MAM
Sanchayeeta Verma bows out of Carat India after a high-octane two-year stint
BENGALURU: Sanchayeeta Verma has stepped down as chief executive of Carat India, closing a chapter that transformed the dentsu agency’s standing in the country’s crowded media market.
Verma, who took the helm in July 2023, leaves after what she calls “a marquee period of bold pivots and meaningful impact”. During her tenure Carat almost doubled business performance, integrated creative and customer-experience units under the One-dentsu model, and pushed the network into what she dubbed the “algorithmic era.”
Her leadership brought a flurry of firsts. Carat popularised “attention economy” as a core media metric, built the Brand EQ Index to measure emotional connection, and unveiled the Media++ operating system to give clients data-rich, AI-powered planning tools. She also struck new alliances with e-commerce platforms to unlock what she described as “triple value” for clients, partners and the agency.
“None of us can exist in isolation,” Verma said, quoting her mentor, the philosopher Daisaku Ikeda, as she thanked her teams, media partners and clients. “To be aware of these connections, to feel appreciation for them, and to give back to society in a spirit of gratitude is the proper way for human beings to live.”
A recognised thought-leader and champion of women in leadership, Verma has spent more than 25 years shaping India’s advertising and media landscape. Before joining Carat she logged an 11-year run at Wavemaker, where she turned its south India operations from a loss-maker into a multi-city profit engine—growing media billings 15-fold and revenues six-fold—while later heading the ITC India strategic business unit.
Earlier, she built national communication-planning frameworks at Mindshare, managed key accounts such as GSK and Motorola, and led planning teams at Lowe Lintas and J. Walter Thompson. She began her career in the mid-1990s in product marketing at Kiwi TTK.
Verma, who has also served on advisory boards in education and civic-tech start-ups, has not yet disclosed her next professional move but remains a sought-after mentor and strategist. Dentsu, for its part, praised her “bold vision and collaborative leadership” and wished her well as Carat readies a successor.
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Sun Pharma to acquire Organon in $11.75 billion deal at $14 per share
Acquisition to create $12.4 billion pharma giant with global scale and biosimilars push
MUMBAI: Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Organon & Co. in an all-cash deal valued at $11.75 billion, marking one of the largest cross-border pharma acquisitions by an Indian firm.
Under the terms of the agreement, Organon shareholders will receive $14.00 per share in cash, with Sun Pharma set to acquire 100 per cent of the company’s outstanding shares. The transaction, approved by the boards of both companies, is expected to close in early 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and shareholder consent.
The deal significantly expands Sun Pharma’s global footprint and strengthens its position across women’s health, biosimilars, and branded generics. The combined entity is projected to generate revenues of around $12.4 billion, placing it among the top 25 pharmaceutical companies globally.
Organon, which was spun off from Merck in 2021, brings a portfolio of over 70 products spanning women’s health and general medicines, with operations across more than 140 countries. Its established presence in key markets such as the US, Europe, and China complements Sun Pharma’s existing strengths and growth ambitions.
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited executive chairman Dilip Shanghvi said, “This transaction represents a significant opportunity for Sun Pharma to build on its vision of reaching people and touching lives. Organon’s portfolio, capabilities and global reach are highly complementary to our own.”
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited managing director Kirti Ganorkar added, “This transaction is a logical next step in strengthening Sun Pharma’s global business. Together, we will become a partner of choice for acquiring and launching new products.”
From Organon’s side, Organon & Co. executive chair Carrie Cox noted, “This all-cash transaction offers compelling and immediate value to Organon stockholders, while positioning the business for continued growth under Sun Pharma.”
Strategically, the acquisition gives Sun Pharma entry into the global biosimilars space as a top 10 player and strengthens its innovative medicines portfolio, which is expected to contribute around 27 per cent of combined revenues. The deal is also expected to nearly double EBITDA and cash flow, supporting long-term deleveraging and investment capacity.
Sun Pharma plans to fund the acquisition through a mix of internal accruals and committed financing from global banks, while maintaining focus on disciplined integration and operational continuity post-merger.
If completed as planned, the deal signals a clear shift in India’s pharmaceutical ambitions, from scale at home to leadership on the global stage, with Sun Pharma positioning itself as a more diversified and innovation-led healthcare powerhouse.
