As part of its ongoing expansion and strategic focus on data-driven media, integrated marketing agency Hashtag Orange has appointed Ankush Bhandarkar to lead its media strategy from its Mumbai office.
Headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana, Hashtag Orange has been steadily growing its regional footprint to meet the rising demand for integrated media solutions. Bringing Bhandarkar onboard underscores the agency’s commitment to further deepen its media expertise across all markets, as per the agency.
With over 10 years of digital marketing experience, he has held key leadership roles across top agencies. At FoxyMoron, as an Associate Media Director, he managed major accounts like AO Smith, Vedant Fashions, among others. His innovative approach earned him the ‘Digital Rising Star’ award. Prior to this, as an Assistant Manager at iProspect, part of the Dentsu global network, he drove impactful media strategies for key accounts such as HDFC bank, PNB MetLife and more. He has also managed comprehensive media strategies for Pidilite during his tenure as a Full-Stack Integrated Media Planner at Madison Media.
In his new capacity as Director – Media, Ankush will lead a growing media team, with a focus on delivering impactful result-driven campaigns for clients. His seasoned perspective and strategic insight will be pivotal in delivering measurable outcomes through data-led planning and optimising media investments, ensuring alignment with client business goals. As a senior leader, one of Bhandarkar key responsibilities will be to strengthen team capabilities and support Hashtag Orange’s broader media expansion with strong, future-ready talent.
Speaking about this addition to the team, Ankush Vij, Co-Founder and Vice President – Media, Hashtag Orange, Gurugram, explained, “We’re focused on our long-term vision to deepen media expertise by building an ecosystem of leaders who pair big-picture thinking with operational excellence and precision. Ankush’s ability to think strategically while delivering results makes him an ideal fit for where we’re headed as an agency.“
To this, Umeish Shashidharan, Vice President – Media, Hashtag Orange, Mumbai, added, “As audiences evolve, so must the media, and that demands agility and insight to meet in the middle. Our aim isn’t just to deliver performance, but to drive enduring strategic value. Ankush exemplifies this mindset and we’re confident his leadership will help us set new industry standards.”
“A seasoned professional known for a thoughtful and performance-led approach to media, Ankush steps into his new role at Hashtag Orange ready to shape its new chapter of growth and innovation. He shared, “Joining the team at Hashtag Orange allows me to contribute meaningfully to the ever-changing media ecosystem. I’m looking forward to building strategies that deliver impactful outcomes for clients, while also crafting experiences that engage with audiences across regions and platforms,” he added.
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