MAM
Rajiv Gopinath named chief product & solutions officer at Publicis Groupe
Mumbai: Publicis Media Services has bolstered its leadership team and elevated Rajiv Gopinath to the position of chief product and solutions officer. The company has also promoted Ajit Gurnani to chief growth officer, media services.
Gopinath steps up as a chief product and solutions officer from being a chief client officer at Starcom, where he has been instrumental in building strategic functions and upscaling the business. In his new mandate, Gopinath will be leading product development and fortifying the existing offerings while acquiring new products at Publicis Media Services. He will also be helping brands to strengthen their digital offerings, enabling data partnerships, data collection, research, and tools said the agency.
While Gurnani was spearheading the role of chief client officer at Zenith. In his new role as chief growth officer, Publicis Media Services, he will drive the ‘Power of One’ initiative with non-media entities and agencies of Groupe.
The new appointments are part of the agency’s goal to realign its media capabilities and strengthen its growth vertical to create a single-minded focus on new business development. The structure is strategically built to encompass clients and drive the synergies between data, tech, and digital to deliver scaled media solutions, the agency said in a statement.
Publicis Media Services CEO, Tanmay Mohanty, said, “I am delighted to have Rajiv Gopinath and Ajit Gurnani as a part of Publicis Media Services. Their deep understanding of data, digital, tech, and media tied with a proven track record in business growth will help us in the realignment of our media services. In our continuous efforts to strengthen our team, we are confident that Rajiv and Ajit’s expertise and vast experience will add significant value to the organization.”
MAM
Sameer Nair steps down as CEO of Applause Entertainment
Veteran media executive exits after a decade at the Aditya Birla Group-backed studio.
MUMBAI: After a decade of calling the shots, Sameer Nair is taking a bow from Applause Entertainment. The veteran industry leader and CEO of the prominent content studio is stepping down from his role, according to sources familiar with the development. This marks a significant leadership transition at one of India’s key players in the television and digital content space.
Applause Entertainment, part of the Aditya Birla Group, has built a strong reputation under Nair’s leadership for its high-quality adaptations of international formats and a slate of original series across OTT platforms. Nair, who joined the company a decade ago, was instrumental in shaping its growth and positioning it as a notable force in India’s evolving streaming landscape.
Prior to Applause, he held senior roles at major media organisations, including Star India, where he played a pivotal part in the launch of the iconic show Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2000. He also worked with Balaji Telefilms and NDTV Imagine.
It remains unclear who will succeed Nair or what his next professional move will be. Queries sent to Nair did not receive a response, and Applause Entertainment declined to comment on the matter.
His exit comes at a time when the Indian content ecosystem is undergoing rapid changes, with streaming platforms recalibrating investments, focusing on profitability, and adjusting content strategies amid shifting viewer preferences and increasing competition.
Industry insiders suggest the transition could signal a strategic reset for Applause as it navigates the next phase of growth.
In the fast-paced world of Indian entertainment, where hits can fade as quickly as they rise, Sameer Nair has enjoyed a remarkably steady and influential run. As he steps off the stage at Applause, the spotlight now turns to what comes next for both the executive and the studio he helped build.
