MAM
Shashi Sinha to take charge of IPG Mediabrands India as Lynn de Souza quits
MUMBAI: A major change is taking place at IPG Mediabrands India. Shashi Sinha, the CEO of Lodestar UM, is taking charge as CEO of IPG Mediabrands India in a newly created post while Lynn D‘Souza is quitting the company to become a social entrepreneur.
As part of the new arrangement, Initiative, BPN, Reprise and the Outdoor company will all now report to Sinha. He will also continue to function in his old role as Lodestar UM CEO.
In a related development, D‘Souza, who has been serving as the chairman and CEO of Lintas Media Group, will be leaving IPG Mediabrands at the end of November. She will announce the launch of a pioneering new initiative for the development sector in early 2013. She is an old hat at Lintas, having joined the agency in 1995 to set up Initiative Media.
“We want to take this opportunity to recognise another IPG veteran, Lynn de Souza. Lynn, Chairman and CEO of Lintas Media Group
and an active participant in the non-profit space for several years, has expressed her desire to become a social entrepreneur. She will announce the launch of a pioneering new initiative for the development sector in early 2013, and will be leaving IPG Mediabrands at the end of November,” IPG said in a statement.
The formation of IPG Mediabrands in March this year saw IPG leveraging its number two position with more than 17 per cent share of the Indian media market. In addition to the momentum gained by the three media agencies – Lodestar UM, Initiative and BPN – this period also saw the strengthening of the digital offering, Reprise – a joint venture with India’s largest digital independent, Interactive Avenues.
Magna Intelligence was launched to further improve the group’s buying capabilities and IPG Mediabrands also brought its unique consumer panels to the market. With more than 16000 contacts in India alone, the consumer panels fuel proprietary tools such as Matrix.
As IPG Mediabrands India enters the next growth phase, the agency‘s forward motion will continue with the launch of IPG Mediabrands Analytics, and the renewed focus and energy on the IPG Mediabrands outdoor business.
Sinha, an IPG veteran of over 20 years, has rapidly expanded and developed Lodestar UM over the past six years, led the way for the foundation of many new offerings in the market, and has remained actively engaged in various industry forums. Currently, he is also the President of The Advertising Club.
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.
