The Crayons Network completes 40 years, bets on AI and integrated marketing for next phase

New Delhi: Independent advertising agency The Crayons Network has completed 40 years of operations and said it will strengthen its investments in artificial intelligence (AI), technology and integrated marketing as it enters its next phase of growth. Founded in 1986 by Kunal Lalani in New Delhi, Crayons has grown into one of India's independent advertising and marketing communications networks. The company expanded beyond advertising into media, digital, out-of-home (OOH), and events through businesses including Melon Media, Ultraviolet Digital, Amber OOH, and Jade Events. A key milestone in the agency's journey came in 2023, when it was listed on the NSE SME platform. According to the company, its IPO was subscribed 147 times. Today, Crayons works with brands including Air India, Tata Group, ITC, Kajaria, Fortis Healthcare, APL Apollo, and The Leela Hotels. The agency also serves public sector clients and more than 10 state governments, with tourism emerging as one of its key practice areas. Commenting on the milestone, Kunal Lalani, Founder, Chairman & Managing Director, The Crayons Network, said, "Forty years is a long time to be told you're doing it wrong. We started in Delhi when Mumbai was where advertising lived. We stayed independent when independence was not considered scalable. Every time we were told there was one way to build an agency, we chose another. Looking back, I'm proud we never needed to become something else to survive. Looking ahead, we're investing in technology, AI and new capabilities, not to change who we are, but to strengthen what we have always believed in. Forty years feels less like a finish line and more like the start of another exciting chapter." The agency said AI will be a key part of its future strategy, with technology being used to improve planning, execution and integrated marketing capabilities. Ashraye Lalani, Director – Growth & Technology, The Crayons Network, said, "Every decade has brought a new disruption to our industry, from television to the internet, social media and mobile. AI is the next transformation, but we believe its real value lies in amplifying human creativity rather than replacing it. We're building an agency where strategy is sharper, execution is faster, and creativity has more room to flourish because technology is working alongside people." To mark the milestone, Crayons organised a leadership summit in New Delhi, where senior executives discussed the agency's growth strategy, including investments in AI, technology and integrated communications.