MAM
Rediff exits, Selvel acquires majority stake in OAP
MUMBAI: The Outdoor planning and buying company, Outdoor Advertising Professionals (OAP), is now controlled by Selvel Advertising, as the third partner Rediffusion-Y&R has exited the joint venture.
OAP will now be able to pitch for those accounts which were competing with Rediffusion Y&R’s portfolio.
OAP CEO Abhijit Sengupta said, “Rather one positive outcome would be that it will now on give us the opportunity to pitch-in for those accounts where we had restricted entry as they were competing with Rediffusion Y&R’s portfolio. We can also restart the dialogue with those advertising and media agencies which were in need of our services, which we kept in abeyance thus far.”
There will be no change in the day to day operations of OAP as for the last eight years it had been scouting, developing, and managing the entire client portfolio on its own.
Selvel Advertising chairman Noomi Mehta stated, “We at Selvel are very happy with the outcome of our association in the form of OAP. But from time to time the needs of each organisation change and different priorities emerge. Rediffusion realised this and wanted to do the right thing by exiting OAP and quit as equity partners. But I am sure the tremendous relationship we have built will survive and we will keep working together.”
MAM
Shoppers Stop elevates Biju Kassim as GSS Beauty CEO
Move comes as GSS Beauty scales global brand partnerships in India.
MUMBAI: From store shelves to global shelves, the beauty game is getting a sharper makeover. Shoppers Stop has elevated Biju Kassim as managing director and chief executive officer of Global SS Beauty Brands Limited (GSSBB), signalling a stronger push into the premium beauty segment. The move builds on Kassim’s role in setting up GSSBB, a wholly owned subsidiary that has quickly positioned itself as a fast-growing distribution platform for global beauty brands in India. The unit has been central to Shoppers Stop’s ambition of expanding its footprint in the high-margin beauty and luxury categories.
Chairman Nirvik Singh noted that Kassim’s experience across the beauty ecosystem and his understanding of premium and luxury consumers would help steer the next phase of growth. The focus, he indicated, will be on sharpening the company’s beauty portfolio and scaling partnerships with international brands.
Kassim, for his part, steps into the role at a time when India’s premium beauty market is undergoing rapid evolution, driven by rising consumer aspirations and increased access to global labels. He highlighted that GSSBB will remain a key strategic pillar, with an emphasis on expanding brand partnerships, enhancing consumer experiences and driving growth across markets.
As global beauty brands continue to eye India as a high-growth destination, Shoppers Stop’s bet is clear: owning not just the shelf, but the entire beauty ecosystem behind it.
