MAM
Publicis Media unveils Spark Foundry India
MUMBAI: When Publicis Media struck the match, it lit more than a spark. The network has officially launched Spark Foundry India, a full-funnel media agency built on data, AI and a future-first mindset, marking another bold step in its rapid growth across the Indian media landscape.
Announced in Mumbai on 17 November 2025, the new agency strengthens Publicis Media India’s already diverse portfolio and reinforces its position among the top two media players in the country. Spark Foundry India enters the market with a modern, AI and data powered model that connects brand building, performance and commerce to deliver measurable growth from discovery to conversion and loyalty.
Niti Kumar, formerly chief growth officer at Publicis Media India, has been appointed chief executive officer of Spark Foundry India. Known for strategic clarity and strong client relationships, Niti now leads the mandate to shape the agency into a high performance, future looking media brand.
Meanwhile, Ravi Bhaya has stepped into the role of chief growth officer at Publicis Media India to build further momentum across the network.
Zenith and Starcom will continue to be led by Jai Lala and Rathi Gangappa, who take on expanded responsibilities under Publicis Connected Media. Jai will sponsor Connected CRM while Rathi will helm Connected Influence, bolstering the network’s integrated, data driven capabilities.
All four leaders will report to Lalatendu Das, chief executive officer, Publicis Media South Asia, who welcomed the moves and praised the strengthened leadership bench. He noted that the refreshed structure will deepen client partnerships and open new avenues for innovation in India’s fast evolving media ecosystem.
Publicis Groupe South Asia chief executive officer Anupriya Acharya, highlighted India’s decade of strong double digit growth and its emergence as a strategic centre for talent, innovation and transformative media solutions. She credited the leadership team for driving impact and reinforcing Publicis Media’s role as a growth engine for the Groupe.
With Spark Foundry India now officially in play, Publicis Media appears ready to turn this spark into a blazing streak of momentum.
MAM
Raghu Rai passes away at 83, leaves behind iconic legacy
Padma Shri-winning photographer documented history across 5 decades.
MUMBAI: The lens may have stilled, but the stories it captured will never fade. Raghu Rai, one of India’s most celebrated photojournalists, passed away on April 26, 2026, at the age of 83. He breathed his last at a private hospital in New Delhi after battling cancer and age-related health issues.
His son, Nitin Rai, revealed that Rai had been diagnosed with prostate cancer two years ago, which later spread to the stomach and, more recently, the brain. Despite multiple rounds of treatment, his health had declined in recent months.
Born in 1942 in Jhang, Punjab (now in Pakistan), Rai entered photography in his early twenties, inspired by his elder brother, photographer S. Paul. Beginning his career in the mid-1960s, he went on to build a body of work that spanned more than five decades, contributing to global publications such as Time, Life, GEO, Le Figaro, The New York Times, Vogue, GQ and Marie Claire.
His global recognition took a decisive leap in 1977 when legendary French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson nominated him to join Magnum Photos, placing him among the world’s most respected visual storytellers.
Rai’s lens chronicled both power and poignancy. He photographed towering figures such as Indira Gandhi, Dalai Lama, Bal Thackeray, Satyajit Ray and Mother Teresa, while also documenting defining moments like the Bhopal gas tragedy later captured in his book Exposure: A Corporate Crime.
Over the years, he published more than 18 books, building an archive that blended journalism with artistry. His contributions were recognised early when he was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972 for his coverage of the Bangladesh War and refugee crisis. In 1992, he was named “Photographer of the Year” in the United States for his work in National Geographic, and in 2009, he was honoured with the Officier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government.
Rai is survived by his wife Gurmeet, son Nitin, and daughters Lagan, Avani and Purvai. His last rites will be held at Lodhi Cremation Ground in New Delhi at 4 pm on Sunday.
With his passing, Indian photojournalism loses not just a pioneer, but a patient observer of history, one frame at a time.
