Brands
Publicis India, MMT part ways
MUMBAI: In a recent announcement, Publicis India and MakeMyTrip (MMT) have agreed to mutually part ways. This will also include the end of the agency’s journey with Goibibo, which was acquired by MMT. Details of the transition are still being worked out and the agency will be releasing the last few works for the brand very soon.
MakeMyTrip group chief marketing officer Saujanya Shrivastava says, “Publicis has been a commendable creative partner to us. As we reviewed the way forward, we mutually agreed to part ways as it is now time for us to discover a new approach to branding. I thank Publicis for their contribution, and wish them the very best for their future endeavours.”
Publicis India managing director Srija Chatterjee adds, “This brand-agency partnership was iconic in more ways than one. We harnessed and built the brand for more than three years, and jointly established MakeMyTrip and Goibibo as one of the leading brands in India with a differentiated and strong equity with consumers. The final outcome notwithstanding, for factors beyond our control, it was necessary that the partnership be reviewed from a different lens. We are happy with the way the relationship has turned out for us and we wish the team all the success for the future.”
In India, Publicis currently works with an impressive array of clients that include Nestle, Citibank, Zee, Garnier, Heineken, Nerolac, Skoda, Malaysia Tourism, HDFC Mutual Funds, among others.
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.
