MxMIndia

Tag: Shailesh Gupta

  • Vikram Sakhuja is elected as Vice Chairman

    Shailesh Gupta to stay MRUCI chair, promises return of IRS

    The Media Research Users Council India (MRUCI) held its 30th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday, September 12. Shailesh Gupta, Wholetime Director, Jagran Prakashan Ltd will continue as Chairman. Vikram Sakhuja was announced as Vice Chairman.  Sakhuja takes over the mantle from Shashank Srivastava.

    New members have also been appointed to the Board of Governors:

    1. Jayant Mammen Mathew, Director, MM TV Ltd.
    2. Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Director (Marketing & Sales), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.
    3. Pratap Govind Pawar, Chairman, Sakal Media Pvt. Ltd.
    4. Tejas Apte, Head of DMC and Media- South Asia, Hindustan Unilever Ltd.
    5. Vikram Sakhuja, Partner, Group CEO- Media & OOH, Madison Communications Pvt. Ltd.

    Said Gupta: “The past four years have presented us with unique challenges, but with perseverance and collaboration, we are now ready to resume the IRS Study. The commitment of our Technical Committee and Board members has ensured that we can move forward with a cost-effective solution, without compromising on the quality of the study. We deeply appreciate the unwavering support from our members during these trying times, and we are confident that together, we will soon realise our shared vision.”

    Said Sakhuja on his appointment: “It is a privilege and an honour to be elected as Vice Chairman of MRUC. I am grateful to the MRUC Board for this opportunity. We have a wonderful MRUC Secretariat and a committed and talented Technical Committee. We are committed to bringing back IRS as the Country’s definitive and most credible establishment survey in the coming months.”

  • Shashank Srivastava is Vice Chairman

    MRUCI elects Shailesh Gupta as Chairman

    By Our Staff

     

    At the AGM conducted by the Media Research Users Council India (MRUCI) on Tuesday, September 26, Shailesh Gupta, Wholetime Director, Jagran Prakashan Ltd and Shashank Srivastava, Senior Executive Director – Sales & Marketing, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., were unanimously elected as MRUCI’s Chairman and Vice Chairman, respectively. The announcement was made at MRUCI’s Board meeting which was held shortly after its AGM.

     

    Gupta takes over the mantle from Shashidhar Sinha, CEO-India, Mediabrands, who served as MRUCI’s Chairman for two consecutive terms i.e. from 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. While handing over the mantle, Sinha said: “I am happy that IRS is being revived after a gap because of Covid”

     

    Said Gupta in his vote of thanks: “I’d like to thank Mr Shashi Sinha for leading MRUCI and taking several strides forward in reviving the IRS. It will be my endeavour to help create a robust 3rdparty research that helps all constituents and collectively takes the industry forward.”

     

    Two new members have also been appointed to the Board of Governors, viz:

    Rajeev Beotra, Executive Director, HT Media Ltd.

    Anupriya Acharya, CEO, South Asia, Publicis Groupe

     

  • Sinha will Chairman and Gupta Vice Chairman

    Shashi Sinha & Shailesh Gupta to continue to helm MRUC

    By Our Staff

     

    Media Research Users Council India (MRUCI) held its 28th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 via Video Conferencing.

     

    Shashidhar Sinha, CEO – India, Mediabrands and Shailesh Gupta, Director, Jagran Prakashan Ltd. will continue in their respective roles as Chairman and Vice Chairman of MRUCI. The leadership duo was unanimously re-elected at MRUCI’s Board meeting which was held shortly after its AGM.

     

    New members have also been appointed to the Board of Governors, namely Shashank Srivastava, Senior Executive Director (Marketing & Sales), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. and Vivek Malhotra, Group Chief Marketing Officer & COO Consumer Revenue, TV Today Network Ltd.

     

  • The message will be amplified via INS-affiliated newspapers

    Mullen Lintas and Indian Newspaper Society create campaign ‘Rupaiyyah Hai Pahiya’ to jumpstart economic activity

    By A Correspondent

     

    Given the ongoing downturn in the economy, Mullen Lintas has launched a campaign with the Indian Newspaper Society (INS), to “encourage consumers to start spending and to create liquidity in the market, and help boost the country’s economy”. The message will be amplified via INS-affiliated newspapers.

     

    Commenting on the initiative, Amer Jaleel, Group CCO & Chairman, MullenLowe Lintas Group said: “There’s a training inside Lintas to think scale and to think mass. We involve ourselves with brands yes, with marketing yes, but beyond that our embrace is towards our culture and our economy. Lintas cannot ignore what’s happening to demand and to consumerism as a fallout of the Covid Lockdown. Too much of our work depends on consumer sentiment and to reigniting consumer sentiment becomes not just necessary to our work and survival but it’s a calling, it’s a duty. Very early we recognised that this turn of the cycle will not revive on its own and the wheel of the country’s economy will need everyone to push. Spending with confidence is probably the only people-linked initiative that can bring about this momentum, and so we stuck our shoulder to the task and hope that the country gives it a heave too.”

     

    IPG Mediabrands forged this collaboration with Indian Newspaper Society to provide the necessary reach. Added Shashi Sinha, CEO, IPG Mediabrands: “This pandemic has proved that if we can survive together, we can revive together. It is this collective that can help in crafting the ‘India Revival’ story. The series of unlockdowns announced by the government via print media is playing its part to spread the word. Consumers are closely linked to print media and the campaign message amplification is best suited for a message such as this. The campaign by Mullen Lintas, with a massive reach supported by INS, is a call to spend in order to save.”

     

    Said Shailesh Gupta, President, Indian Newspaper Society: “Newspapers are the lifeline of the people and have been responsible to bring about national upheavals. Even though a lot of people migrated to online versions, the readership remained like a rock. It plays a strong connection with the people joining them with the mainstream and bringing them upto speed. A reach such as this can be harnessed for a national initiative like Rupaiyyah Hai Pahiya and help to turn the wheels of the economy. INS proudly supports this campaign.”

     

    Speaking about the idea for the campaign, Azazul Haque and Garima Khandelwal, Chief Creative Officers, Mullen Lintas added: “We’re happy and proud to have been able to do this campaign for the Nation. Since consumer confidence and discretionary spending is down, our attempt has been to humbly nudge the consumer to not hold back and that Every Rupee Spent is a Rupee Earned for the Nation. That’s how the idea “Rupaiah Hai Pahiya’ was born to encourage consumers to keep the wheels of the economy turning.”

     

     

  • In his new role, he will report into Apurva Purohit – President, Jagran Group & Shailesh Gupta – Director, Jagran Group

    Sandeep Khosla joins Mid-day as CEO

    By A Correspondent

     

    Sandeep Khosla has joined as CEO, Mid-day. Sandeep brings with him over 28 years of media industry experience, across various mandates at Network 18 & the Indian Express Group. Apart from being acclaimed for his leadership role in the business publications division, Sandeep is also widely acknowledged for his management skills.

     

    In his new role, he will report into Apurva Purohit – President, Jagran Group & Shailesh Gupta – Director, Jagran Group.

     

    Confirming the news, Apurva Purohit, President Jagran Group announced, “With Sandeep joining the Mid-day team, I am confident that we have found the right person to lead the company. He not only brings with him a vast experience from the publishing background but also his impeccable leadership qualities. His proven abilities to strategize, drive innovation & growth will certainly deliver results & take the business a notch higher.”

     

    Elaborating further, Shailesh Gupta, Director Jagran Group citied, “Sandeep brings with him an outstanding ability to work with highly motivated teams and his understanding about the print media will definitely help Mid-Day reach newer heights. Carrying the wealth of experience to his new role we are positive that, his acumen and proficiency about the business and the industry, will definitely add value to our Jagran Group.”

     

    Commenting further, Sandeep Khosla added, “I am delighted at the opportunity of being a part of an extremely exciting brand which in so many ways defines Mumbai. Have been an ardent admirer of Mid-Day right from its launch. I am sure the talented team at Mid-day will redefine publishing with the guidance & backing of the powerful Jagran Group. I look forward to contributing to the group’s vision of making Mid-Day the most admired brand within the Indian media industry.”

     

  • Radio City, today, is a leader in many of the markets it operates in, and is among the top 25 Great Places to Work across industries

    Apurva Purohit elevated to President – Jagran Group

    By A Correspondent

     

    Apurva Purohit

    Apurva Purohit, CEO of Radio City, which was acquired by Jagran Prakashan Ltd recently is joining the parent company as President – Jagran Group.

     

    In her new role she will be working with top management in overseeing the entire business operations and functioning of Midday, Inext, Jagran online and other print and non-print businesses besides Radio City and shall also participate in strategic decision making for the group. In addition, overseeing certain functional areas of the core business of Dainik Jagran shall also be part of scope of her work.

     

    Apurva brings with her 25 years of media experience ranging across partnering private equity players in building superior organizations and creating valuable businesses, and handling media businesses and brands. Prior to her entry into radio she has been part of the television space where she worked with BCCL & Zee Telefilms. She has launched successful TV brands like Zoom, India’s first lifestyle channel, fashioned the re-launch strategy for Zee TV and launched one of the largest media buying agencies in the country, Lodestar.

     

    Over the past 10 years she spectacularly led Radio City through a cycle of ‘Build-Grow-Consolidate’. Radio City, today, is a leader in many of the markets it operates in, and is among the top 25 Great Places to Work across industries.

     

    Commenting on this development Apurva said, “The Jagran group today stands at the threshold of a historic leap as it expands its footprint to access audiences across various demographics, geographies and distribution technologies. I am very happy to be part of this momentous journey.”

     

    Shailesh Gupta, Director JPL said “Apurva brings with her a wealth of experience in the media industry. She joins us at a time when the  Jagran group readies itself  to build further on its existing core businesses, and capitalize on the opportunities that are lie ahead in a media environment that’s being supercharged with digital, data and technology.”

     

  • The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has approved the Jagran-Radio City deal

    Radio City 91.1FM is now part of a Jagran Prakashan

    By A Correspondent

     

    Radio City 91.1FM is now officially a part of Jagran Prakashan Pvt. Ltd. The deal was signed off by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Friday (May 28).

     

    Apurva Purohit

    While being a part of Jagran family will enable Radio City to offer a more comprehensive bouquet of services to the advertisers, the radio network will continue to operate under the management control of its current leadership.

    Talking about the development, Apurva Purohit, CEO, Radio City 91.1FM said “This is great news for both Jagran and Radio City and more importantly, signals a desire amongst all stakeholders to see that the FM industry flourishes and grows. I am glad that the approval is in place now.  With this, the pioneer and leader in FM gets to be a part of one of the largest media houses in India. We now look forward to expanding aggressively in the upcoming Phase III and cross leveraging on strengths”

     

    Shailesh Gupta

    Commenting on this, Shailesh Gupta, Director, JPL said, “The deal further consolidates JPL’s leadership position and complements our other businesses of print, OOH, digital and activations. It gives us a greater leverage to provide better solutions to our advertisers.”

     

  • Starting a new 'quick interview' series; this one is with Shailesh Gupta, Director (Marketing), Jagran Prakashan, who was elected Chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) last Friday

    Jaldi 5 with Shailesh Gupta: Both readership & circulation will co-exist & complement each other

    On Friday, Shailesh Gupta, Director-Marketing, Jagran Prakashan was unanimously elected Chairman of the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) for the year 2012-2013. S M Ahmad, Executive Vice President – Marketing of ITC was also unanimously elected as the Deputy Chairman of the Bureau for the year 2012-2013. Sam Balsara, Chairman and Managing Director, Madison World was the outgoing Chairman of the ABC.

     

    MxMIndia caught up with Mr Gupta on the sidelines of a dinner hosted by Mr Balsara on the occasion and sought his answers in the first edition of a new ‘quick interview’ series.

     

    01.   What will be your priorities as Chairman of the ABC?

    The priority is to bring about a more transparent system, evolve the ABC as a currency and make it a powerful decision-making tool for the industry.

     

    02.  Over the last few years, the ABC’s role has diminished given the growth of readership as a currency… what will be your attempt to reverse it?

    The idea is not to reverse it. Both Readership and Circulation as currencies will co-exist and complement each other. However, in order to make it more relevant to decision making, the currency needs to evolve with the changing times. The attempt will be to ensure that circulation as a currency regains the confidence of the industry and is of genuine use for decision making by both planners and media owners.

     

    03.  With the merger of the NRS with the IRS, the readership currency will only get stronger with newspaper marketers. Do you see a further diminishing of the role of the ABC and the currency of ‘net paid sales’?

    The core issue I think is that while the Readership currency has evolved on the one hand, the circulation as a currency has lived in status quo. Also while Readership as a currency will always be a sample-based study, Circulation is the census – therefore, the importance of the NPS is very clear. Rather than the role being diminished, I look at a scenario where we see these studies complementing each other and eventually benefiting the print industry at large.

     

    04.   One of the charges that many publishers have had is that the ABC – over the last 15-20 years – has failed to take into account present-day practices of invitation pricing and low cover prices of publications. As publisher of India’s largest daily, do you see that rule being amended in the near future?

    It’s too early to talk of the possible amendments. But clearly we will need to march ahead, look at the changes in the environment, and be able to evolve the currency to reflect the changes. For this, we will need to have all publishers on the same page. It will be important to consider suggestions and opinions of all stakeholders to create a robust and transparent currency – one that truly reflects what’s happening in the marketplace.

     

    05.   In the United States, there’s an ABCi for measurement of traffic on websites. Do you see the ABC in India doing that in the future?

    Too early to comment on that at the moment, but as of now we have a clear priority ahead in terms of restoring the sanctity of ABC as a currency and making it more relevant for the entire industry eco system.