MAM
US ad, mkting trade groups urge Congress to pass spam law
NEW YORK: The American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA), the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), and the Direct Marketing Association (The DMA) have issued an open letter. This urges Congress to immediately pass national anti-spam legislation.
The open letter underscores an increased collaboration among the three groups to curb the growing spam epidemic and protect legitimate commercial e-mail communication. Last month, the AAAA, ANA and the DMA released a set of practices for businesses that defend and enhance the viability of legitimate e-mail marketing.
The letter reads, “Spam is a serious and complicated problem. It requires a national solution to protect the national marketplace. We, urge you to pass the CAN-SPAM Act (S. 877) or the Reduction in Distribution of Spam Act (H.R. 2214). Immediate action is required to go after the bad guys on spam and avert a crisis that will bring legitimate electronic commerce to a screeching halt.”
“37 inconsistent state spam laws and proposals for a do-not-e-mail list or labeling represent a knee-jerk reaction to the spam crisis. These approaches do nothing to reduce the intrusion of spam piling up in consumers’ inboxes. What’s worse, they mandate inconsistent standards that make compliance by honest businesses extraordinarily burdensome. If Congress fails to act, commercial e-mail communication—a promising vehicle for conducting commerce—will be severely injured. Based on the latest US Census Bureau data, some 12 per cent of the current $138 billion Internet commerce marketplace is driven by legitimate commercial e-mail. This translates into a minimum $17.5 billion spent in response to commercial e-mails in 2003 for bedrock goods and services such as travel, hotels, entertainment, books, and clothing.”
Brands
Pocket FM elevates Lalit Gangwar to COO to drive global growth
Founding member to lead operations, monetisation and expansion across markets
MUMBAI: Pocket FM has elevated Lalit Gangwar to chief operating officer, tasking the founding team member with leading global business operations as the company sharpens its international growth strategy.
In his new role, Gangwar will oversee end-to-end operations across markets, including growth, monetisation and execution for the company’s audio business. The appointment comes as Pocket FM looks to strengthen its operating foundation and build a more predictable, scalable global business.
Gangwar has been closely involved in shaping the company’s trajectory from its early days. He played a key role in building the growth and marketing playbook in India, helping the platform scale to over 150 million users within its first year and establish a strong foothold in the audio storytelling category.
He later led Pocket FM’s expansion into the United States, where he set up teams, defined market strategy and drove scale, contributing significantly to the company’s international ambitions.
Pocket FM co-founder and CEO Rohan Nayak said, “Lalit has been central to Pocket FM’s journey from the very beginning. He has built our growth engine and scaled our business across markets.” He added that the company’s focus on nurturing internal talent makes Gangwar a natural choice to lead the next phase.
Gangwar said, “Pocket FM has always been driven by a simple belief that powerful stories can travel across borders and create meaningful impact.” He noted that the company will continue to focus on scaling markets, investing in AI-led storytelling and strengthening monetisation.
As COO, Gangwar is expected to bring greater operating discipline while building systems, talent and processes to support long-term growth.
With leadership continuity and a clear global focus, Pocket FM appears to be turning the page to its next chapter, one that aims to take its storytelling playbook well beyond home turf.
