AD Agencies
Omnicom announces leadership for India as legacy giants fold into global networks
MUMBAI: Omnicom has thrown the dice on India, installing Prasoon Joshi as chairman and Aditya Kanthy as president and managing director of Omnicom Advertising in the country. The pair will steer operations from 1 January 2026, reporting to Sean Donovan, president of Omnicom Advertising Asia. S Subramanyeswar—Subbu to most—completes the power trio as chief strategy officer for India and chief knowledge officer for Asia.
The shake-up follows Omnicom’s absorption of IPG last week and the subsequent cremation of three legendary agency nameplates: DDB, FCB and MullenLowe. All three are being folded into Omnicom’s global triumvirate of BBDO, McCann and TBWA. FCB slides into BBDO’s embrace, while DDB and MullenLowe join TBWA’s ranks.
In India, the new structure leans heavily on home-grown equity. TBWALintas, BBDO Group and McCann will fly the flag, bolstered by the brand muscle of Lintas, Ulka and Mudra—names that still carry weight in Indian advertising’s collective memory.
The leadership shuffle reads like a game of musical chairs with purpose. Dheeraj Sinha takes charge of McCann in India, with Rahul Mathew overseeing creative. Josy Paul stays put at BBDO, though a refreshed team is promised soon. Govind Pandey and Prateek Bhardwaj will run the merged TBWALintas operation, while Chandni Shah becomes chief executive of the combined Kinnect and 22feet Tribal outfit. Rohan Mehta gets the brief for digital integration across the group.
Donovan insists the transition will keep clients steady whilst creating room for talent to flourish. The bet, essentially, is that scale and opportunity will trump nostalgia for the old marques.
The new guard takes the reins on New Year’s Day. Whether they can shuffle India’s advertising deck into a winning hand remains to be seen—but Omnicom is betting big that fresh faces and familiar brands make for a killer combination.
AD Agencies
Advertising Rocks Season 4 returns to Goafest 2026 with musical flair
Industry talent takes centre stage as music meets creativity at Goafest
MUMBAI: The spotlight is back on music and marketing as Advertising Rocks Season 4 gears up for a high-energy return at Goafest 2026, promising a louder and more vibrant celebration of creative talent within the industry.
Now in its fourth edition, the platform continues to carve a niche as a space where professionals from advertising, media and marketing step beyond boardrooms to showcase their musical side. Open to solo and duet performers, the competition will unfold across multiple rounds before culminating in a live finale at the festival. Shortlisted participants will also receive complimentary access to Goafest, adding to the appeal.
Each category will feature four finalists, with winners decided through a mix of jury evaluation and audience votes, making the experience interactive as well as competitive. The stakes are equally compelling, with cash prizes ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 1,00,000 across categories.
Reflecting on the journey so far, BBH former CEO Subhash Kamath said, “This will be the 4th edition of Advertising Rocks and every year, it’s become better and better. We have some amazing musical talent in our industry and what better stage to perform than at Goafest. I hope we get more entries this time and I’m really looking forward to hearing some fabulous talent.”
Echoing the sentiment, Havas Media Network India chief executive officer Mohit Joshi said, “Season 4 of Advertising Rocks perfectly captures the spirit of our industry, where creativity doesn’t end at the workplace, it finds expression in many forms. At Goafest 2026, we are excited to bring back Season 4, bigger and more vibrant, giving professionals a platform to showcase their musical talent.”
Registrations for the competition are currently open, with entries accepted until April 30. Participants are invited to submit their performances and take a shot at the stage.
Co-hosted by the Advertising Agencies Association of India and The Advertising Club, Goafest 2026 will be held from May 20 to 22 in Goa. With Advertising Rocks returning to the lineup, the festival is set to strike a chord that goes well beyond advertising, blending ideas with rhythm and a touch of showmanship.
