Media Contacts expands in Asia and India

Rajeev Bala has been appointed regional creative director, Asia, at Media Contacts, the Havas digital media network. Bala moves in from search specialist firm Demand. Based in Singapore, Bala will run Media Contacts’ Southeast Asia operations and oversee research and business development across the region as well.

Bala will report to Vishnu Mohan, chief executive officer, APAC, MPG (the sister agency of Media Contacts).

Before joining Media Contacts, Bala was with Starcom IP and Euro RSCG, where he ran the Dell business for South Asia.

Mohan says, “Bala brings with him deep domain expertise in paid and organic search, browser based analytics and new media technologies – in addition to an infectious passion for measurable marketing. His hire reaffirms our commitment to this region.”

In a parallel appointment, Kushal Sanghvi has been appointed managing director, Media Contacts, India. Sanghvi has more than 13 years’ experience in media, of which he has spent nine years in the digital space. His last appointment was with Reliance ADAG; prior to that, he pioneered India’s first interactive and reality television show, Indian Idol, for Fremantle Media, opening up telephony revenue for the first time in the country. He has been in the digital space since 1997 and was one of the founder members of Rediff.com.

Says Anita Nayyar, CEO, Havas Media, India, “Getting Sanghvi on board makes Media Contacts a full service digital agency leveraging Havas Media’s fantastic knowledge and depth of digital experience for Indian clients.”

Media Contacts provides data driven media solutions across all interactive channels: digital, direct response, and relationship based media. Media Contacts is present in 38 cities in 29 countries across the world, and services more than 400 clients.