MxMIndia

Author: Our Staff

  • Of Havas Creative Network India

    Havas India appoints John Thangaraj as CSO

    John Thangaraj
    John Thangaraj

    Havas India has appointed John Thangaraj as the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of Havas Creative Network India and his remit will include Havas Worldwide India (creative), Havas CX India (customer experience), Conran Design Mumbai (brand design), Ekino (technology), and Havas People India (employer branding). Thangaraj will be responsible for driving the strategic mandate of the creative network and will also work closely with Havas Village India leaders to drive integration. He will be based out of Gurugram and report to Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas India, South East Asia and North Asia (Japan & South Korea).

    Speaking about the appointment, Barua said: “Havas Creative Network India has gained tremendous scale and size over the last six years. One of the agencies which has seen unprecedented growth, new leaders, tremendous business traction is Havas Worldwide India and therefore John will work closely with Anupama Ramaswamy and Kundan Joshee to further drive the growth of the agency. In addition, he will also work closely with Geet Nazir (Conran Design Mumbai), Prashant Tekwani (Havas CX India) and Arindam Sengupta (Havas People India) to further strengthen the strategic vision.  He will further consolidate our client relationships and drive thought-leadership to ensure meaningful business growth and establish Havas Creative Network India as the most future-forward and progressive creative network conglomerate. I wish him all the best.”

  • At Dentsu Creative Webchutney

    Dentsu Creative promotes Surjo Dutt to CCO

    Surjo Dutt
    Surjo Dutt

    Dentsu Creative India has promoted Surjo Dutt to the position of Chief Creative Officer (CCO) at Dentsu Creative Webchutney.

    In his new role, Dutt will spearhead the creative vision of the agency, ensuring the delivery of innovative and integrated solutions that foster business growth for clients. Additionally, he will mentor and guide the creative teams, cultivating a culture of collaboration, experimentation, and excellence. Dutt will continue to report to Amit Wadhwa, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dentsu Creative India.

    Amit Wadhwa
    Amit Wadhwa

    Said Amit Wadhwa: “We have reimagined our creative business to align with the evolving needs of our clients. Dentsu Creative India now encompasses three portfolio brands: Dentsu Creative Webchutney, Dentsu Creative Isobar, and Dentsu Creative PR. Dentsu Creative Webchutney delivers creative solutions across both traditional and digital media. Meanwhile, Dentsu Creative Isobar focuses on enhancing digital experiences, and Dentsu Creative PR handles public relations. The common thread that binds them is the ‘X factor’ – the extra edge, value, and impact that Dentsu Creative brings to its solutions. This is what makes us the preferred partner for our clients in an ever-evolving and competitive market.”

  • Mandate will cover corporate communication

    Juniper Green Energy partners One Source

    Juniper Green Energy, a renewable energy power producer, has partnered with One Source. The mandate will cover corporate communication for Juniper Green Energy.

    Said Indranil Roy Choudhuri, Head of Corporate Communications, Juniper Green Energy: “We are delighted to partner with One Source as we embark on our journey to amplify awareness about renewable energy solutions and our commitment to sustainability. Their proven track record in delivering impactful communication strategies aligned perfectly with our vision to create a greener, more sustainable future.”

    Added Sandeep Rao, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, One Source: “Our focus as a consultancy is on growing our clients’ businesses and we see partners’ business objectives as our own. We are excited to collaborate with Juniper Green Energy and are eager to craft compelling narratives that resonate with audiences and drive meaningful change. We are committed to help elevate Juniper Green Energy’s brand and champion the cause of sustainability.”

  • India shining at 9.5% growth….

    India shining at 9.5% growth….

    GroupM has released the 2024 Global Midyear Forecast for its annual This Year Next Year forecast and study. As per the study, advertising revenues (spends) in 2024 will touch $18.5 billion in India, which points to a 9.5% growth in the year. The forecast for 2024 is 8.7%. It may be recalled when GroupM had released its TYNY numbers in February this year (2024), the forecast growth for 2024 was 10.2%.

    “We estimate that global advertising revenue will grow 7.8% in 2024 to $989.8 billion. The industry will surpass one trillion in revenue in 2025, increasing 6.8% to $1.1 trillion, one year earlier than we forecast in December of 2023. We have also revised estimates for the US, which we now expect to reach $365.9 billion in ad revenue, up 5.8% over 2023’s $345.9 billion (excluding the impact of political advertising in both years). The great economic engines of the U.S. and China, which together make up 57.1% of global ad revenue, are clearly the largest drivers of growth, adding $44.5 billion to their totals in 2024 (excluding U.S. political spending) — nearly 1.5 times the cumulative $27.4 billion in incremental revenue for all other markets combined. They are also home to 22 of the top 25 global media sellers and account for more than 40% of global GDP.

    Indis is third highest in growth rates as per the GroupM data. China is at 14% growth in 2024 and Brazil is at 11.3%. In 2025, China growth is estimated to be 10.8% while Brazil will top the list at 12.4%. In absolute terms, China ad revenues for 2024 is 199.4 bn and Brazil stands at 21.3 bn. All figures are in US dollars.

    The GroupM TYNY 2024 Global Midyear Forecast also adds: “The marketing ecosystem over the next few years will face potential impacts from governments and regulatory bodies across the world — impacts that have the potential to upend forecasts and alter even the most sound projections. On top of that, such projections can be skewed by two major players, China and the U.S. Their governments and their major companies have the power to shape vast aspects of the global economy.

    “Artificial Intelligence also has the potential to reshape the industry — as do regulations put in place to guide (or control) its growth. Those regulations, of course, depend on politicians, which in turn are determined by upcoming election cycles.

    “Despite some reactionary moves toward protectionism from some of those politicians, we can see the power and enduring appeal of shared experiences brought by globalisation, whether it be a Korean series rocketing to the top of the Netflix charts, or Rema bringing Afrobeats to Spotify’s top songs list. You can see it, too, in increasingly global fan bases for sports.

    “With increased globalisation – of financial systems, commerce, and media – can come a level of resilience as interconnected systems such as coral reefs tend to be very adept at recovering from multitudinous small shocks. Innovation, the exchange of ideas, and a shared goal to make the advertising industry work better for everyone will help ensure a bright future.

  • Conceptualised by Bombay Design Centre

    Kokuyo Camlin unveils high-powered brand campaign

    Camel, from the house of Kokuyo Camel, has launched its latest ad campaign Camel ki Colourful Duniya, Meri Duniya. Conceptualised by Bombay Design Centre, this campaign includes a series of six films.

    Commenting on the campaign, Rishi Kakar, Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer, Kokuyo Camlin Limited, said: “This campaign throws an interesting light on the world we live in, where parents strive to fulfil their duties as a provider often at the cost of their duties as a caregiver. Every child’s art gives a glimpse of their feelings and brings the family together.  #CamelKiColourfulDuniya captures the role of art in a child’s world as the language of the heart. In other words, Camel brings out the language of the heart.”

    Added film-maker Amole Gupte (of Taare Zameen Pe fame): “My childhood is dipped in vibrant Camel Water Colours! I brought my childhood to life by making the new Camel advertisement films.”

    Said Nandana Nair, Head, Digital Marketing at Kokuyo Camlin Limited: “This campaign underlines the place of Camel and Camlin in every Indian household. Cherished across generations, #CamelKiColourfulDuniya highlights the unifying role of art in bringing families together. These films beautifully portray every child’s joy of engaging with colours and the innocence of their view of the world.”

  • Features why Indian business leaders are embracing AI to scale outputs and drive growth

    Canva releases its second annual Visual Economy Report

    Canva, the popular online design and visual communication platform, released its second annual Visual Economy Report featuring insights from more than 3,700 global business leaders on the drivers and impact of visual communication.

    The company commissioned business intelligence firm Morning Consult to understand how they’re approaching the use of visual communications tools in the workplace and the role AI is playing in their ability to increase productivity, elevate creativity, and streamline workflows. The survey was conducted in 12 markets, including India, the US, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, and Australia.

    The top findings from Indian respondents include:

    Unlocking business benefits: Nearly three-quarters (73%) say visual communication tools have increased business performance. From accelerating content creation and team collaboration to stronger audience engagement, visual-first communication is supercharging how organizations save time and money. As a result, 70% of leaders are investing more in visual communication tools than the previous year.

    AI fast tracks productivity: Tighter budgets and increased content demands have led 89% of leaders to explore AI-powered tools as options to accelerate their content production needs. The vast majority (92%) agree the quality of visual content has improved because of AI, yet concerns about plagiarism (80), bias (84%), and job loss (81%) linger.

    Design democratized: The ability to communicate visually is now table stakes in the workplace, regardless of role. The majority of leaders (97%) expect employees in non-design roles to possess some design acumen in order to be effective communicators in their organizations. Consequently, more than two-thirds (67%) are now providing training to those not in design roles to meet a certain threshold of design competency.

    Accelerating scaling through collaboration: More than one-third (41%) of leaders believe the inability to collaborate across teams and complex workflows (38%) is a challenge when creating and scaling content. As a result, when investing in visual communication platforms, business leaders are emphasizing real-time collaboration (96%), more streamlined workflows (95%), and all-in-one functionality (95%).

    Creativity needs the right tools to flourish: 85% believe senior stakeholder resistance to new technology is hindering creativity in the workplace. 82% attribute siloed teams and poor cross-functional collaboration as deterrents to imaginative thinking and fresh outputs.

    From compelling presentations to engaging videos and interactive data visualizations, visuals have become the currency of communication, enabling organizations to cut through the noise.

    Said Rebecca Janes, Creative Designer and Environmental Branding Strategist, FedEx Global Brand: “We use Canva for just about anything that is templatized, from presentations to digital signage, internal websites, invitations, playbooks – the possibilities are endless. The ability to easily collaborate and share designs across so many teams has been a huge timesaver. What would normally take days can take only minutes.”

    The Visual Economy Report surveys 3,707 business leaders in marketing, sales, human resources, and operations who have knowledge of company revenue goals. This group also influences their organisations’ audience engagement strategy and how internal teams communicate with each other, other teams, and the company at large.

  • As their Brand & Communications Agency

    Ather Energy partners with Tilt Brand Solutions

    Ather Energy, electric scooter manufacturers, has partnered with Tilt Brand Solutions as their brand and communications agency, for its upcoming product line.

    Said Ravneet Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy: “We are thrilled to welcome Tilt as our agency partners, as we enter the next phase of our growth journey. Joe and his team bring a potent combination of deep strategic thinking and a sharp creative approach, and together we hope to engage with consumers in new and meaningful ways. We are super-excited about this partnership and look forward to shaping the future of mobility.”

    Added Joseph George, Founder and Group Chairman, Quotient Ventures added: “We are thrilled to partner Ather for this critical addition to their portfolio. We are grateful to them for placing their faith in us to disrupt the market and expand their reach and footprint across the nation. As an agency, working alongside not just the pioneers in mobility of the future, but also such a passionate bunch, is both exciting and fulfilling.”

  • As Head of Sales – West & South

    Frodoh World onboards Arunava Biswas

    Adtech firm Frodoh World has appointed Anurava Biswas as the company’s Head of Sales for West and South. In this role, Biswas will be responsible for driving regional revenue growth, leading agency partnerships, expanding market share, and strengthening customer relationships in these regions.

    Said Russhabh R Thakkar, Founder and CEO of Frodoh World: “Arunava’s potential and profound understanding of market dynamics are incredible assets to Frodoh World. We are excited to see the new strategies and innovative approaches she will bring to the table. Her appointment marks a significant step in our journey to expand our footprint and deepen customer engagement in these key regions.”

  • To boost brand

    Tonic Worldwide bags digital mandate for Badshah Masala

    Tonic Worldwide, a digital-first creative agency, has secured the digital mandate for Badshah Masala. As the new digital partner, Tonic Worldwide aims to grow Badshah Masala’s business through integrated brand communication. The account will be managed by Tonic Worldwide’s Mumbai office.

    Speaking on the digital mandate, Rehan Hasan, CEO of Badshah Masala, said: “We are happy to partner with Tonic Worldwide for our digital mandate. Digital is a key platform where our consumers spend significant time, and it will play a crucial role in keeping our brand top of mind. We needed a partner who understands our brand values and consumer needs in the digital space. Tonic Worldwide’s experience with multiple staple brands and their strong grasp of our core target group made them the ideal choice.”

    Added Unmisha Bhatt, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Tonic Worldwide: “We are thrilled to add Badshah Masala to our portfolio. Many of us have grown up with Badshah Masala in our kitchens, its fragrance making us hungry before the meal was even ready. It’s an integral part of our lives, and it’s a privilege to help reignite that love and make the brand appealing to new-age homemakers.”

  • For advertisers to efficiently engage with the Spotify audience

    Spotify launches inhouse creative agency

    Audio streaming and media service provider Spotify has launched its new in-house creative agency – Creative Lab.

    As part of this, the local Creative Lab teams in the markets will provide “more local and nuanced insights, and work closely with brands and agencies to build campaigns through workshops, inspiration sessions, and collaborative ideation and concepting”. Brands such as The Coca-Cola Company and Royal Enfield, among others, are already using Creative Lab to strengthen their brand storytelling in India.

    Said Arjun Kolady, Head of Sales – India, Spotify: “Spotify inspires artists, creators and advertisers at every stage to do what they do best: create. We currently work with brands to help them reach new customers, strengthen brand reputation, and deepen trust. Through Creative Lab, we want to focus on providing an additional service that enables brands and agencies to design their campaigns and messaging for the Spotify audience.”

  • To strengthen editorial leadership

    Zee Media appoints Santosh Kumar as Editor of Zee Bharat

    Zee Bharat has appointed  Santosh Kumar as its new Editor. In his capacity as Editor, Kumar will lead Zee Bharat’s news operations. His expertise in political, socio-economic, and investigative journalism will sharpen Zee Bharat’s mission to provide incisive and impartial news coverage.

    Said Rahul Sinha, Managing Editor of Zee News: “We are thrilled to welcome Santosh Kumar to Zee Bharat. His extensive experience and insightful perspective will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our news programming. With Santosh at the helm, we are poised to redefine news broadcasting in India.”

  • Grand Prix winners for the WARC Awards 2024

    Leo Burnett Mumbai wins two Grands Prix for Effectiveness

    The WARC Awards for Effectiveness 2024, in association with Lions, have been announced. And India leads with two Grands Prix, both awarded to Leo Burnett Mumbai. The awards honour the best marketing campaigns from across the globe that deliver strategic brilliance and effective impact to drive commercial success. Six Grands Prix have been awarded following a rigorous judging process and much deliberation by a super jury made up of all 12 regional jury chairs representing Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Latin America and North America.

    Selected from 22 regional gold-winning entries, the Grands Prix showcase the best work of how marketers are driving growth across different sectors and audiences and for local and global brands. Agenices from Australia, Brazil, Spain and Sweden each win one metal. Only our own Leo Burnett has bagged two metals.

    Said Susan Irving, Chief Marketing Officer, Kruger Products, Canada, and Chair of the Global Grand Prix jury: “It was my privilege to lead such a disciplined, accountable jury that held work to the highest standards. Our decisions were guided by the data and the Creative Effectiveness Ladder and we were rigorous in seeking only to recognise those campaigns that unquestionably connected their objectives to strong results and demonstrated long-lasting impact for brands and society. Anyone awarded a Grand Prix by this jury is a true Grand Prix winner, the best of the best, and I congratulate them all.”

    Added John Bizzell, Awards Lead, WARC: “The six Grand Prix winners that our super jury lasered in on from the hundreds of entries judged this year are superb additions to WARC’s library of effectiveness and really set the bar for the quality of work brands and agencies need to create to compete for these awards. I’m excited to share them with the world and see what they inspire in the future.”

    The two Grand Prix for Leo Burnett are:

    Cultural Impact Grand Prix: ‘Changing the education system to keep girls in school’ for Whisper by Leo Burnett, Mumbai, India

    Feminine hygiene brand Whisper helped girls remain in school in India with an educational lobbying campaign that broke the taboos around menstruation. Society’s silence surrounding periods had resulted in their omission from school science books. Following the campaign, the Indian government has committed to adding in the missing chapter.

    Commenting on the campaign, Kevin Mercer, Director, Brand Strategy, Expedia Group – UK, said: “This campaign demonstrated a simplicity in its strategic thinking. Rather than directly advertise feminine hygiene products, it filled a gap in education about menstruation for young women and girls that the jury found incredibly smart. There was real care and craft in how Whisper and Leo Burnett got it to market, which made it a clear Grand Prix winner. A lot of things are happening around the world, like book bans and removing access to education and knowledge, and this is the sort of campaign that sets us up for a better future.”

    Use of Data Grand Prix: ‘Democratising technology to help farmers fight climate change’ for Lay’s by Leo Burnett, Mumbai, India

    To grow preference and penetration in India, potato chip manufacturer Lay’s created a data-driven initiative to protect its supply chain by helping farmers identify and respond to weather hazards to prevent crop loss. As a result, potato yields increased by 25%, boosting farmers’ income by $55/acre; preference grew 10bps and penetration grew by 8bps.

    Said Sindhuja Rai, CEO, Wavemaker – Singapore: “The Lay’s campaign is a powerful concept – leveraging their data has driven immediate value for farmers in their supply chain, but the potential if this technology were cascaded across the globe is immense. They Defined the objectives clearly and over-delivered on almost all KPIs. That, and the greater good this could do for humanity, made this a clear Grand Prix winner.”

    The Grands Prix winners were first revealed on Thursday via The Effectiveness Show part one. The Effectiveness Show part two will include interviews and insights from the Grand Prix winners, and will be available on June 27.