MAM
Publicis Media names Atique Kazi CEO & Gautam Surath chief strategy officer
MUMBAI: Publicis Groupe India has unveiled a major leadership reshuffle, appointing Atique Kazi as chief executive officer of Performics India and elevating Gautam Surath to chief strategy & transformation officer. The moves mark a new chapter for the digital marketing agency.
Kazi brings over 20 years of expertise in digital media, technology, and data-driven marketing. Reporting to Lalatendu Das, CEO of Publicis Media South Asia, he will focus on driving programmatic excellence, platform-led solutions, and transformational client outcomes.
Surath, leading the newly formed strategy & transformation team, will strengthen capabilities across influence, data, analytics, search, commerce, programmatic, and martech, while supporting a smooth transition for Kazi.
Lalatendu Das said, “Atique’s vision and experience make him an outstanding addition. Gautam’s promotion strengthens our strategic capabilities. Together, they position Publicis Media India for accelerated growth and innovation.”
Surath added, “It has been a privilege to shape Performics India’s growth. In my new role, I aim to integrate media, data, AI, and commerce to drive client success and support Atique during his transition.”
Kazi commented, “Performics India stands at an exciting crossroads where data, technology, and creativity converge. I look forward to building solutions that are genuinely transformational for our clients and shaping the next chapter of our growth.”
With this leadership duo at the helm, Publicis Media India is poised to accelerate its digital journey, deepen client impact, and set new benchmarks in the rapidly evolving marketing landscape. The appointments signal both continuity and ambition, promising an exciting era ahead for the agency and its clients.
MAM
BLS International launches #VisaReady campaign to guide applicants
Initiative targets visa myths, delays and rejections with practical guidance
MUMBAI: Visa woes may soon meet their match because paperwork, it seems, is finally getting a user manual. BLS International has rolled out a new awareness drive, #VisaReadyWithBLSInternational, aimed at simplifying the often confusing visa application process and reducing delays caused by misinformation and incomplete documentation. The campaign, led across social media platforms, zeroes in on a long-standing pain point for travellers: lack of clarity around procedures, timelines and requirements. By offering step-by-step guidance, documentation checklists and clear Dos and Don’ts, the initiative attempts to turn what is typically a stressful process into a more predictable one.
At its core, the campaign also seeks to bust common myths that frequently derail applications issues that often lead to avoidable rejections or last-minute complications. The idea is to equip applicants with practical, actionable insights so they can plan better and submit stronger applications within expected timelines.
The push will not remain limited to digital channels. BLS International plans to extend the initiative across its Visa Application Centres globally, reinforcing awareness at key touchpoints where applicants engage with the process.
BLS International joint managing director Shikhar Aggarwal framed the campaign as more than a communication exercise, emphasising the company’s attempt to embed guidance and preparedness into every stage of the applicant journey.
Operating in over 70 countries and working with more than 46 client governments including embassies, consulates and diplomatic missions, the company has built a sizeable footprint in visa and consular services. With this campaign, it is now leaning into education as much as execution, signalling that in the world of visas, clarity might just be the new currency.
