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Publicis acquires US digital agency Rokkan
MUMBAI: Publicis Groupe has acquired 100 per cent stake in New York based full service digital agency Rokkan Media LLC.
This is the group’s third acquisition in New York, having earlier acquired stake in luxury advertising agency AR New York on 4 December and in Outside Line on 13 December. These acquisitions have been made as a result of Publicis’ strong commitment to growth within the US market and the rapidly growing digital sector.
Rokkan will operate as an autonomous unit within Publicis Groupe, and its co-founders — CEO John Noe, chief experience officer Chung Ng, and chief creative officer Charles Bae — will continue to lead the agency.
The name Rokkan comes from the Japanese word for intuition or “sixth sense”. Founded in 2000, the agency focuses its expertise on creating innovative campaigns with strong cross-platform appeal in e-commerce, loyalty programs, digital marketing, mobile and social media. Rokkan‘s core services include strategy and planning, user experience, visual design, technology, 3D and motion graphics, marketing, game/app development and emerging media. The agency employs 70 professionals.
Rokkan serves a list of brands that include JetBlue Airways (aviation), Nestlé Purina PetCare, Sharp Electronics, Bethesda Softworks (gaming), Chipotle Mexican Grill (restaurant chain), Caesars Entertainment (hotels and casinos), Dish Networks (satellite broadcasting), and Stolichnaya Vodka.
Noe, Bae and NG said in a statement, “This is a major stepping stone that will take Rokkan to the next level and beyond. We‘ve seen a number of potential buyers over the years, but it wasn‘t until we met with the folks at Publicis Groupe that we found a partnership we truly believed in. Joining Publicis Groupe gives Rokkan access to resources, capabilities and knowledge to better scale, grow and service our multinational clients. Furthermore, it will help support Rokkan’s aggressive plans for domestic and global growth. We‘re thrilled to be joining a company that believes in our culture, people and vision.”
Publicis has announced that it intends to transform itself into a ‘Human Digital Company’ and that 50 per cent of its overall revenues will be from its digital busbiness. In the United States, the group’s revenue derived from digital has reached nearly 50 per cent.
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Raymond Lifestyle appoints Kalpana Singh as CMO
20-year HUL veteran to lead marketing and brand growth from 5 March 2026.
MUMBAI: Raymond Lifestyle just stitched a marketing masterstroke because when your profits are feeling the pinch, you bring in someone who knows how to make brands irresistible. Raymond Lifestyle Limited has appointed Kalpana Singh as chief marketing officer (CMO), effective 5 March 2026. She will report to the CEO and join the senior management team, leading marketing strategy, brand development and customer engagement across the company’s fashion and lifestyle portfolio.
Singh brings 20 years of experience in brand building, consumer insights and category strategy, largely from Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL). Most recently she served as marketing director at HUL, driving integrated campaigns to strengthen brand positioning and customer engagement. Her earlier roles at HUL included Personal Care Business Group Director for the Middle East, Turkey and North Africa region, and Brand Development Director for the Middle East, North Africa, Russia and Turkey. She holds a Master of Arts in Sociology from Jawaharlal Nehru University.
The appointment arrives as Raymond Lifestyle navigates a challenging quarter. Consolidated net profit fell 33 per cent year-on-year to Rs 42.86 crore in Q3 FY26 (from Rs 64 crore in Q3 FY25) and dropped 44 per cent sequentially from Rs 75 crore in Q2 FY26. The company cited headwinds in its international business, particularly garmenting and B2B exports, due to higher US tariffs causing deferred orders and margin pressure.
The company is focusing on brand repositioning, innovation in marketing and deeper consumer connections to support growth in India’s fashion and lifestyle market.
In an industry where every thread counts, Raymond Lifestyle isn’t just adding a CMO, it’s weaving fresh vision into the fabric, hoping the right marketing stitch turns the tide one campaign at a time.
