Mumbai-based Madison Media has strengthened its leadership team with new strategic appointments across content, influencer marketing, south operations and sports marketing as part of its Madison 3.0 vision.
The agency has appointed Mayank Bhatnagar as Chief Client Officer. He has taken charge of the agency’s south operations and has been tasked with driving strategic growth for clients and the business in the region.
Mayank has returned to Madison with more than 25 years of experience across India, Malaysia and Singapore. Over the course of his career, he has held leadership roles at OMD, Carat and Mindshare. He has worked across categories including FMCG, telecom, automotive, QSR, IT, banking, retail, media and education, and has handled brands including Apple, McDonald’s, Nestlé, P&G, Mondelez, Intel and Standard Chartered.
The company has also appointed Karan Rao as Vice President, Content & Influencer Marketing. He has been assigned to lead Madison Loop and oversee the expansion of Loop 2.0, the agency’s content and influencer marketing business. Based in Mumbai, Rao has reported to Vivek Das, Chief Digital Officer at Madison Media.
Rao has brought more than 15 years of experience in content, digital marketing and brand storytelling. Before joining Madison Media, he had co-founded LeapX, an AI-powered marketing and content platform. He had also led StudioX for The Coca-Cola Company across India and South-West Asia. His previous experience has included roles within WPP.
Meanwhile, Dinesh Rathod, who previously led Madison Media’s south business, has taken on an expanded role focused on scaling the agency’s sports vertical. In his new role, he has focused on strengthening capabilities across cricket, emerging sports, live events and partnerships.
Madison Media, part of Madison World, has offered services across media, PR, creative and sports. The group has employed over 1,300 communication professionals across India.
According to RECMA rankings, Madison Media has been ranked as the world’s third-largest independent media agency. The agency has handled media planning and buying duties for brands including Asian Paints, Titan, TVS, Pidilite, Jyothy Labs, Ceat, Blue Star, Cipla Health, Samsonite, Raymond, Axis Max Life Insurance, Joy Cosmetics, Parag Milk Foods and Polycab.
“This is a very intentional step in how we are shaping Madison for the future. Clients today expect ideas that move seamlessly across content, platforms, creators and commerce. With these leaders, we are bringing together experience and new-age thinking to make that possible at scale.” – Ajit Varghese
“The industry is shifting from capability-led growth to outcome-led partnerships. In leading the south business, my focus will be on deepening client relationships, building strong teams and ensuring we deliver measurable impact. I’m excited by the opportunity to shape this next phase of growth.” – Mayank Bhatnagar
“Content moves at the speed of culture, and the creator economy has completely reshaped how brands show up in people’s lives. What excited me about Madison is the ambition behind Loop 2. I’m looking forward to building something meaningful and creating work that audiences genuinely connect with.” – Karan Rao
“Sports today presents one of the most powerful opportunities for brands to build passion-led consumer engagement. I’m excited to lead Madison Media’s Sports vertical and build innovative partnerships, capabilities and experiences that create value for clients across both established and emerging sporting ecosystems.” – Dinesh Rathod
