MAM
Starcom wins Nykaa’s media mandate
MUMBAI: Starcom has won the media duties of Nykaa, the Indian multi-brand beauty retailer selling cosmetics and wellness products.
The business was won as part of a hotly contested pitch, in which leading agency groups had participated.
Commenting on the win, Starcom India CEO Rathi Gangappa says, “Starcom, through its human experience approach and focus, will drive powerful, data-driven communications for Nykaa, a brand that revolutionises the beauty and wellness products business. Through innovative ideas and fresh thinking and insights on the brand, we demonstrated strong media value and will help Nykaa exceed its core marketing KPIs. We look forward to partnering with Nykaa on their expansion plans and are committed to their growth and success.”
On assigning the media duties to Starcom,nykaa.com chief marketing officer Hitesh Malhotra adds, “Starcom brings in a mature team that understands the periphery of beauty and the dynamicity of eCommerce – both of which are sacrosanct to Nykaa. In a fragmented landscape, where the consumer’s attention is split across multiple devices, it is imperative that knowledge of omni-channel messaging is delivered through the sheer power of media, partnerships and innovation. Starcom's valuable media inputs, experience and expertise will enhance our brand further; their hunger and start-up culture of collaboration truly mirrors our own. We are confident that Starcom will help us unlock new consumer connections and will maximise returns on our media investments.”
Nykaa is one of India’s leading e-commerce companies, offering beauty and wellness products. It also has offline presence. Today, Nykaa sells over 850 curated brands and 35,000 products.
MUMBAI: In India’s fast-moving payments race, Visa has just swiped in a new leader. The company has named Suresh Sethi as its India country head, marking a key leadership shift as it sharpens its focus on digital payments growth in the market. Sethi steps into the role following his recent exit from Protean eGov Technologies, where he served as chief executive officer. He succeeds Sandeep Ghosh, who has moved on after more than four years at Visa to pursue an external opportunity.
The appointment comes at a time when Visa is doubling down on its expansion strategy across India and the wider region, deepening partnerships and accelerating adoption in an increasingly competitive digital payments ecosystem.
Sethi brings with him a broad, cross-market perspective shaped by decades of experience across corporate banking, retail financial services, mobile money and large-scale government technology initiatives. He began his career at Citigroup, where he spent 14 years working across India, Africa, South America and the United States, focusing on transaction banking services within the corporate bank.
His appointment signals a blend of institutional experience and market familiarity qualities that could prove critical as Visa navigates a landscape where fintech innovation, regulatory evolution and consumer adoption are all accelerating at once.
As digital payments in India continue to scale rapidly, the leadership change underscores a simple reality, in a market where every tap, scan and swipe counts, who leads the charge can matter just as much as the technology itself.
