MAM
Publicitas establishes presence in Japan
MUMBAI: Publicitas, the leading international media service company, has opened a new office in Tokyo on 15 April. Escalating its global footprint, the firm will be an important link between media brands and the local advertising market in Japan.
It represents international media owners in local markets, offering advertisers direct access to a premium, global media portfolio. The operations in Tokyo provide Japanese advertisers with print, TV, and digital media solutions along with premier OOH and custom events to reach their international and premier local target audiences.
Japan MD Hiroko Minato with support from India and Asia CEO Marzban Patel will head the initiative in delivering bespoke solutions to clients in the region.
Patel is extremely proud of opening its operations in Japan and said, “We have a brilliant team on the ground that will work closely with our regional and global experts to deliver the right solutions to our media partners and esteemed advertisers across media platforms”.
Minato said, “We are very excited at the launch of Publicitas Japan. Publicitas‘ worldwide network, wealth of knowledge, experience and premier portfolio of traditional and new media enables us to offer clients in Japan an unparalleled fully integrated service”.
Japanese businesses increasingly allocate a significant portion of their marketing budget to overseas advertising and bespoke communication, emphasising the importance of partnership with non-Japanese clients and overseas markets. Publicitas Japan is distinctively well placed to benefit from this new market development.
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.
