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Publicitas Digital close to launch, team in place

The digital arm of Publicitas Promotion Network is readying for launch, and has made key appointments

Publicitas Promotion Network (PPN) is gearing up to launch Publicitas Digital, its digital media services arm in India. Publicitas Digital will perform the function of a media services agency on digital platforms, mainly online and mobile.

According to reliable sources, Neville Taraporewalla, who joined the group in March 2007 as CEO of Publicitas Digital and Online Media Director (APAC) of PPN, is putting in place a range of marketing services for online publishers and advertisers in India. Apart from tapping publishers who seek to outsource their marketing function, Publicitas Digital would also offer marketing tools similar to online ad networks, like campaign management, performance marketing, and so on. The company is expected to launch soon with some big-ticket tie-ups.

Publicitas Digital close to launch, team in place
PPN will also be opening up the Indian online market to its international clients such as Forbes.com, KhaleejTimes.com, NewYorkTimes.com and FinancialTimes.com.

The company has already hired about ten people in the past few months for the new entity. Jayatri Dasgupta has been appointed Chief Sales Officer. Dasgupta was previously Account Manager at Google India. She will be heading a sales team of two people each across North, West and South markets.

Publicitas Digital close to launch, team in place
Neville Taraporewalla
In other appointments, Ramakrishnan Laxman has been given the position of vice president, Business Development and Media Assets. Laxman was earlier heading the technology, internet, mobile and call center businesses at Mid-Day, and has worked with the ABP group. Karen Rajesh, earlier with DNA, has been appointed head of Digital Advertising, Operations and Trafficking. Deepa Reddy, who was earlier with Media Transasia, has been appointed regional manager of South.

As the company gets its operations in place, there are plans to make another round of key appointments, sources said. A head for Delhi will be announced soon.

PPN is a part of PubliGroupe Ltd headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland. PPN has 59 sales points in 22 countries, and tie-ups with major newspapers and magazines. The group had acquired Mediascope, the media sales network in India, in 2001. Publicitas Mediascope handles media sales for 300 print publications, and also provides advertising opportunities in electronic, radio, in-flight and ‘ambient’ or experiential media.

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