MAM
Sumit Negi joins Dentsu Impact as ECD
MUMBAI: Dentsu Impact, the creative agency of Dentsu Aegis Network, has further strengthened their creative function with the appointment of Sumit Negi as an executive creative director. In his new role, he will operate out of the Gurgaon office and will report into Anupama Ramaswamy, the national creative director.
Sumit’s key responsibility would be to take care of the creative output for Maruti Suzuki. Negi brings with him more than 18 years of experience which includes brands like Mortein (India and International), Microsoft, Telenor, Del Monte India, MAAZA, Samsung Mobile Phones, Grey Goose Vodka, Whirlpool, NIIT, MOTOROLA, Hutch, Hyundai and LG.
Commenting on the new role, Negi said, “Dentsu Impact is where things are on a roll. It’s great to be a part of an organisation which exudes positive energy. Cars have always fascinated me, and having to mainly work on a brand which has been a leader for decades, and is transforming itself, is an exciting challenge. Nurturing creativity to reach business milestones, is what I will be aiming at Dentsu Impact. Being a team player, I look forward to helping in raising the bar and adding to the spirited environment in this place which Soumitra and Amit have kept alive. With Anupama at the helm of things, it is going to be a drive on top gear.”
Ramaswamy said “Sumit is a rare blend of calmness and energy. He understands the automobile category and knows the pace of the account. He is talented, passionate, and at the same time mature. I believe he will help us in this journey of growing Dentsu Impact to new heights.
Commenting on the same Dentsu Impact chief creative office Soumitra Karnik added, “Sumit’s maturity, calm demeanour and the manner in which he leads his team is what sets him apart. His passion and knowledge on cars gives Dentsu Impact an added edge. We are very happy to have him and wish him a fabulous future.”
Previously, he has worked in various agencies such as HAVAS, Leo Burnett, Contract, Ogilvy, DDB Mudra and Grey.
MAM
Happy Pawdcast launches merchandise with The Souled Store
Season 2 success leads to co-branded line celebrating pet-parent bond.
MUMBAI: The Happy Pawdcast just gave fans something to wag their tails about because when your favourite pet show gets merch, even the couch starts feeling like a runway. Building on the momentum of Season 2 which reached over 14 million pet lovers, clocked more than 20,000 hours of content consumption and engaged over 23,000 users, The Happy Pawdcast has teamed up with The Souled Store for an exclusive co-branded merchandise collection. The line translates the podcast’s emotional core into wearable designs that celebrate the everyday bond between pets and their parents.
Hosted by Sonali Bendre and Icy Behl, Season 2 featured candid conversations with celebrity pet parents including Remo D’Souza, Diana Penty, Kubbra Sait, Rohan Joshi, Karan Wahi, Tusshar Kapoor and Amala Akkineni. The episodes tackled responsible adoption, stray welfare, pet emotional well-being and debunked common care myths, earning strong resonance across digital platforms.
Sonali Bendre said, “Season 2 reaffirmed how deeply people connect with stories around pets, responsibility, and companionship. This collaboration with The Souled Store is a natural extension of that bond, taking the conversations beyond the screen and turning shared emotions into something tangible for pet parents.”
Rose Audio Visuals head of marketing & branded content Megha H Desai added, “With Season 2, The Happy Pawdcast evolved from a content property into a strong, community-led IP. The collaboration with The Souled Store reflects our approach to building meaningful extensions around our shows where audience insight, brand alignment, and scale come together.”
The Souled Store co-founder Vedang Patel noted, “Pet parenting today is as much about identity and expression as it is about care and responsibility. This collaboration allowed us to tap into a deeply engaged, emotionally invested community and co-create designs that feel authentic and accessible.”
Produced by Rosepod (the podcasting division of Rose Audio Visuals), the merchandise marks the podcast’s shift from audio-video content into a broader lifestyle IP, while aligning with The Souled Store’s focus on pop-culture-led, community-first products and its animal welfare initiatives through World For All.
In a pet-parent world where love often comes with a leash and a hoodie, The Happy Pawdcast isn’t just telling stories anymore, it’s letting fans wear them, proving the bond between humans and their fur-babies deserves more than likes, it deserves to be flaunted.
