Ranada will focus on partnering with consumer packaged goods (CPG) clients. He was previously senior manager for market research and media planning at Heinz India, and has also previously worked on the agencyside with TNS and IMRB International.

He will be based in Mumbai and report to Prasun Basu, executive director of consumer research and vice president of Nielsen’s Bases business in India.

Ranada said: “My role handling CPG business is going to be very exciting and considering that this category even withstood the onslaught of the economic downturn, it will be quite interesting to watch how the industry shapes up.”