Talent movement within the industry
Shishir Varma has embarked on a new journey as the Chief Executive Officer of PulseAI Research Powered by Smytten. PulseAI Research is an AI-driven consumer intelligence and research platform that is transforming how brands access real-time, actionable consumer insights. With over 30 years of global experience in consumer insights, analytics, and business strategy, he is widely recognised for helping organisations translate complex consumer data into clear, business-impacting decisions.
Prior to joining PulseAI Research, Shishir served as Managing Director, Insights at Kantar Japan, where he led large-scale insights and analytics businesses across highly competitive global markets. Over the course of his career, he has held leadership positions across India, China, Japan, APAC, and the Middle East, managing both emerging and mature businesses within the consumer insights ecosystem.
Shishir is also known for his entrepreneurial and builder-led approach to business leadership. He played a pivotal role in establishing and scaling Millward Brown in India, helping shape it into one of the region’s most respected consumer insights businesses. His expertise spans brand strategy, consumer behaviour, analytics, AI-led research transformation, and enterprise growth.
Statement from Shishir Varma
Consumer research has been constrained by speed, scale, and the authenticity of data. With PulseAI Research, we’re fundamentally rethinking that model by combining real product interactions with AI-led insights to create a more reliable and dynamic understanding of consumers. What excites me the most is the ability to tap into observed behavior and unlock insights that are not just faster, but significantly more predictive and actionable.
We believe the future of consumer intelligence will be built on real-world interactions at scale, not just surveys. PulseAI Research represents a new category where AI meets live consumer behavior, enabling brands to make sharper, more confident decisions in days, not weeks. The opportunity to build this intelligence layer — powered by millions of authentic product experiences — and translate it into meaningful outcomes for brands, is incredibly compelling.
Amit Adarkar joins i-Genie.ai as CEO, India, as the company expands its presence in AI-powered consumer intelligence. With over three decades of experience in consumer insights and market research, Amit brings deep expertise in helping organizations understand evolving consumer behavior. Currently pursuing doctoral research in Generative AI, the appointment reflects the convergence of extensive industry experience with a strong focus on emerging AI technologies.
Statement from Amit Adarkar
I am pleased to share that I have taken on a new role as CEO, India for i-Genie.ai, and I see this as an exciting step into the future of our industry. i-Genie is reimagining consumer insights by synthesizing billions of online signals, including searches, social conversations, reviews and videos, into real-time intelligence, without relying on surveys or focus groups. After three decades spent understanding consumers, and now as a doctoral researcher in Generative AI, this role feels like a natural convergence of experience and curiosity.
I look forward to helping brands move from data to decisions faster, and to contributing to the next phase of our industry's evolution, one that is agentic, intelligent and continuous.