MAM
Starcom MediaVest Group announces two key hires
MUMBAI: Starcom MediaVest Group has announced a couple of management changes and key appointments to strengthen the organisation.
The media agency has appointed Gerald Roche as VP for the south division operating out of Banglore and Sameer Kapoor as VP at their Gurgaon office.
Sameer Kapoor – Vice President Starcom Worldwide Gurgaon
This announcement comes in the wake of SMG solidifying its position as an employer of choice and is a step towards becoming the leading Media Agency in the country.
Starcom MediaVest Group India CEO Mallikarjunadas CR said, “The appointments of Sameer and Gerald reflect SMG‘s commitment to attracting the best and brightest talent to our agency.”
“Sameer and Gerald are reliable leaders with robust backgrounds in business development and client relationship management. They will fit very well within our strongly established client-driven culture and we are sure they will continue their successful runs with us,” added Mallikarjunadas.
On his appointment Roche said “I‘m truly delighted and encouraged that SMG, anchored by its analytics resources, has digital (and not just television) at the front and center of its media planning and I look forward to contributing to this team effort in no small measure”
Gerald Roche – Vice President Starcom Worldwide South
Prior to Starcom, Roche was heading the Media buying division for Madison Media Infinity and Platinum Media. In a career spanning over fifteen years he has worked with Sony Entertainment Television, Dubai Outdoor Media, Mindshare, Carat Media Services, OMD Dubai, Bozell Prime Dubai.
He has handled different clients in his earlier stints like Asian Paints, Axis Bank, Bharti AXA Life Insurance, Britannia Industries, Cadbury / Kraft Foods India, IDFC, Marico, McDonald‘s India, Tata Chemicals and Turner Television (Imagine TV).
Kapoor on the other hand brings to the table his decade long experience, he has worked with Madison Media Plus, Madison media, Initiative media, Optimum media solutions and Universal McCann with the various clients – Hyundai, General Motors , Maruti, Bharti Airteland Bacardi Martini. He will be heading Samsung for Starcom in his new stint.
“I look forward to working with a great organisation and a great client like Samsung. Starcom is going from strength to strength; I‘m excited to be a part of this growth oriented organisation and being present while we achieve greater heights of success,” said Kapoor.
Brands
Buffett bets on The New York Times, cuts Amazon stake
Berkshire invests $352 million in NYT, trims tech, and backs insurance, energy and consumer stocks.
OMAHA: Warren Buffett is famously a creature of habit, but his latest portfolio shake-up suggests even the world’s most patient investor knows when to change the channel. In a move that has sent the media world into a frenzy, Berkshire Hathaway has officially checked into The New York Times while largely checking out of Amazon.
Buffett’s firm snapped up roughly 5.1 million shares in The New York Times Company, a stake valued at a cool $352 million. The Buffett effect was immediate: shares in the publishing giant jumped more than 10 per cent as investors scrambled to follow the leader.
While Buffett offloaded his traditional local newspapers back in 2020, this isn’t a nostalgic trip to the printing press. The New York Times is now a digital powerhouse, fueled by a buffet of subscriptions covering everything from breaking news to Wordle and recipes. It seems the sage of Omaha still has an appetite for businesses with pricing power and a loyal following.
Berkshire slashed its holdings in Amazon by nearly 75 per cent during the final quarter of the year. Once a rare foray into the world of big tech for Buffett, the firm now holds a relatively modest 2.3 million shares. The pruning did not stop there, as other household names also saw a haircut. Apple was reduced to a 1.5 per cent position, while Bank of America was trimmed to 7.1 per cent, signalling a broader pullback from some of its large financial and technology bets.
So, where is the money going? It appears Buffett is heading back to basics, favoring sectors that can weather a storm. Berkshire boosted its positions in Chubb, doubling down on the steady world of insurance; Chevron, fueling up on energy; and Domino’s Pizza, a classic consumer bet that delivers even when the economy doesn’t.
By pivoting toward resilient industries and subscription-heavy media, Berkshire is returning to its roots: finding companies that people simply cannot live without, whether they are hungry for a slice of pepperoni or the morning headlines.
