in tech, second chances do arrive.
