MAM
Nestlé India appoints ZenithOptimedia as AOR
MUMBAI: Nestlé India has appointed ZenithOptimedia as their media partner for their planning and buying in India.
With this, India, will be the 15th country so far for the Publicis Groupe to handle the Nestlé business besides, US, Canada, Australia, Spain, New Zealand, Germany, Portugal, Greece, Egypt, Hungary, Romania, Brazil, Philippines and Japan.
The assignment relates to Nestlé’s entire brand portfolio and the partnership will start with effect from January 2006.
The review for the media account was part of a global exercise undertaken by Nestlé on the parameters of leadership, effectiveness and efficiency in media management.
ZenithOptimedia CEO ,Ambika Srivastava, said, “We are delighted to have Nestlé in our client portfolio as it is one of the most prestigious accounts to work for in India as well as globally. We are totally committed to meeting the challenges of achieving media excellence for Nestle India.”
ZenithOptimedia CEO Asia,Philip Talbot, said, “Clients are increasingly recognising the true value that ZenithOptimedia can provide them through greater consumer understanding with Touchpoints and Insights DNA.”
He added,that, ZenithOptimedia will aim at providing Nestlé India with comprehensive solutions to all their communication needs.
ZenithOptimedia Worldwide CEO, Steve King, said, “The Nestle mandate is undoubtedly our most momentous assignment to date, for our Indian operations, which is just in its second year.”
King attributed the success to three main factors – the team strength, ZenithOptimedia’s proprietary tools and in Nestlé having a high degree of trust on the agency.
Brands
Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail reshuffles top deck; Nikhil Modha to take over as CFO
Phased transition sees Marco Agnolin head OWND!, Nikhil Modha lined up as CFO as company readies next growth leg
MUMBAI: Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail is redrawing its leadership map, lining up a new generation of executives across key roles as it prepares for its next phase of growth.
The company has named Suraj Bahirwani as chief executive (designate) of Pantaloons, effective April 1, 2026, with a full transition to the top role slated for October 1, 2026. He will also be designated as senior managerial personnel.
A two-decade veteran of the Aditya Birla Group, Bahirwani joined as a group management trainee in 2002 and has since held a string of leadership roles across retail and manufacturing. His resume spans stints at Aditya Birla Retail, a tenure as chief operating officer of Pantaloons, and most recently, head of global sales at the group’s cellulosic fibres business, where he drove international expansion and strengthened value-added portfolios.
Academically, he holds a PhD from the University of Mumbai, a postgraduate management diploma from SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, and is a chartered accountant. Over the years, he has picked up multiple chairman’s awards, including distinguished achiever, exceptional contributor and accomplished leader.
The transition at Pantaloons will be staged. Incumbent chief executive Sangeeta Tanwani will continue until September 30, 2026, steering the handover before moving into an advisory role to the managing director from October 1, 2026. She is set to retire on January 31, 2027, at which point she will step down as whole-time director and key managerial personnel.
Alongside, the company has brought in Marco Agnolin as chief executive of OWND! and senior managerial personnel, effective April 6, 2026. Agnolin arrives with over three decades of global experience, having held senior roles at Inditex, where he helped expand Zara in Italy, and later served as chief executive of Bershka and Diesel. His track record spans fast fashion, brand turnarounds and youth-focused retail.
On the finance side, Nikhil Modha has been appointed chief financial officer (designate) and senior managerial personnel from April 1, 2026. He will assume full charge as chief financial officer and key managerial personnel from January 1, 2027.
Current chief financial officer Jagdish Bajaj will oversee a phased transition until December 31, 2026, before retiring and stepping down from his roles.
The reshuffle signals a calibrated succession plan rather than a sudden overhaul, with the company staggering exits and appointments to ensure continuity even as it refreshes leadership across verticals.
As Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail juggles legacy brands and new-age formats, the message is clear: steady hands for the present, sharper ones for the future—and no pause in the push for scale.
