MxMIndia

Category: Ad Agencies

  • The acclaimed CD and film-maker will work from McCann's Delhi office

    Sabyasachi ‘Zap’ Sengupta joins McCann as National Chief of Films & Content

    By A Correspondent

     

    Sabyasachi Sengupta

    Zap or Sabyasachi Sengupta is set to join McCann Worldgroup India as National Chief of Films and Content. Working from McCann Delhi he will have a national responsibility.

     

    Said Prasoon Joshi CEO & CCO McCann India and Chairman Asia Pacific: “Zap is from a rare breed of professionals who have integrity and unmatchable work ethic. He’s an exceptional creative mind and has also explored multiple disciplines of Advertising. He will add another dimension to McCann’s client offerings especially in today’s complex media world where the need for such layered talent is high.

     

    Zap began his career in Delhi two decades back, working at agencies like JWT and O&M and created some popular work like Pepsi – Nothing official about it, Adidas, Kit Kat – Have a break, Seagram’s -100 Pipers etc. As an independent adfilm-maker, he has produced work for brands such as Nescafe, Saffola, Vaseline, Maggi, Bajaj, Caratlane, Stayfree etc.

     

    Zap who will be onboard with McCann from July 2016 expressed his excitement for this new chapter, saying: “Films are the most powerful narratives of the contemporary world, and McCann has acquired a creative edge with its own unique signature. I look forward to further stimulating, synchronising and streamlining the whole process within an expanded McCann framework.”

     

  • The two divisions will collaborate and work as a seamless on and offline team and partner HouseFull

    HouseFull appoints Lowe Lintas & LinTeractive Delhi as its agency partners

    By A Correspondent

     

    HouseFull, a furniture brand with strong online presence, has awarded its agency mandate to two divisions of the MullenLowe Lintas Group. Lowe Lintas Delhi takes on the creative agency role for HouseFull, while LinTeractive Delhi takes on digital marketing. The two divisions will collaborate and work as a seamless on and offline team and partner HouseFull.

     

    With over a decade of expertise in making furniture, HouseFull has helped numerous customers in making their homes more aesthetic and beautiful. Their designs are not just desirable but have an international feel as well. Their products are known for undisputed durability and quality, offered at a compelling price.

     

    Akshay Chaturvedi

    Commenting on the appointment, Akshay Chaturvedi – CEO, HouseFull said, “We welcome Lowe Lintas & LinTeractive as our brand partners for HouseFull. We were really impressed with their holistic thinking that went beyond the conventional approach. The thing about Lowe Lintas is that apart from a fantastic creative sense, they possess a sharp business acumen which is strategically superior to its peers. This is important for a brand like ours which has aggressive plans and wants to have a nimble startup-like culture with an eye on a rapid scale-up.”

     

     

    Naveen Gaur

    On winning the new mandate, Naveen Gaur, President, Lowe Lintas Delhi said, “We are thrilled to win the communications mandate for a brand like HouseFull, which has taken it upon themselves to be extremely aggressive challengers in the highly competitive sector of online furniture and home decor. We at Lowe Lintas, will bring to the table, our sharp and insightful understanding of the e-commerce business along with the emerging modern Indian buyer. What makes it special is that we managed to win the mandate for both above-the-line as well as digital communication. We approached the problem in an integrated manner, with a motley crew of our folks from different specializations and the results are extremely encouraging to say the very least.”

     

    Sumanta Ganguly, EVP – LinTeractive added, “We see a great opportunity in HouseFull to win category conversations through our platform thinking and creative approach. A category that is today in a hyper-competitive state requires not just creative thinking but also focus on pushing the right interactions on the platform.”

     

     

  • Rina's hire reinforces 20:20 MSL's standing as a preferred destination for top talent as well as being well-equipped to provide strategic and specialised counsel to its clients

    20:20 MSL appoints Rina Sen Goel as Sp Advisor- Ent’mnt & Cons Practice

    By A Correspondent

     

    Rina Sen Goel

    20:20 MSL has announced the appointment of Entertainment and Lifestyle PR industry veteran Rina Sen Goel as Special Advisor to its Consumer, Lifestyle & Entertainment practice.

     

    Rina who comes with a rich experience of 25+ years across journalism and PR, will work closely with teams across the offices of 20:20 MSL to help cater to agency’s aggressive plans of expanding its portfolio of Consumer, Lifestyle and Entertainment clients.

     

    Chetan Mahajan

    Commenting on the development, Chetan Mahajan, Co-MD MSLGROUP India said, “Rina brings valuable experience in managing strategic and award winning campaigns and will be an asset to 20:20 MSL’s team. Her knowledge of Consumer, Lifestyle and Entertainment industry will augment the Agency’s ability to support the expanding portfolio while leveraging market opportunities for growth”.

     

    In her earlier role as Senior Client Services Director/Practices Lead at Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Rina was responsibile for leading prestegious consumer and entertainment campaigns. With her career spanning over 25 years Rina got an opportunity to play multiple facets of communication and storytelling roles including being a journalist with The Times Group for over 8 years and Corporate Communciations and PR lead for Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt. Ltd for 5 years. She has consulted for some of world’s leading corporations including P&G, HUL, Colors – Viacom18, Tata Sky, Intel, Dolby, Godrej Industries, Marico, Skoda, Marriott International, Times Entertainment, & Hyatt Corporation among others.

     

  • Ogilvy's V12 ranking goes beyond traditional economist and banking indices and is based upon measures of middle-class growth in terms of income

    Ogilvy & Mather report identifies 12 velocity markets that will reshape global growth

    By A Correspondent

     

    Ogilvy & Mather has launched a new report that identifies 12 velocity markets that will be key to middle-class consumer growth over the next decade. With the BRIC index of markets having outlived its usefulness, Ogilvy’s new ranking provides a fresh perspective on the future of global growth, and challenges some of the outdated notions about emerging markets.

     

    Ogilvy’s V12 ranking goes beyond traditional economist and banking indices and is based upon measures of middle-class growth in terms of income, rather than assets, using a Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) methodology – a measurement widely accepted by the IMF, the UN and the World Bank to equalize the purchasing power of different currencies. Critically, it also assessed markets based upon the velocity of growth and change – an increasingly important factor that some companies have grossly underestimated so far in their global growth plans.

     

    The 12 velocity markets identified herald a shift to South Asia as the epicenter of future middle-class growth. Centered principally in India, but inclusive of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Indonesia, and the Philippines – and extending up to China, and to Egypt, Nigeria, Mexico, and Brazil in the other direction, the Velocity 12 markets represent a vast arc of future growth.   Over the next decade, these 12 markets will be the source of the next billion middle-class consumers, which will create a critical tipping point as the middle-class move from a minority to the majority of the local population in many of these markets.

     

    Miles Young, Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide Chairman: The Velocity 12 research shows the world as it will be in the not too distant future. A billion new middle class members will literally change its shape. It will become, for instance, much more orientated to South Asia, especially India. Most Western businesses simply are not used to thinking this way.  This means finding a new lexicon of growth, as the phrase ‘emerging market’ doesn’t now describe the new realities. ‘Velocity’ better describes the real transformation in these markets.

     

    The Report features the results of a first-of-its-kind middle-class attitude survey conducted across all of the 12 markets amongst 3,600 consumers.  It also addresses a range of V12 social, cultural, technological and lifestyle trends that companies need to know, both to size the prize for their brands and to figure out how to capture it.  This includes identifying the key role that women will play as social change agents and entrepreneurs, with purchasing power crossing cultural, religious and demographic divides. Understanding the progressive Muslim consumer – the Muslim Futurists – as a key consumer segment will be crucial to succeed in the V12. Seeing cities, more than countries, as the unit of invention, entrepreneurship and investment will also alter trade and investment patterns in these markets.

     

  • He has spearheaded issues management, developed key message and brand positioning, media policies and crisis preparedness for various clients

    Aseem Bhargava appointed VP – Media Relations and Crisis at Hill+Knowlton Strategies

    By A Correspondent

     

    Hill+Knowlton Strategies announced the appointment of Aseem Bhargava – Vice President, Media Relations and Crisis. Based at the Gurgaon head-office, Aseem will run a national mandate for Media relations and Issues + Crisis Communications for clients

     

    “Aseem will actively work at supporting, nurturing and building strong relationships, for Hill + Knowlton Strategies clients across India. His comfort in dealing with senior level media personnel, will be an added advantage and will help establish deep links for our clients’ benefit. In addition with his knowledge and understanding of how Issues and crises can affect all stakeholders and publics, he will look at actively reaching out to any business or organization under duress and add business critical value there. He has a well-established track record of working and leading his clientele in achieving top of mind recall and recognition. I am delighted to welcome him in a leadership role, into the H+K Strategies family” said Radhika Shapoorjee, President-India & South Asia.

     

    Aseem is an agency veteran with over 13 years of experience in the agency world and nearly 13 years on the corporate side. He has worked across sectors including IT, Technology and Telecom, BFSI, Aviation, Entertainment, FMCG, Retail and Lifestyle. He has provided strategic communications counsel to senior clients, advice on media engagement strategies and been responsible for the development and implementation of multiple campaigns.

     

  • Mallikarjun Das & Tanmay Mohanty to be Group CEOs of Starcom India & Zenith. Hari Krishnan quits, Hanley King moves to global position

    Publicis Media restructures ops, top deck

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    Publicis Media has announced the appointments of Group CEOs for its two key constituents in operation in India: Zenith and Starcom. Mallikarjun Das will head Starcom India and Tanmay Mohanty will head Zenith.

     

    Meanwhile, Starcom Chairman Hanley King has moved to a global role within Publicis Media. His role is taken over by Das. Zenith Managing Director Hari Krishnan is moving on from the organisation.

     

    Announcing the new structure and leadership announcements, Publicis Media CEO Anupriya Acharya said:  “One of the greatest strengths of our new organisation in India is its team of leaders, all of whom have proven track record within our system, ” adding: “The new structure is a fresh opportunity to simplify our organisation, invent more modern approaches to gain effectiveness and efficiency, introduce structures for greater collaboration, and drive new levels of client value and delight”.

     

    Publicis Media India will consolidate its agency brands: Starcom Mediavest, Zenith Optimedia, Equinox, Performics, Convonix, Resultrix, Ninah, Newcast into four agency brands that are in line with the global structure, namely: Starcom, Zenith, Mediavest | Spark and Optimedia | Blue 449.

     

    In this new model, the agency network names of Starcom Mediavest Group and ZenithOptimedia Group are retired to better enable a flatter organisational structure. VivaKi capabilities will be fully integrated into Publicis Media’s Global Practice model. Performics will remain Publicis Media’s global performance marketing brand and scale within all agency brands.

     

    The key appointments announced are:

    Reporting to Das are Sarfaraz Khimani and Pallav Jain, Co-CEO Performics.Convonix and Basabdatta Chowdhuri who takes on the role of National COO, Starcom India.  Mayoori Kango will be MD Performics.Resultrix, reporting to Mohanty.

     

    Meanwhile, some centralised functions have been outlined: Dnyanada Chaudhari will lead Publicis Media Exchange,  Santosh Ghosh will lead Data, Technology and Innovation, Aarti Bharadwaj will lead Analytics, Research and Insight, Gautham Pingali will lead Business Transformation and Content Communications will be led by Anushree Chandran.

     

    At a Publicis Media India level, Rajesh Viswanathan is appointed Chief Financial Officer, Saswati Sinha is appointed Chief Talent Officer.

     

  • Dentsu Creative Impact, which won creative duties for a range of Maruti Suzuki brands, has bagged the digital mandate for Maruti Suzuki along its digital partner agency IsobarIndia

    Dentsu Aegis Network bags Maruti Suzuki’s Rs 100cr digital mandate

    By A Correspondent

     

    Dentsu Creative Impact, which won creative duties for a range of Maruti Suzuki brands, has bagged the digital mandate for Maruti Suzuki along its digital partner agency IsobarIndia. A multi-agency pitch that was held earlier this year.  According to industry estimates, the account is sized at Rs 100 crore.

     

    Sanjeev Handa

    The Dentsu Aegis Network teams will now handle digital creative, social and media duties for Maruti Suzuki corporate and all model brands other than the Nexa portfolio. A team comprising specialists across digital verticals has been put together to handle this massive mandate.

     

    Speaking on the development, Sanjeev Handa, Vice President, Marketing Maruti Suzuki India said, “Our partnership with Dentsu Aegis Network on digital mandate is a strategic one. We wanted to have an integrated and synergistic approach to our digital mandate also. We feel having Dentsu Aegis Network as our creative partners in offline, the idea is to have a coherent communication to be more productive and efficient.”

     

    Amit Wadhwa

    Speaking on the win, Amit Wadhwa,President, Dentsu Creative Impact, said, “It’s great to see that our partnership with Maruti Suzuki is going from strength to strength. What is even more heartening is to see that a leader like Maruti Suzuki is truly looking at an integrated approach. In today’s day and age a uniform approach is what is going to deliver in the market place and when brands like Maruti Suzuki demonstrate it, it forms a great example for others to follow. Look forward to an interesting journey ahead.”

     

  • In addition to this, the agency will also help NRHM manage real-time online interactions and queries from the public

    National Rural Health Mission Kerala appoints FCB Ulka for ‘Arogya Keralam’

    By A Correspondent

     

    In a multi-round, multi-agency pitch, FCB Ulka has been awarded the digital duties of Arogya Keralam, an initiative under the auspices of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). The agency has been chosen for its precise understanding of the Kerala digital audience as well as its unique communication strategy which, when rolled out, would be educational, fun and share-worthy.

     

    Nitin Karkare

    Nitin Karkare, CEO, FCB Ulka said, “Kerala has peculiar issues in healthcare sector. Though the state scores very high nationally in terms of critical health indicators, it faces problems quite unique to itself such as high incidence of lifestyle-induced diseases, problems related to an ageing population as well as re-emergence of certain communicable diseases”.

     

    The mandate given to FCB Ulka is to reach and connect with the increasingly digital-savvy audience of the state and create awareness of such diseases as well as the various initiatives and activities undertaken NRHM. The agency will utilize all of NRHM’s social media properties as well as other digital platforms to achieve its communications objectives.

     

    In addition to this, the agency will also help NRHM manage real-time online interactions and queries from the public, which will be supported by an expert panel of doctors.

     

  • The survey, carried out across all regions in April 2016, has highlighted some clear differences between advertisers' and publishers' expectations

    Publicitas study highlights key trends between advertisers & publishers

    By A Correspondent

     

    Publicitas has carried out its first annual survey to review industry priorities. This included finding out what advertisers, agencies and publishers are expecting from the future, and what they believe the next big technology leaps should be.

     

    The survey, carried out across all regions in April 2016, has highlighted some clear differences between advertisers’ and publishers’ expectations. Overall, industry executives across all businesses highlighted content marketing as the number one focus, ranking this above anything else.

     

    From here, advertisers and publishers differ on what should be the secondary priority. Advertisers are valuing content quality and relevance next, while media owners are not deeming this important enough to even include it within their top 10; they focus more on delivering creative ad formats in a personalised way according to the survey.

     

    Interestingly, even though ad-blocking is still appearing as a topic in the media almost daily, it is not a main concern for the industry. Global marketers across all sectors believe that making content more insightful and relevant will help dilute the ad-blocking trend. In total, 81 per cent of global marketers agree that ‘Relevant content and environment helps prevent ad blocking’.

     

    Mike Jeanes, Global Head of Insight at Publicitas, said: “The Publicitas Marketing Priorities survey has shown some interesting differences and significant gaps in the way publishers and advertisers are prioritising their business. The findings in this research clearly show that content is very high on the agenda for client-side marketers as they get more and more involved in the production and delivery of their own content.”

     

    Almost all 672 participants agreed that developments in mobile technology, and the power of mobile devices especially, will most likely influence their business in the next 12 months.

     

    There is interest in immersive technologies such as virtual reality and augmented reality technology, and a clear feeling that these will impact their business in the immediate future. In fact, 70 per cent agree that virtual reality will drive the next technology revolution.

     

    With over 80 per cent of advertiser and agency executives expecting to increase spend on mobile and an array of digital formats in the next 12 months, and consumers adopting new technologies at a faster rate than ever before, global marketers will need to step it up to keep up with demand.

     

    Andy Vogel, Global Head of Digital Product, Publicitas, comments: Consumers are adopting new technologies at a faster rate than ever before, and these trends will become quickly realised if the application and monetisation models are in place to move these mainstream. It will be interesting to carry out this survey in another year, compare the priorities and industry problems and see if by using engaging content and the latest technologies, we are any closer to aligning businesses with consumer expectations and needs.

     

  • Hari has about 20 years of experience in the advertising and media industry; having spent most of it between Lowe Lintas, JWT, Star TV and Grey

    Lowe Lintas appoints Hari Krishnan as President – South

    By A Correspondent

     

    Lowe Lintas has announced the coming in of Hari Krishnan as the new President of its South operations. This appointment comes on the back of GV Krishnan’s recent exit.

     

    To be based out of Bengaluru, his remit includes the agency’s offices in Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad. As the largest creative agency in South region, the portfolio includes over a 100 clients and brands such as Arvind, Britannia, Fastrack, Flipkart, Gold Drop, Hike, ITC Foods, MRF, Mobizz, Paperboat, Sonata, Tanishq, TI Cycles, TVS Motors and many other companies and brands.

     

    Hari, currently CEO of MullenLowe’s operations in Sri Lanka is in the process of transitioning into his new role.

     

    He had joined MullenLowe early 2015 from Grey India where he was heading their South operations.

     

    Hari has about 20 years of experience in the advertising and media industry; having spent most of it between Lowe Lintas, JWT, Star TV and Grey.

     

    Commenting on his move, Joseph George, Regional President – South & South East Asia, MullenLowe Group and Group CEO, MullenLowe Lintas Group, India said: “Hari has done an incredible job in Sri Lanka almost transforming our operations there overnight. Going by his track record across the agencies he has worked in, he is just the right person we need to build on the fantastic momentum that the South operations of Lowe Lintas have achieved over the past 3-4 years in terms of creative product and new business acquisition. Both of which, Hari is rabidly passionate about.”

     

    Hari Krishnan adds: “This is a homecoming of sorts for me since my association with Lowe Lintas almost 18 years ago started in the Bengaluru office. The India operations of Lowe Lintas has been on an unbelievable roll the past few years and my mandate is clear. The talent in our 3 offices in the South, especially the creative fire-power under Rajesh Ramaswamy’s leadership is just reassuringly and intimidatingly brilliant. Can’t wait to get started!”

     

    Speaking of succession for MullenLowe Sri Lanka, Joseph George says, “Our Sri Lanka operations are in a sweet spot thanks to all the efforts made in the past 18 months under Hari’s leadership and some fantastic clients. And we are perfectly poised to build on from here; which is why Hari’s replacement for the Sri Lanka CEO’s role is crucial; and so I am very pleased with whom we have found. The announcement will take place in a few days.”

     

  • The brand positioning stems from a universal insight that good habits are hard to keep

    Scarecrow develops new communication for DS Group’s dairy brand Ksheer

    By A Correspondent

     

    DS Group’s Ksheer, a premium dairy brand, launched a new campaign including a TVC with the tagline “Ek Acchi Aadat”. The new TVC strengthens the brand positioning of Ksheer as a good habit to instill. The TVC depicts the daily routine of a joint family  – be it sleeping in late, playing video games or doing too much of office work from home.

     

    The brand positioning stems from a universal insight that good habits are hard to keep — whether it’s cultivating habits like being on time or exercising regularly in our day-to-day lives; our ambitions may be high, but most of us don’t have the willpower to maintain the right habits.

     

    Using lighthearted storytelling, the ad establishes Ksheer as one habit that’s easy to keep, every day. “Ksheer, Ek Achhi Aadat”, the tagline reinforces how consuming healthy Ksheer products is a great habit to have and keep.

     

    The ad is heightened by its cast that includes Hrishitaa Bhatt, who is known for her acclaimed roles in Bollywood’ plays the homemaker, while Jugal Hansraj the ‘Masoom’ boy of bollywood plays her husband. Actor Nassar Abdulla also features, along with the stalwart Sujata Kumar. One of the role is played by veteran actress Late Sulbha Deshpande, who passed away shortly after the shoot. Bringing this star-studded cast together and telling a lively tale is ace director Pradeep Sarkar.

     

    Speaking about the Ksheer brand, Sunil Bansal, Business Head-Dairy, DS Group, said, “Milk and milk products are known for their health benefits. Children are always told that milk is good for them. We aim to put milk back in the daily routine of the Indian family as a great habit to follow – “Ek Achhi Aadat”.  The brand ‘Ksheer’ symbolizes the ocean of milk, which represents purity filled with lots of goodness that replenishes health and is a great daily habit to instill.”

     

    On the mischievous tonality of storytelling, Scarecrow’s Founder Director, Manish Bhatt adds, “We experimented with Mehra Family’s self-admissive-yet-sarcastic statements regarding their various habits, where we establish Ksheer Milk and Milk Product as an easy-to-keep habit in the backdrop many of their hard-to-keep good habits and not-so-good ones. We have used a storytelling approach where what has been said and what has been shown in the visuals is contradictory – to create intrigue, light humour, sarcasm and chemistry between the family members. Use of unusual casting in the film is intended to make the film noticeable and memorable in the clutter of FMCG communication on TV. We also added a song in the film ‘Achhai ko Zindagi se Lipatne Do’ to increase the Emotional Quotient and take-away factor of the film.”

     

  • Makani Creative has won the pitch in a multi agency pitch

    Lavie appoints Makani C reatives as its ad agency

    By A Correspondent

     

    Fashion accessory and footwear brand Lavie has appointed Makani Creatives as its advertising agency for its range of bags and shoes.

     

    Established in 2010, Lavie is India’s leading women’s accessory brand, with a pan India presence. Lavie launched its range of footwear in 2013. The brand leveraged the insight that women are indecisive and fickle in all their choices and worked on a communication platform – Fickle is Fun. The proposition was launched with a campaign with Kareena Kapoor which had very high stickiness with the consumers.

     

    Makani Creative has won the pitch in a multi agency pitch.

     

    Speaking on the development, Sandeep Goenka, COO said, “Makani Creative has an illustrious track record of building and sustaining some of the most high profile fashion and retail brands in the country. It’s this expertise that they leveraged in order to come up with a very fresh perspective on “Fickle is Fun”. Makanis based their pitch on consumer insights while retaining the fashion and aspiration quotient of the brand. We look forward to breaking new grounds with the path created along with Makani Creative.”

     

    Sameer Makani, MD, Makani Creatives said, ‘‘Lavie has created a very strong presence in a very short span of time in the market. Its strength lies in having a range of products right from wallets to bags and shoes all within an affordable range. Lavie gives women the liberty to amass more and more fashion accessories to go with their many moods and wardrobe. The Lavie (range of products) is able to straddle the everyday as well as occasion based need of a woman. Its pan India presence ensures style or trend is not just an urban phenomenon.”