MAM
Rashmi Shetty launches Cohort Communicationz to redefine PR & branding
MUMBAI: The world of communications just got a new player, and this one means business.
Rashmi Shetty, a communications industry heavyweight with over two decades of experience, has officially launched Cohort Communicationz, a full-service agency dedicated to public relations, digital & influencer marketing, media buying, and content writing. More than just a PR firm, Cohort Communicationz is set to be the matchmaker between brands, influencers, and audiences who share common values and aspirations.
As founder & CEO, Shetty aims to bridge the ever-widening gap between corporate and personal branding. Whether it’s a startup looking to make noise or a seasoned executive wanting to build a strong personal brand, Cohort Communicationz promises to deliver tailored, result-driven strategies that go beyond visibility and foster meaningful connections.
If experience could be bottled and sold, Shetty would have a bestseller. Her career spans leadership roles at top agencies and corporations, including co-founding Storytellers 101, serving as senior account director at Edelman India, and handling PR & internal communications for Maharashtra and Goa circle at Bharti Airtel. This extensive expertise allows her to craft integrated communication strategies that make an impact where it matters most.
“Cohort Communicationz is born out of the vision to bridge the gap between brands, businesses, individuals, and the audiences they need to connect with,” said Shetty. “In today’s crowded digital and media landscape, it’s not just about visibility—it’s about relevance, authenticity, and engagement. That’s where we come in.”
What sets Cohort Communicationz apart? Cohort Communicationz is a 360-degree brand powerhouse. By leveraging digital innovation, influencer partnerships, and compelling storytelling, the agency aims to redefine the way brands and individuals engage with their audiences. Whether it’s CXOs, founders, professionals, or businesses, the goal remains the same: build credibility, create influence, and drive growth through strategic, high-impact communication.
The agency will offer both personal and business PR services, ensuring that every client’s unique story gets the attention it deserves. Expect thoughtful narratives, compelling campaigns, and digital-first strategies designed to cut through the noise and make an impact.
For those looking to take their brand to the next level, Cohort Communicationz is now officially open for business.
AD Agencies
Abhay Duggal joins JioStar as director of Hindi GEC ad sales
The streaming giant brings in a seasoned revenue hand as the battle for Hindi television advertising heats up
MUMBAI: Abhay Duggal has a new desk, and JioStar has a new weapon. The media and entertainment veteran has joined JioStar as director of entertainment ad sales for Hindi general entertainment channels, adding 17 years of hard-won revenue experience to one of India’s most powerful broadcasting operations.
Duggal is no stranger to big portfolios or bruising markets. Before joining JioStar, he spent a brief stint at Republic World as deputy general manager and north regional head for ad sales. Before that, he put in three years at Enterr10 Television, where he ran the north region for Dangal TV and Dangal 2, two of India’s leading free-to-air Hindi channels. The north alone accounted for more than 50 per cent of total channel revenue on his watch, a number that tends to get attention in any sales meeting.
His longest stint was at Zee Entertainment Enterprises, where he spent over six years rising to associate director of sales. There he commanded the Hindi movies cluster across seven channels, owned more than half of north India’s revenue across flagship properties including Zee TV and &TV, and closed marquee sponsorships across the Indian Premier League, Zee Rishtey Awards and Dance India Dance. He also handled monetisation for the English movies and entertainment cluster and the global news channel WION, a portfolio that would stretch most sales teams twice his size.
Earlier in his career Duggal closed what was then a Rs 3 crore single deal at Reliance Broadcast Network, one of the largest in Indian radio at the time, before that he helped launch and monetise JAINHITS, India’s first HITS-based cable and satellite platform.
His edge, by his own account, lies in marrying data and instinct: translating audience trends, inventory signals and client demands into long-term partnerships built on cost-per-rating-point discipline rather than short-term deal chasing. In a media landscape being reshaped by streaming, fragmented attention and AI-driven advertising, that kind of rigour is increasingly rare and increasingly valuable.
JioStar, which blends the scale of Reliance’s Jio platform with the content firepower of Star, is doubling down on its advertising business at precisely the moment the Hindi GEC market is getting more competitive. Bringing in someone who has spent nearly two decades doing exactly this, across some of India’s most watched channels, is a pointed statement of intent. Duggal has spent his career turning audiences into revenue. JioStar is clearly betting he can do it again, and bigger.
