Parag Murudkar joins Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund as Head of Marketing. Parag moves to the asset management business from Aditya Birla Capital's NBFC business, where he served as Marketing Head. August 17, 2026 Parag Murudkar has joined Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund (ABSLMF) as Head of Marketing, where he will lead the organisation's marketing, brand and PR functions. Parag moves to the asset management business from Aditya Birla Capital's NBFC business, where he served as Marketing Head. In his new role, he will bring his experience across financial services to ABSLMF, with a focus on strengthening its marketing and brand agenda. Sharing the development on LinkedIn, Parag described the move as a "New chapter. Bigger canvas." He added that he looks forward to bringing his learnings from the NBFC business into the asset management space. Prior to joining Aditya Birla Capital,Parag was Head - Digital and Emerging Technologies, Fulcrum at Mindshare India. His career also includes marketing and digital leadership roles at Refyne India, YES BANK, Viacom18, Axis Bank and ICICI Bank, along with earlier agency stints at MEC Interaction and Mudra Communications. The appointment marks another move in Parag's career across marketing, digital and financial services, as he takes on the wider brand and communications mandate at ABSLMF.

WPP Media appoints Pankaj Nagpal as SVP, Head of Programmatic Practice. Before taking on his new role, Nagpal was Head of Digital Business Operations at Mindshare India Pankaj Nagpal has been appointed Senior Vice President - Head of Programmatic Practice at WPP Media, according to his LinkedIn profile. Prior to taking up the role, Nagpal served as Head of Digital Business Operations at Mindshare India, where he held several leadership positions spanning digital strategy and business operations. With nearly two decades of experience in the media and advertising industry, Nagpal began his career at Integrid Media before moving on to leadership roles in digital at Webchutney, Lowe Lintas and Tribal DDB India.

WPP tops WARC Media 100 for ninth consecutive year. WPP has been ranked the world's leading company on the 2026 Media 100 list published by WARC, marking the ninth consecutive year the global communications group has topped the rankings. The annual list evaluates the world's most awarded media companies, agencies and campaigns, and is widely regarded as a benchmark for excellence in media strategy. WPP's media network Mindshare was named Media Network of the Year, while agencies including Mindshare Mumbai, Mindshare New York, Mindshare London and EssenceMediacom New York ranked among the world's leading media agencies. The campaign 'Beauty Test Stops With Me' created for Dove by Mindshare in collaboration with Ogilvy was ranked the number one global media campaign. Said Brian Lesser, Global CEO, WPP Media: "Leading the WARC Media 100 for a ninth straight year is an honour and a testament to the incredible clients, people and innovative work across the entire WPP network. In a world where media is truly everywhere and in everything, these awards powerfully show how we create captivating work that's strategically brilliant, culturally relevant, and deeply impactful. At the heart of every truly successful client partnership lies a powerful idea - one that doesn't just meet objectives but fundamentally transforms a business. Congratulations to our clients and our teams for consistently delivering outstanding work that moves audiences to think and act." Added Ailsa Lochrie, Client President, Unite, at WPP Media: "Topping the WARC Media 100 ranking with the Dove 'Beauty Test Stops With Me' campaign is a remarkable achievement and we are so proud of our partners at Hindustan Unilever for effecting real change in India. What's all the more impressive is the approach. We take great pride in combining cultural nuance, strategic thinking and innovation to deliver measurable, profound impact. In collaboration with our clients, we develop ideas that elevate brands and redefine categories, drawing on exceptional acumen and all that tech and AI can offer to ultimately drive unparalleled growth for them." Said Amin Lakhani, President - Client Solutions, WPP Media South Asia: "To see Mindshare India (Mumbai) recognized as the second most-awarded agency globally in the WARC Media 100 is both humbling and inspiring. It highlights the impact of our teams' relentless focus on delivering ideas that combine creativity, data, and technology to create real value for our clients. Moments like these reaffirm our belief that when bold thinking meets strong collaboration, it can shape not just brands but the future of our industry." Added Vinish Mathews, Head - Team Fulcrum, WPP Media South Asia: "Ranking #1 in the WARC Media 100 with the Dove 'Beauty Test Stops with Me' campaign is a proud moment for all of us. We are grateful to partner with Unilever on work that not only builds brands but also sparks meaningful cultural change in India. This recognition reflects the power of combining deep consumer insight, bold thinking, and innovation. Together with our clients, we continue to create ideas that push boundaries, redefine categories, and harness the possibilities of technology and AI to drive real, lasting growth."