Brands
Online could deliver TV advertising: Starcom CEO Klues
SCOTSDALE, Arizona: The media-buying divisions of Publicis Groupe’s Starcom MediaVest Worldwide wants online media to be included in upfront buys and its CEO Jack Klues has called for more use of digital ad strategies. Klues gave this clarion call while addressing an audience of 500 online media buyers and sellers at the iMedia Summit being held in Arizona.
Starcom associates is broadening their upfront services this year to enable marketers to repurpose their TV advertising on the Internet, according to Klues. The owner of the world’s largest media-buying company mentioned that it was time to use online as a way to deliver television commercials for the clients.
Klues urged those who owned the most powerful pathway to consumers, that the industry has ever seen, to quantify it. He also urged online media owners to package their data and give media buyers a selling point they couldn’t refuse.
Traditional media strategists must work collaboratively with their online counterparts or risk being left behind as changes in the media landscape accelerate around them, was the warning given by Klues. He, however, conceded that many traditional and interactive media players consider TV to be a dinosaur which eats into budgets available for other traditional and new media.
Starcom CEO also admitted that offline might get more eyeballs but online gets the right eyeballs plus more immediate and measurable results.
Backing up his comments, Klues mentioned that research conducted by Starcom showed that young people view online news with better credibility as compared to that from offline sources. Starcom handles clients Nintendo and the US Army which rely heavily on online marketing programmes.
Brands
Radico Khaitan appoints Kunal Madan as chief marketing officer
Promotions signal focus on premium spirits, global expansion and homegrown leadership
UTTAR PRADESH: Radico Khaitan has elevated two long-serving insiders to its top leadership team, signalling a bold push into premium spirits and global markets. Kunal Madan steps in as chief marketing officer, while Sudhir Upadhyay takes charge as chief sales officer, both part of what managing director Abhishek Khaitan calls a consciously built next-generation leadership bench.
“At Radico Khaitan, our growth has always been powered by people,” Khaitan said. “True leadership is not imported, it is cultivated.” He added that empowering internal talent ensures continuity while keeping the company globally competitive and future-ready.
Madan, with over 20 years of experience across global sales and marketing, will drive brand architecture, marketing strategy, and the premiumisation agenda, including travel retail. Upadhyay, who has 25 years in the industry and was most recently national sales head, will oversee distribution expansion and execution across markets.
The leadership reshuffle comes amid Radico’s intensified focus on premium spirits, a segment driving higher margins and international growth. Last year, Ajay Kakkar was brought on to head the Premium On-Trade vertical, targeting modern and institutional channels to boost presence in high-growth segments.
Meanwhile, Amar Sinha stepped down as chief operating officer after contributing across multiple growth phases. Khaitan acknowledged Sinha’s role in supporting the company’s trajectory, while Sinha described his tenure as “an absolute privilege,” crediting Khaitan’s leadership for shaping the company’s strategic direction.
With a homegrown leadership bench and a clear premium agenda, Radico Khaitan is set to accelerate its global expansion while doubling down on brand elevation and market impact.
