MAM
Virtue Worldwide appoints Saumya Baijal as director of brand strategy
Mumbai: Virtue Worldwide, a new-age creative agency powered by VICE Media Group announces the appointment of Saumya Baijal as Director of Brand Strategy, further strengthening its leadership team in India. Virtue specialises in helping brands discover an authentic voice at the epicentre of culture. With a presence in 17 cities across 13 countries, Virtue operates as a ‘borderless’ agency, putting together bespoke teams with diverse skills, backgrounds, and perspectives to drive creativity and innovation.
Saumya Baijal brings a wealth of multifaceted experience to Virtue. Renowned for her roles as a feminist, ad woman, bilingual writer, storyteller, poet, radio presenter, theatre personality, and activist, Saumya has held prominent positions in major advertising networks including Ogilvy, McCann Erickson, and MullenLowe Lintas Group. Her portfolio includes impactful collaborations with esteemed brands such as Absolut, Google, and Fabindia. Saumya has also served on the jury of the Effies for several years and has been an integral part of the Laadli Media Awards for Hindi Journalism jury since 2021.
Virtue APAC head of strategy Huiwen Tow shared her thoughts on Saumya’s appointment, stating, “In a world that is more divided than ever before, Saumya is one of those rare individuals that sees the world, not for what it is, but what it can be. She is a force of nature, unafraid to confront the real or challenge the status quo to move the conversation forward in culture. We are beyond ecstatic to have her with the Virtue India leadership team to take us into our next era of growth in India.”
In response to her new role, Saumya Baijal, the newly appointed Brand Strategy Lead, India commented, “I am very excited to be a part of Virtue. The idea of diving deep into constantly evolving culture, extracting the insight, and then giving it a distinct flavour, is a very very interesting challenge. In a world that changes so quickly and so drastically, finding anchors for a brand, embedded in culture, is not only important but necessary. Virtue understands this, and I can’t wait to explore more with the very talented team that has already set up a young, energetic, spirited place, committed to the same endeavour.”
Virtue Worldwide is making significant strides in the Indian advertising arena, enhancing its team and leadership. The company is committed to pushing boundaries, embracing innovation, and forming strong partnerships. They have teamed up with notable brands such as Diageo, poppi, Delta, Vanguard, P&G, General Mills, H&M, Volkswagen, McDonald’s, eToro, Red Bull, and Converse. Virtue is also the creative force behind award-winning campaigns including Backup Ukraine, Weedmaps’ Museum of Weed, Dove’s Dear Future Dads, Q the Genderless Voice, and Carlings adDRESS the Future. At Virtue, they believe in appointing team members not only based on their experience but also on the unique talents and perspectives they bring to the table, nurturing a culture of diversity and innovation.
Brands
Magellanic Cloud names Syed Ameeruddin CEO of e-surveillance arm
Keeping a sharper eye on the future, Magellanic Cloud is putting a seasoned watcher in charge.
MUMBAI – Magellanic Cloud Ltd. has elevated Syed Ameeruddin as Chief Executive Officer of its e-surveillance business, bringing its iVIS and Provigil operations under a unified leadership to accelerate growth in intelligent monitoring and infrastructure solutions.
Ameeruddin, a nearly two-decade veteran of the company, steps into the role after leading the e-surveillance vertical. His career trajectory—from Business Development Manager to the top of the vertical—reflects a steady climb built on operational depth, client engagement, and strategic execution across multiple subsidiaries.
Over the years, he has played a central role in expanding the company’s footprint, strengthening client relationships, and streamlining operations. He has also been instrumental in integrating acquisitions, helping align new businesses with Magellanic Cloud’s long-term strategy while stabilising performance across diverse domains.
More recently, Ameeruddin has contributed to securing key mandates spanning railways, the National Highways Authority of India, and the BFSI sector—wins that have bolstered the company’s order book and deepened its presence in critical infrastructure.
Commenting on the move, Joseph Sudheer Thumma said Ameeruddin’s leadership has been “pivotal in shaping the e-surveillance business,” citing his ability to drive growth, build teams, and deliver strategic wins as key to the company’s journey. His elevation, Thumma added, is expected to further accelerate expansion in AI-driven surveillance and infrastructure solutions.
The transition comes as demand surges for AI-enabled monitoring, centralised command systems, and large-scale deployments across mission-critical environments. Magellanic Cloud’s e-surveillance segment—anchored by iVIS and Provigil—has emerged as a significant growth engine, delivering projects across banking, transport, highways, and public infrastructure.
In his new role, Ameeruddin will focus on scaling platform capabilities, expanding deployments in complex environments, and developing integrated solutions that enhance real-time intelligence and operational resilience. He will continue to serve as Chief Operating Officer of the company alongside his new responsibilities.
With this leadership shift, Magellanic Cloud is doubling down on its ambition to stay ahead in India’s rapidly evolving surveillance ecosystem—where seeing, increasingly, is not just believing, but predicting.
