GECs
Cohn & Wolfe India appoints Rafi Khan as CEO
MUMBAI: Cohn & Wolfe today announced that Rafi Khan has joined Cohn & Wolfe India (CWI) as its CEO. Khan who takes over with immediate effect will be responsible for all operations in India, providing strategic leadership and direction for business growth. He will focus on key client relationships while building the business in a sustainable and profitable manner in line with CWI strategy.
Khan will report to Cohn & Wolfe CEO Donna Imperato and be supported by Megha Sharma, who oversees the Delhi office.
Khan has over 19 years of work experience and has been steering pan India media management, corporate and marketing communication, brand creation/re-positioning, image turnaround, entry strategy, crisis management, events and product launches, social media as well as internal communication. He has worked with several high profile national and international brands such as Max India Group – Max Healthcare, Max Bupa, Max India and Antara Senior Living Ltd., Mahindra Comviva, Etisalat, American Express, Homeshop18, Yahoo, TripAdvisor, Virgin Mobile, Goodyear, WeChat, International Cricket Council, Ten Sports and Hewitt Associates among others.
Formerly, Khan was the deputy managing consultant at Text100 India, responsible for the Northern region, where he spent six years. He has also held several positions of leadership in his career such as head of communications for D S Constructions, one of the largest infrastructure developers in India; head of infrastructure advisory and director eastern region at Image Inc. (A part of the Perfect Relations Group). An economics bachelors holder from Allahabad University, Khan started his career as an entrepreneur with his own business venture, which he successfully ran for seven years and later sold to a large multinational.
“Rafi brings a valuable mix of agency operational and corporate leadership experience to our growing offer in India. His brand marketing expertise will prove indispensible in creating successful strategies for both local and multi-national companies,” said Imperato.
Cohn & Wolfe started its India operations in June 2012 and has offices in Delhi and Mumbai and a strong affiliate network across India. CWI team has extensive experience in key domains including corporate, lifestyle, consumer, corporate social responsibility and social media domain.
GECs
Pocket FM partners with Indian Open Pickleball 2026
Audio platform joins forces with major tournament to engage young fans.
MUMBAI: Pocket FM just served up a perfect partnership because when audio storytelling meets pickleball’s fast-paced rallies, even the sidelines start listening. Pocket FM, the world’s largest audio series platform, has announced a strategic partnership with Indian Open 2026, one of India’s biggest pickleball tournaments organised by Global Sports in Hyderabad in association with Pickl’Out and Crosscourts Sports Club.
The collaboration brings Pocket FM’s immersive storytelling to one of the fastest-growing emerging sports in India. Pickleball, known for its accessibility, energy and strong community appeal, is rapidly attracting younger, digitally savvy audiences making it an ideal platform for Pocket FM to deepen its cultural relevance.
Under the partnership, Pocket FM will enjoy extensive on-ground and digital visibility throughout the tournament, which begins on 1 April 2026. This includes centre court branding, venue-wide presence, presenting rights for select matches, player lounge branding, team jersey integration, and strong integration across live streaming and social media.
Pocket FM, SVP and global head for brand marketing and partnerships Vineet Singh said, “Pickleball is building a strong connection with young and engaged audiences in India. This partnership allows us to connect with people in a meaningful way through strong on-ground presence and digital visibility.”
Global Sports and Indian Open 2026, founder Hemal Jain added, “Partnering with Pocket FM adds an exciting new dimension to the experience. As a brand that has built deep resonance with young audiences, Pocket FM is a strong fit for the energy and ambition of this tournament.”
The move reflects Pocket FM’s continued strategy of aligning with emerging passion points and building deeper engagement with communities driven by competition and shared experiences.
In a country where sports and stories often collide, Pocket FM isn’t just sponsoring a tournament, it’s turning every rally into a narrative, proving that the best audio moments sometimes happen when the paddle meets the ball.
