Zenith Media Asia chief lays stress on India operations

Lalitha Srinivasan

Mumbai, Nov 20: Mr Antony Young, chief executive officer of Zenith Media (Asia), a leading global media services company, is in India to study the market conditions and trends to chalk out the future plans for its Indian wing, Zenith Media India, which is part of the $9.8 billion Zenith Media Worldwide.

During his visit to Mumbai, Mr Young told the The Financial Express: “After the launch of the Zenith Optimedia Group in London, we are working on the impact of the media merger of Publicis Groupe SA and Cordiant Communications Groupe on our Indian media operations. We are studying the conditions and the marketing trends in India to finalise our future plans.”

On October 24 this year, Publicis Groupe SA and Cordiant Communications Group Plc announced the name and key global management of their recently-formed holding company, which now owns Zenith Media and Optimedia. The company, owned 75 per cent by Publicis Groupe and 25 per cent by Cordiant Group Plc, is called The Zenith Media Optimedia. Set up in April 2000, Zenith Media currently handles the media operations of leading advertising agencies Bates India and Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising. Accoring to Zenith Media president and CEO Tapan Pal, the media specialist company has recently bagged a host of new accounts which include LML Motorcycles and Maxima Watches, among others. “Our new account wins add Rs 60 crore to our kitty of current capitalised billings at Rs 300 crore,” added Mr Pal.

Mr Young said: “We are focusing on two markets, which include China and India right now. We will support our Indian operations for further growth. Yes, the Indian market is very improtant to us.”