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GURGAON: Culture sells. Paroma Dayal is betting her next chapter on it. Dayal has taken charge as national head, entertainment and branded content, at dentsu Sports & Entertainment, an internal move that puts one of India’s most seasoned media sales hands in charge of storytelling and brand partnerships.
Her own words explain the pitch. “I truly believe that culture is the best currency to connect with audiences and touch hearts,” Dayal said, adding that she looks forward to building brands through powerful storytelling, culturally relevant ideas and impactful partnerships.
The move follows a short but busy run at dentsu. Dayal joined in March 2026 as vice president, sports, e-sports, gaming and live experiences, based in Gurugram. From July 2026 she took on the vice president and national head role for entertainment and branded content. She thanked Yosuke Murai and Rohit Potphode for their leadership, guidance and trust, and her team for the passion, creativity and commitment that, she said, inspire her every day.
Before dentsu, Dayal spent December 2023 to April 2026 at Quora as senior client partner, APAC. Before that she was associate director for MX Player and MX Takatak from November 2021 to December 2023, in Gurugram.
Her roots are in television sales. Dayal began as a sales officer at NDTV in 2008, moved to Web18 Software Services in 2010 as senior sales executive, and joined India Today in 2011 as deputy manager. From 2012 to 2014 she worked in advertising sales at Star India. At Viacom from 2014 to October 2021 she managed advertising sales and brand solutions for MTV, MTV Beats, VH1, Comedy Central and Colors Infinity. From July 2018 she also served at Viacom18 Media as senior manager and group head, north, for ad sales and brand solutions in the youth, music and English cluster.
Three points stand out. First, the fit. Entertainment and branded content is a job about getting brands into stories that audiences actually want to watch, and Dayal has spent her career on the other side of that table. Selling airtime and brand solutions for youth and music channels atgrounding that tends to help when pitching integrations to advertisers
Second, the range. Her career runs from television to streaming to a global question-and-answer platform, and now to an agency that spans sports, gaming and live experiences. That breadth suits a role at the point where entertainment, sport and brand marketing increasingly overlap.
Third, the philosophy. Dayal’s focus on culture, storytelling and partnerships mirrors where brand spending is heading, with advertisers chasing meaning, not just reach. Her thanks to Murai, Potphode, her team and her colleagues also hint at a leader who values collaboration, which matters in a function that depends on many hands.
