Mumbai, India – India’s sports league, VIVO Pro Kabaddi League (VIVO PKL), has appointed financial and healthcare super app, Dhani, to be its strategic timeout partner in the sporting event. This is in collaboration with sports management firm Professional Management Group (PMG) and independent media agency Madison Media Ace, who shared the announcement.

The appointment will see VIVO PKL providing customers the opportunity to take a ‘timeout’ from making full payments by dividing their payments into three parts through Dhani’s flagship financial offering ‘OneFreedom Card’. The Strategic Timeout, which is 90 seconds in length, also fits with Dhani’s proposition of providing its financial card to customers in under two minutes.

Through the partnership, the association will also help Dhani with differentiated, clutter-breaking, and strong visibility during the live matches of the PKL. The strategic timeout is taken twice in a game, at the 10th and 15th minute of the second half of the game.

Ankit Banga, Dhani’s chief marketing officer, believes that the partnership is a great fit for them, as the majority of their customers stem from the heartland and other smaller pockets of India.

“Also, it resonates fantastically with our product proposition of giving our customers a timeout from making full payments by splitting their transaction into 3 interest-free parts,” said Banga.

Vandana Ramkrishna, Madison Media Ace’s chief operating officer, said that the OneFreedom card is the first kind of a product and needed a unique way to drive benefits of the product beyond standard inventory buys. 

“We leveraged PMG’s expertise to get the STO created for the first time ever on Kabaddi for Dhani to help bring out the brand benefits seamlessly. Kabaddi as a sport, has significant unique viewers, and driving visibility through both on-air and on-ground will not only help Dhani garner incremental audiences but would also drive significant business results,” said Ramkrishna.

Melroy D’Souza, the chief operating officer of Professional Management Group, said, “Both the Vivo PKL and Dhani are only growing bigger and better, in terms of stature and popularity. We have no doubt that the relationship between these two institutions will go the same way, in the weeks and months to come.”

Mumbai, India – Madison Media, the independent media agency in India, has announced today the elevation of Vandana Ramkrishna, former vice president and business lead for the West and East region, to now assume the role of chief operating officer for its business unit, Madison Media Ace.

Ramkrishna is a veteran in media and communication planning. She brings with her over 22 years of experience spanning across the Indian and overseas markets.

Through the elevation, Ramkrishna will be overseeing the Kolkata operations of Madison Media, along with her Mumbai set of businesses. She will continue to lead the businesses of fabric manufacturer Raymond, adhesives firm Pidilite, and healthcare company Cipla Health, among others in Mumbai. In addition, Ramkrishna will be managing the businesses of personal care provider Joy Personal Care, commercial bank Bandhan Bank, and cement manufacturer MP Birla Cement in Kolkata, as well as further strengthen Madison’s east region operations.

“I feel honored to be working for a company like Madison that believes in my capability to take on this role. I look forward to strengthening our client relationships by driving their business outcomes to create new milestones within Madison and the industry,” said Ramkrishna, regarding her promotion.

Meanwhile, Vikram Sakhuja, Madison Media & OOH’s partner and group CEO, commented that he is delighted to announce the promotion of Ramkrishna to COO Madison Media Ace in which she takes additional charge of the Kolkata office in addition to her Mumbai accounts. 

“Vandana brings rare passion, aggression, and integrated thinking into delivering great client value. This also recognizes her evolution from strong client leadership to business leadership,” said Sakhuja.

Just recently, Madison Media has announced the promotion of Abhik Banerjee as the new chief operating officer for Madison Media Plus, and will also lead the Delhi office.