Mumbai: INNOCEAN India, in partnership with Canvas Worldwide India, has secured the integrated brand communication mandate for UPES University, marking the beginning of a long-term strategic collaboration.
Under the mandate, INNOCEAN India will lead creative and strategic communication, while Canvas Worldwide India will oversee integrated media strategy and execution across brand-building and campaign-led initiatives. The partnership aims to bring sharper strategic alignment and cohesive communication across platforms as UPES navigates a competitive higher education landscape.
UPES University operates in an environment where institutions must engage diverse stakeholder groups while maintaining clarity and consistency in messaging. As part of the engagement, both agencies will work closely with the university to streamline its creative and media functions under a unified integrated model.
The win further strengthens INNOCEAN India’s growth business, led by a dedicated non-automotive team. The vertical services brands including Hamdard, Sony, KEI Cables and IFFCO Tokio, reflecting the agency’s continued expansion beyond its automotive heritage in collaboration with Canvas Worldwide India for media-led transformation.
The initial phase of the partnership will focus on shaping an integrated campaign roadmap for 2026, aligning strategy, creative development and media execution within a consolidated operating framework.
Commenting on the appointment, Bharat Kharbanda, Chief Business Officer, GUS Global Services, said, “As our communication requirements continue to evolve, it was important for us to work with a partner that could bring structure and integration to the process. INNOCEAN India demonstrated a clear understanding of our objectives and how to approach them cohesively, which informed our decision.”
Robinh Sharma, Marketing Director, UPES University, said, “As we look ahead to 2026, our focus is on clearly articulating what differentiates UPES as a university, from our academic offerings to our strong industry integration and leadership positioning. INNOCEAN India’s integrated approach will support us in sharpening and amplifying this narrative.”
Jae Ho Yoo, Managing Director & CEO, INNOCEAN India, said, “This mandate aligns with our strategy to expand and strengthen our growth business beyond automotive. With UPES, we will leverage our proven strengths as a unified Marketing OS to deliver sharp target and market insights, while providing fully integrated solutions that translate strategy into measurable impact. We are committed to deploying our full capabilities to ensure that every communication initiative is insight-driven, cohesive, and strategically grounded in the institution’s long-term vision.”
Santosh Kumar, Chief Operating Officer, INNOCEAN India, added, “This partnership is about moving beyond siloed campaign delivery to a truly integrated model. Together with Canvas Worldwide India, we will focus on building a unified planning and execution structure for UPES that ensures sharper media alignment, stronger creative impact, and sustained momentum as we roll out the 2026 roadmap.”
The mandate brings together UPES University’s evolving communication priorities with INNOCEAN India and Canvas Worldwide India’s integrated planning and execution capabilities, establishing a structured and collaborative model aimed at long-term brand building.
