The Publicis-owned media agency lost the Nokia brief, with estimated annual billings of US$15 millon, last year, after its old ZenithMedia shop moved inside WPP as part of the latter's acquisition of Cordiant Communications.
ZenithOptimedia is thought to be seeking to regain as much of its old business as it can from its old office, which WPP rebranded as MEC.
It has appointed Ambika Srivastava to helm the new operation as CEO.
Srivastava, a former executive director of Universal McCann and Discovery Networks VP of marketing and sales, also runs her own media and communication consultancy specialising in Government work, Strategic Mediaworks, employing about four staff.
ZenithOptimedia has set up two strategic business units aligned with Publicis' two ad agencies in India, Ambience Publicis and Publicis India.
These two divisions are led by senior vice-presidents Pavan Chandra, who joined Publicis as V-P of its media division in March from Initative in Taiwan, and Indranil Datta, a former staffer who was most recently general manager of MEC. The relaunch re-establishes Zenith as a Publicis brand across Asia. Publicis India group president, Nakul Chopra, said that advertisers in India were spending more money on media. "We believe that media is an integral part of the brand-building process and directly impacts communication strategies, brand profitability and shareholder value."
ZenithOptimedia's existing Indian clients include Allied Domecq, Action Aid, CII, Gulf Air, HP, L'Oreal, NIS and Red Tape.