MAM
The Marcom Avenue appoints Nikhil Sharda as AVP – marketing
Mumbai: The Marcom Avenue, a leading integrated marketing agency, with its recently launched renewed 2.0 avatar, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Nikhil Sharda as assistant vice president as the first step in ushering change in the marketing landscape. With an impressive track record and deep expertise in operations and client management, Nikhil will play a pivotal role in further enhancing the company’s operational efficiency and driving its growth trajectory.
Prior to joining The Marcom Avenue, Nikhil’s impressive career journey included holding the position of vice president at Media Mantra, executive vice president at Scroll Mantra, creative director at FrogIdeas and Digital Evangelist at AdGlobal360. During these roles, he skillfully crafted effective go-to-market strategies for a diverse range of renowned brands, such as Comviva, Beardo, OZiva, ViewSonic, VNL, Jim Beam, TerraPay, Twitter India Marketing, Rajasthan Tourism, Maruti Suzuki, NEXA, Bureau of Indian Standards, BSB Edge, Delhivery, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, and the European Union and several others.
“We extend a warm welcome to Nikhil Sharda as our newly appointed assistant vice president,” stated The Marcom Avenue director Divanshi Gupta. “Nikhil’s strong skills and dedication perfectly match our core values of excellence. As The Marcom Avenue embarks on international expansion, his seasoned experience will fuel operational efficiency and strategic branding. This strategic move echoes our overarching vision of becoming the ultimate marketing solution agency. Nikhil’s role is poised to shape impactful narratives, steering success for The Marcom Avenue clients. We extend our best wishes to him for his new role.”
“I am excited to join the ranks of The Marcom Avenue, a company renowned for its avant-garde approach and unwavering dedication to client triumph,” commented Nikhil Sharda. “I eagerly anticipate collaborating closely with the adept teams here to elevate operational practices, fortify client relationships, and contribute to the continuous advancement of the company.”
Nikhil is also a published author and an independent writer for various online journals. His reputation as a results-driven professional endowed with a discerning eye for operational excellence precedes him, and his appointment underscores The Marcom Avenue’s steadfast commitment to perpetual enhancement and delivering unparalleled value to its esteemed clientele.
Brands
Amazon inks $30m carbon credit deal with Indian rice farmers
Methane-cutting farming push links climate goals with farmer income
NEW DELHI: Amazon has signed a $30 million agreement to purchase carbon credits generated by Indian rice farmers, marking one of the largest agriculture-linked carbon deals in the country to date and signalling a shift in how corporates approach climate action.
The agreement is being executed through the Good Rice Alliance, a collaboration between Bayer, GenZero, and Shell Nature-Based Solutions, backed by Singapore’s Temasek. Rather than dealing directly with individual farmers, Amazon is tapping into this alliance to scale the programme efficiently.
At the heart of the initiative is a relatively simple shift in farming practice known as Alternate Wetting and Drying. Traditionally, rice paddies remain flooded, creating oxygen-free conditions that produce methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide. Under the new method, fields are periodically allowed to dry, disrupting methane formation while maintaining crop yields.
The benefits go beyond emissions. The approach significantly reduces water usage, a crucial advantage in regions already facing water stress. For farmers, it also opens up a new income stream. By adopting climate-friendly techniques, they earn carbon credits that can be sold to companies like Amazon, effectively turning sustainability into a revenue opportunity.
The current phase of the project covers more than 13,000 smallholder farmers across roughly 35,000 hectares. Amazon expects the initiative to offset about 685,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, offering a measurable contribution to its broader climate commitments.
The deal is notable not just for its scale but for its direction. While many companies have historically focused on forestry or renewable energy offsets, this move highlights growing interest in agriculture-based solutions that tackle methane emissions directly. It also reflects the increasing sophistication of carbon markets, where even small, decentralised farms can be integrated into global climate strategies.
For India, the implications are significant. As the world’s largest rice producer and one of the biggest methane emitters, scaling such models could play a meaningful role in meeting climate targets while supporting rural livelihoods.
For Amazon, the message is clear. Climate action is no longer just about reducing emissions within operations. It is also about reshaping supply chains and ecosystems. And in this case, the path to net zero runs straight through the paddy fields.
