MAM
Publicis India appoints Amaresh Godbole as CEO – digital tech business
Mumbai: Publicis Groupe India on Wednesday announced the appointment of Amaresh Godbole as CEO of digital technology business. In this role, Godbole will be leading the digital experience and technology agencies Digitas India and Indigo Consulting. He will also be responsible for scaling up the Publicis Commerce D2C offering.
The role will report to Publicis Groupe South Asia CEO Anupriya Acharya and both Digitas India CEO Unny Radhakrishnan and Indigo Consulting MD Jose Leon will work closely with Godbole, said the company in a statement.
“The last two years have seen an acceleration in technology adoption and companies across sectors are grappling with the need to deliver more contemporary customer experiences and improve critical business processes,” remarked Anupriya Acharya. “We have an opportunity to accelerate further our unique digital technology offerings in India and unlock new avenues, bringing in exponential growth for clients. In Amaresh, we have someone who deeply understands the Publicis way of working and also brings an outside-in view of technology trends and the wider industry from his time with Google.”
Prior to this, Godbole was associated with Google India as head of creative and capability, and he also has a history of over a decade with Publicis Groupe where his last role was Digitas India CEO.
“In Digitas, Indigo Consulting and the Publicis Commerce teams, the group has formidable technology transformation offerings. I hope to use the unique vantage point this role offers to find synergies and reimagine our combined go-to-market strategy in light of emerging client segments and technology opportunities such as Web3 and D2C,” said Godbole. “The group’s Power of One approach will ensure we can offer these capabilities to all Publicis Groupe clients in India. On a personal note, Publicis Groupe has been like a second home for me and I’m excited to be back amongst people I’ve known and respected for a long time.”
Brands
Magnum Ice Cream Netherlands takes control of Kwality Wall’s India from Unilever
61.9 per cent stake transfer reshapes ownership as Unilever exits promoter role
MUMBAI: Kwality Wall’s (India) Limited has entered a new chapter, with The Magnum Ice Cream Company HoldCo 1 Netherlands B.V. acquiring a controlling 61.9 per cent stake from a clutch of Unilever PLC-led entities, marking a significant shift in ownership.
The transaction, completed on March 30, 2026, follows a share purchase agreement signed in June 2025. The incoming promoter picked up over 145 crore equity shares, effectively taking control of the company and being formally classified as its new promoter under regulatory norms.
As part of the deal, the outgoing promoter group, including Unilever Group Limited and its affiliated entities, has fully exited its shareholding in the company. They have now been reclassified from promoter to public shareholders, closing a long-standing association with the ice cream business in India.
The board of Kwality Wall’s (India) Limited took note of the ownership change and approved a series of leadership updates alongside it. Ritesh Tiwari stepped down as director, while Abhijit Bhattacharya was appointed as chairperson and additional non-executive director. Tahir Toloy Tanridagli also joined the board as an additional non-executive director.
The reshuffle signals a broader strategic reset as the Magnum-led entity looks to steer the brand’s next phase of growth in India. The transition has been carried out in line with regulatory requirements, including disclosures tied to the open offer and reclassification norms under market regulations.
With Unilever stepping back and Magnum stepping in, Kwality Wall’s India is effectively getting a fresh scoop of leadership and direction. The coming months will reveal how the new promoter plans to scale the brand in one of the world’s most competitive ice cream markets.
