Publicis Media rejig: Mallikarjun Das is Group CEO, Starcom India

Publicis Media today unveiled structure and leadership appointments for its organisation, as announced by Anupriya Acharya, CEO, Publicis Media, India.

Acharya said, “One of the greatest strengths of our new organisation in India is its team of leaders, all of which have proven track record within our system. They have been integral in accomplishing what we have in the last 2-3 years and now committed to setting strategy and charting the course for the new organisation.”

She further said, “The new structure that follows the framework of the global vision is fully equipped to fit the future and best serve our clients. It is a fresh opportunity to simplify our organisation, invent more modern approaches to gain effectiveness and efficiency, introduce structures for greater collaboration, and drive new levels of client value and delight.”

Publicis Media, India will consolidate its agency brands: StarcomMediavest, Zenith Optimedia, Equinox, Performics, Convonix, Resultrix, Ninah, Newcast into four agency brands that are in line with the global structure, namely:

Starcom, Zenith, Mediavest | Spark, Optimedia | Blue 449

In this new model, the agency network names of Starcom Mediavest Group and ZenithOptimedia Group are retired to better enable a flatter organisational structure. VivaKi capabilities will be fully integrated into Publicis Media’s Global Practice model. Performics will remain Publicis Media’s global performance marketing brand and scale within all agency brands.

The key appointments announced are:

Mallikarjun Das (Malli) appointed Group CEO, Starcom India. His team will include:
Sarfaraz Khimani, Co-CEO, Performics.Convonix
Pallav Jain, Co-CEO Performics.Convonix
Basabdatta Chowdhuri, who now takes on the role of National COO, Starcom India

Tanmay Mohanty has been appointed as Group CEO, Zenith India. His team will include:
Mayoori Kango, MD Performics.Resultrix

Powering Publicis Media will be centralised ‘Global Practices’ that standardise approaches, scale quickly and deliver connectivity and consistency across agency brands and clients. The appointments for the same are:

Dnyanada Chaudhari will lead Publicis Media Exchange
Santosh Ghosh will lead Data, Technology & Innovation
Aarti Bharadwaj will lead Analytics, Research & Insight
Gautham Pingali will lead Business Transformation
Content Communications will be led by Anushree Chandran

At a Publicis Media India level, Rajesh Viswanathan has been appointed Chief Financial Officer, while Saswati Sinha is appointed Chief Talent Officer.

Starcom Chairman Hanley King has moved on to a global role within Publicis Media, his role is taken over by Malli.

Zenith Managing Director Hari Krishnan is also moving from the network on to pursue other opportunities. Acharya commented, “We thank Hari for all his contributions and wish him the best. Another key appointment in Zenith, under Tanmay’s leadership, will be announced in due course.”