MAM
Pop-up ads may soon be history
MUMBAI: While most of the times they are harmless and innocuous, the pop ups are nevertheless a constant irritant to net surfers. Yet the in-your-face ads have always worked well for the advertisers.
But looks like the advertising fraternity will soon have to look at an alternative and cheap mean to promote their fare. Microsoft, last week, confirmed that it intends to add pop-up blocking to Internet Explorer as part of its Service Pack 2 release, due the first half of 2004.
According to the media reports, Microsoft plans to include the IE pop-up blocking feature, and will gather user feedback before announcing further details. But the question is how effective will it be. The consumers already have plenty of access to pop-up blockers. Only if the company decides to turn it on by default that would effectively kill pop-up advertising on the Web.
The Nielsen//NetRatings found that the pop ups accounted for 7.4 per cent of all online ad impressions in Q3 2003, up from 3.0 per cent last year. The industry sources suggest that pop-ups share of the online media pie is more than double what it was a year ago.
Despite increased use, publishers and advertisers say they’re unconcerned about the prospect of an end to pop-ups. According to the advertisers only few pop-ups are as effective as the half-page ads. Industry sources indicate that Rich media and search are the drivers of the future.
Its only time before they are replaced by something more effective and tech sound.
Brands
Pocket FM elevates Lalit Gangwar to COO to drive global growth
Founding member to lead operations, monetisation and expansion across markets
MUMBAI: Pocket FM has elevated Lalit Gangwar to chief operating officer, tasking the founding team member with leading global business operations as the company sharpens its international growth strategy.
In his new role, Gangwar will oversee end-to-end operations across markets, including growth, monetisation and execution for the company’s audio business. The appointment comes as Pocket FM looks to strengthen its operating foundation and build a more predictable, scalable global business.
Gangwar has been closely involved in shaping the company’s trajectory from its early days. He played a key role in building the growth and marketing playbook in India, helping the platform scale to over 150 million users within its first year and establish a strong foothold in the audio storytelling category.
He later led Pocket FM’s expansion into the United States, where he set up teams, defined market strategy and drove scale, contributing significantly to the company’s international ambitions.
Pocket FM co-founder and CEO Rohan Nayak said, “Lalit has been central to Pocket FM’s journey from the very beginning. He has built our growth engine and scaled our business across markets.” He added that the company’s focus on nurturing internal talent makes Gangwar a natural choice to lead the next phase.
Gangwar said, “Pocket FM has always been driven by a simple belief that powerful stories can travel across borders and create meaningful impact.” He noted that the company will continue to focus on scaling markets, investing in AI-led storytelling and strengthening monetisation.
As COO, Gangwar is expected to bring greater operating discipline while building systems, talent and processes to support long-term growth.
With leadership continuity and a clear global focus, Pocket FM appears to be turning the page to its next chapter, one that aims to take its storytelling playbook well beyond home turf.
