Week at a glance: CMOs’ Charcha; Allahbadia backlash; V-Day marketing; Musk's OpenAI bid

Indian advertising pegged to grow by 7% in 2025 to reach Rs 164,137 cr: GroupM TYNY

As per GroupM’s This Year Next Year (TYNY) advertising forecast, Indian advertising is expected to grow by 7% in 2025 to reach Rs 164,137 crore, adding an incremental Rs 10,730 crore.

Standard Chartered’s Haymans Fung on successfully tapping global affluent clients

In conversation with Adgully, Haymans Fung, Global Head of Marketing for Wealth and Retail Banking at Standard Chartered, sheds light on its latest global marketing campaign ‘Now’s Your Time for Wealth’, the campaign’s vision, strategy, and impact.

Brand mascots in influencer era: Can nostalgia trump interactive brand experiences?

In an age where social media dominates attention spans, brands have swapped out these fictional faces for real-life influencers – content creators who bring relatability, and a massive follower count to the table. But while influencers offer a direct connection to audiences, they also come with unpredictability, controversies, and the occasional PR nightmare.

Clear and uniform regulations crucial to attract FDI in gaming: Dr Aruna Sharma

In an exclusive interaction with Adgully, Dr Aruna Sharma, Policy Advisor, Development Economist, and former Secretary to the Government of India, provides invaluable insights into India’s evolving policy landscape in the gaming industry.

Live and Kicking: Why Streaming is the Future of Live Sports – Part 1

India’s live sports streaming market is undergoing a seismic transformation, driven by digital-first platforms like JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar. With high-speed internet penetration and affordable mobile data fuelling this shift, millions of sports fans are now consuming live matches on their smartphones rather than traditional TV screens. This digital evolution is redefining audience engagement, especially in a cricket-obsessed nation where tournaments like the Indian Premier League (IPL) and ICC World Cup attract record-breaking viewership.

Beyond Cricket: How brands can win over India’s niche sports fans

While cricket remains the undisputed king of sports in India, the country’s sporting landscape is evolving rapidly. Football leagues like the Indian Super League (ISL) and the English Premier League (EPL), kabaddi’s rise through the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), and the booming esports industry have all found dedicated audiences, thanks to the proliferation of digital streaming platforms.

Regional PR cannot operate without proactive associations with media: Dr. Atul Malikram

In an exclusive conversation with Adgully, Dr. Atul Malikram, Founder of PR 24x7, speaks at length about his decision to establish PR 24x7, the evolution of the PR industry—especially in Hindi-speaking markets—and the distinct approaches required for Political PR and corporate communications.

Building brands in the age of conscious consumers: Balancing purpose and profit

CMOs’ Charcha - Delhi Chapter 2025 hosted an insightful panel discussion on the evolving landscape of brand-building in an era where consumers demand authenticity and sustainability.

How AI-powered AdTech is shaping the future of marketing & consumer engagement

With the theme ‘Marketing in the Fast Lane: Turbocharging Brand Success and Beyond’, the event featured thought-provoking sessions, expert insights, and cutting-edge strategies shaping the future of marketing.

Convergence of Creativity & Compliance: How AI is shaping campaigns

CMOs’ Charcha – Delhi Chapter 2025 saw an engaging panel discussion on ‘The Convergence of Creativity and Compliance: AI’s Role in Shaping Campaigns’. The panel was chaired by Manas Gulati, Co-Founder & CEO, ARM Worldwide.

Building Agility into Marketing Strategies: Relevance Vs Speed

The CMOs’ Charcha – Delhi Chapter 2025, held today, brought together top marketing leaders for a day of insightful discussions and strategic exchanges. A key highlight of the summit was a fireside chat on ‘Building Agility into Marketing Strategies’, chaired by Kumar Awanish, Chief Growth Officer, Cheil India.

Marketing in the fast lane: Turbocharging brand success and beyond

The marketing landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace, with brands constantly exploring new ways to engage consumers. A panel discussion, chaired by Nandini Chatterjee, Chief Corporate Brand and Communications, Shree Cement, brought together industry leaders to share insights into how experiential marketing, influencer engagement, and customer delight are shaping brand success.

AI can’t replace emotional intelligence in storytelling: Experts discuss Evolution of PR

Industry visionaries delved into the latest trends, tackled pressing challenges, and shared innovative approaches to brand building in a rapidly evolving landscape. The event also served as a key networking platform, enabling attendees to engage with peers, exchange ideas, and gain a deeper understanding of the dynamic marketing ecosystem.

Value 360 Communications prepares for public listing

Value 360 Communications, one of India’s leading integrated communications firms, has successfully closed its pre-IPO investment round, securing interest from key investors, including Bollywood actor Huma Qureshi. The pre-IPO investment will enable the company to broaden its service capabilities.

The risk of taking risqué too far: Why creators must know where to draw the line

A vulgar comment made by influencer Ranveer Allahbadia aka Beer Biceps that went viral, has resulted in nationwide backlash and police action against Allahbadia, comedian Samay Raina, content creator Apoorva Makhija (The Rebel Kid), comedian Ashish Chanchlani, and stand-up artist Jaspreet Singh. Was it just an unfortunate joke taken too seriously, or a reflection of a deeper cultural shift in the digital entertainment space?

Other headlines:

Essencemediacom bags media mandate for Godrej Consumer Products in India

Campa Cola secures co-presenting rights for IPL 2025: Report

Musk launches $100 Billion Bid for OpenAI

IPG Q4 2024 net revenue sees 5.9% decline to $2.43 billion

Coca-Cola Q4 2024 net revenues increased 6% to $11.5 billion

How Snap Inc is driving a future-forward vision for AR

Sameer Singh takes charge as Group CEO at HT Media, succeeding Praveen Someshwar

Dentsu India elevates Sujata Dwibedy & Jose Leon to key leadership roles

Sujoy Roy and Nitin Srivastava elevated as CCOs for Ogilvy Gurugram