L’Oréal India has concluded its highly anticipated media agency review, awarding its consolidated media mandate to Publicis Groupe’s Zenith India, according to industry sources. Estimated in the range of ₹1,100–1,200 crore, the account is one of the largest media movements in the Indian advertising market this year, ending a historic 16-year partnership with WPP’s Wavemaker India.
The decision follows a rigorous multi-agency pitch process initiated by the beauty giant. Zenith’s comprehensive mandate now spans media strategy, communications planning, digital transformation, content creation, performance marketing, data investment, and media buying across L’Oréal’s extensive Indian portfolio.
The win marks a massive structural shift for L’Oréal India. Wavemaker India had managed the account continuously since 2010, successfully defending the business during its last competitive review in 2019.
L’Oréal’s portfolio stands as one of the broadest in the Indian market, spanning mass-market categories like L’Oréal Paris, Garnier, Maybelline New York, and NYX Professional Makeup, alongside luxury, salon, and dermatological clinical lines including Kérastase, Lancôme, Kiehl’s, and CeraVe.
The agency transition also aligns with significant internal corporate restructuring at L’Oréal India. The company recently elevated Sanchari Biswas to Head of Media and Digital for the Consumer Products Division, and named Jacques Lebel as the incoming India Country Manager, effective October 1, to succeed Aseem Kaushik.