MxMIndia

Category: Ad Agencies

  • Motion will invest and partner with the world's leading talent, producers and distributors to fund, develop, produce and distribute premium content

    GroupM unveils content investment and rights management company, Motion

    By A Correspondent

     

    GroupM has announced the launch of Motion Content Group (Motion), a new global content investment and rights management company, to meet the ever-growing market demand for new economic models for premium content across the entertainment and media marketplace.

     

    Motion will invest and partner with the world’s leading talent, producers and distributors to fund, develop, produce and distribute premium content. It will also consolidate and diversify GroupM’s content investments and operations to-date, as well as utilise GroupM’s & WPP’s global network of relationships and content expertise for scale and competitive advantage.

     

    Richard Foster, currently the head of GroupM Entertainment, has been appointed CEO of Motion Content Group, which will be headquartered in London and Los Angeles.

     

    Said Martin Sorrell, CEO, WPP in a statement: “With new content companies such as Netflix and Amazon growing rapidly, the competition for premium content is heating up across the globe. WPP is investing in Motion Content Group to strengthen our content creation and distribution capabilities, to help meet evolving viewer needs, and to help advertisers continue to reach consumers in high qualitycontent environments.”

     

    Added Kelly Clark, GroupM CEO: “We have always used our global scale and reach to find innovative approaches that strengthen the media ecosystem for advertisers and media partners alike. Motion is a major commitment by GroupM to expand on these efforts.”

     

    And this is what Richard Foster, CEO, Motion Content Group had to say: “Our objective is to help create and support editorially and commercially vibrant premium content for the benefit of our content partners and advertisers. We will achieve this by continuing to invest into the content industry and lead the development of new models, commercial content structures and partnerships with media networks, platforms, talent, producers, and distributors.”

     

  • Prodigious India will offer its services across all Publicis Communications agencies including The Leo Burnett Group, Publicis Worldwide (including Marcel), Law & Kenneth Saatchi & Saatchi and MSLGroup

    Publicis Communications launches Prodigious in India

    By A Correspondent

     

     

    Publicis Communications has launched Prodigious, Publicis Groupe’s specialist production company that produces and delivers video, digital and print-led branded content, in India. Prodigious India will offer its services across all Publicis Communications agencies including The Leo Burnett Group, Publicis Worldwide (including Marcel), Law & Kenneth Saatchi & Saatchi and MSLGroup.

     

    Speaking about the launch of Prodigious, Saurabh Varma, CEO, Publicis Communications India said, “There has never been a better time to announce the launch of our own specialist production division. We hope to make Prodigious a major player inproduction in India in the next three years. To that end, we have made deep investments and put together a team of the best talent, technology and equipment to deliver world-class quality content for our clients. I am confident with Prodigious we have the most progressive content production company in India.”

     

    Added Loris Nold, Global COO of Publicis Communications: “Launching Prodigious in India was incredibly important to add to our existing footprint in the region, including China, Singapore and Australia. It’s exciting news for our clients and agencies.”

     

    Said Jean-François Valent, CEO, Prodigious Worldwide: “With the launch of Prodigious not only are we capable ofoffering our global clients with valuable local capabilities, but we are also opening new doors to local clients as we provide the support of our 3,000-people and 37-location strong network to Prodigious India.”

     

    Prodigious’ first initiative in India is the introduction of its video content stream, to be spearheaded by VandanaWatsa.Speaking about her new role and her vision for Prodigious, Watsa said, “We have huge ambition for video production at Prodigious, and it is backed by the work we have done for some of the country’s biggest brands–Thums Up, Bajaj V, McDonald’s, Jeep, Amazon –over the past year. The team of executive producers, directors, line producers and editors is hand-picked by us, and it is only going scale up in the months to come. I am excited to be a part of the global roadmap and Saurabh’s vision for Prodigious. I am confident of making it a reality.”

     

  • #FastFreshness campaign highlights the brand proposition of instant freshness in a tongue-in cheek manner

    Kara brings forth the freshness of Bahamas through latest summer campaign

    By A Correspondent

     

    Kara Wipes, a Future Consumer Limited brand, has launchedthe #FastFreshness campaign this summer. Conceptualised and created by Basecamp India, the  #FastFreshness campaign highlights the brand proposition of instant freshness in a tongue-in-cheek manner.

     

    Speaking about the campaign,Rahul Kansal, Head – Business Strategy and Marketing, Future Consumer Limited said:  “In this season with soaring temperatures all one needs is fast freshness and this is exactly what just one wipe of Kara can instantly provide. The campaign is simple, quirky and at the same time effectively communicates our key message of staying fresh while you are on the go.”

     

    Commenting on the creative of the campaign, Anil Bhardwaj, Director, Basecamp India added: “Kara as a brand is extremely popular in its category. Through this campaign we wanted the ad to showcase the hustle and discomfort that people go through while travelling in the heat and advocate the use of Kara to stay fresh and cool. We hope that the campaign is successful in connecting with the audience.”

     

  • Gowthaman Ragothaman moves to the role of Global Chief Strategy Officer for FAST from his current Mindshare APAC Chief Operating Officer

    G-Man goes Fast Forward in a global strategy role

    By A Correspondent

     

    Gowthaman Ragothaman

    In all the hullabaloo of the news channels taking on BARC, we didn’t flash this news early enough (note: we’ve resisted playing with the word Fast so far), but it does gladden our hearts to note that our man G-Man is going places. The Mindshare APAC Chief Operating Officer now assumes the role of Global Chief Strategy Officer for FAST. G-Man for those who don’t know is short for Gowthaman Ragothaman, the affable former chief of Mindshare India (until end-2011).

     

    Mindshare, the global media agency that is part of WPP, is placing its FAST (short for Future Adaptive Specialist Team) integrated performance unitat the heart of its business as part of an ongoing transformation programme evolving the agency into an Adaptive Marketing organisation…to help clients do the same.

     

    Norm Johnston

    Norm Johnston, formerly Mindshare Global Chief Strategy and Digital Officer, assumes the dual role of Global Chief Digital Officer Mindshare and Global CEO of FAST as part of the move.

     

    Other appointments to the FAST leadership team include: Gowthaman Ragothaman of course,Barry Lee, currently head of the London-based Mindshare Worldwide FAST Hub, who adds the additional role of Chief Product Officer for FAST; Tom Johnson, currently Performance Marketing Director at Mindshare Worldwide, who takes the role of Chief Client Officer for FAST; Adam Ray, formerly Global Head of Programmatic at Mindshare Worldwide, who assumes the role of Chief Innovation Officer for FAST.

     

    The global FAST team will be supported by the regional FAST Hub leaders: Robin Wong (APAC), Matias Galimberti (LATAM) andBrian Decicco (NA).

     

    Said Nick Emery, Mindshare Global CEO: “Clients need us to marry our abilities in brand building and outcome based performance marketing. FAST has been a key part of our overall integrated offer to clients and with Norm’s leadership team we are looking forward to helping our clients achieve greater success. There is much more to come on our transformation journey.”

     

    Added Norm Johnston, Mindshare Worldwide Chief Digital Officer and CEO of FAST: “We believe that modern Adaptive Marketers need to be experts in both brand and performance marketing and that only by offering an integrated approach will we truly achieve success for our clients, making their messaging relevant, timely and targeted whether it is brand or demand in nature. That is why FAST sits at the heart of an integrated Mindshare offering, not as an external agency.”

     

  • With a focus to empower underprivileged children across the country, this year's 'Tools For School' project centred its efforts on education

    Dentsu Aegis Network reaches out to 2,000 kids on ‘One Day For Change’

    By A Correspondent

     

    Dentsu Aegis Network’s CSR initiative ‘One Day For Change’, witnessed 1,750 employees engage with 2,000 children to execute the project, ‘Tools For School’. Now in its fourth edition, the CSR initiative was conducted across all Dentsu Aegis Network offices in India including Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai and Kochi.

     

    One Day For Change is an annual social commitment by the Dentsu Aegis Network, where employees from each of the countries are encouraged to go out and volunteer on the same day. Incidentally, Dentsu Aegis Network recently launched its CSR advisory, Indeed, to facilitate corporate investments by companies in Corporate Social Responsibly, through insights and a brand-led approach.

     

    Commenting on the initiative, Ashish Bhasin, Chairman and CEO, South Asia, Dentsu Aegis Network, said: “A significant number of children in the primary years drop out of school and the chief reasons for this are poverty and accessibility. Therefore, this year for our One Day For Change, we decided to focus on education. After all, no country can move forward unless it is 100% literate. We partnered with Bitgiving to raise funds to utilise for our project, Tools For School”

     

    Last year, over 1500 employees volunteered in India, contributing 6,000 staff hours. While the final numbers are still trickling in, it is estimated that in 2017 in India 1750 employees volunteered over 5,000 staff hours for the ODFC initiative.

     

  • Dubhashi will be reporting to Sandipan Bhattacharyya, Chief Creative Officer, GREY group India

    Grey appoints Mayuresh Dubhashi as Executive Creative Director

    By A Correspondent

     

    Mayuresh Dubhashi

    Grey India announced the appointment of Mayuresh Dubhashi as Executive Creative Director. Dubhashi will reporting to Sandipan Bhattacharyya, Chief Creative Officer.

     

    On Dubhashi’s appointment, Bhattacharyya said: “The combination of creative flair and a keen strategic mind is rare and Mayuresh packs both in his impressive body of work. He’s fearless, experimental, hungry and young. Just the kinds that define the new Grey”

     

    On joining Grey, Dubhashi said: “This is Grey’s centenary year, it just goes to show that the energy and will powering the place is quite inexhaustible. I am kicked to be a part of a bunch of people who are hell-bent on keeping the ‘Famously Effective’ spirit true, for decades to come.”

     

  • Through these wins, Ruder Finn will be rolling out their integrated communications mandate for these three internationally acclaimed brands

    Ruder Finn wins communication mandates for Lee Jeans, Lowe’s India and WeWork

    By A Correspondent

     

    In a move to expand its business portfolio in India, Ruder Finn has won three key communication mandates for Lee, Lowe’s India and WeWork. These wins come after a series of multi-agency and competitive pitches. Through these wins, Ruder Finn will be rolling out their integrated communications mandate for these three internationally acclaimed brands.

     

    Commenting on the wins Radha Roy, Country Head – India, Ruder Finn said: “It’s a great opportunity for us to work with such esteemed and reputed clients. At Ruder Finn, we aim to deliver meaningful, measurable campaigns through insights and data-driven storytelling”

     

    Added Divya Narayan, Branch Head – Bangalore, Ruder Finn: “It’s an exciting phase for us as we continue to strengthen the south India operations at Ruder Finn. These wins are a testament of our new age communications approach, which is not just limited to traditional PR. We wish to engage with clients and drive campaign’s which are in sync with their current requirement and needs”.

     

  • The movie is scheduled to release on May 26th, 2017

    200 Not Out appoints Maxus to promote ‘Sachin: A Billion Dreams’

    By A Correspondent

     

    There’s a fair buzz around ‘Sachin: A Billion Dreams’ and GroupM agency Maxus has bagged the account to innovate and promote the film. movie is scheduled to release tomorrow (May 26).

     

    Speaking on the win, Kartik Sharma, Managing Director, Maxus South Asia said: “In a country of cricket enthusiasts, getting to work on the epic biographical film is thrilling and humbling at the same time. It’s great to be regarded as experts in sports media and marketing. This is a unique project indeed because it’s not only about the social religion of cricket but also about the niche that Sachin has carved out for himself”.

     

    Added Ravi Bhagchandka, Producer, 200 Not Out:, “Sachin: A Billion Dreams is a very special project for us. We wanted a partner who could share the same passion in building this up just like us and give their best. Maxus’ understanding of media and sports marketing bundled up with innovative thinking and strong domain expertise makes them the perfect partner for us”.

     

    Said Jigar Rambhia, National Director – Sports and Entertainment Partnerships, Maxus India: “Working on this magnum opus project is a dream come true. Personally, sports has always been my passion and when you club your passion with profession, it only gets better”.

     

  • She joins Indigo Consulting after her last stint at iContract, where she was the Associate Vice President

    Indigo Consulting hires Sumitra Sarkar as VP – Client Services & Strategy

    By A Correspondent

     

    Sumitra Sarkar
    Rajesh Ghatge

    Leo Group digital agency Indigo Consulting has announced the appointment of Sumitra Sarkar as Vice President – Client Services & Strategy. Sarkar will be based in Mumbai, and will report to Rajesh Ghatge, Chief Executive Officer, Indigo Consulting.

     

    Speaking about the appointment, Ghatge said: “There is some tremendous momentum that we have gathered over the past few months on the back of some large client wins. We invest significantly in our client relationships and it starts with our business leaders who have the experience, skill and temperament to manage and grow these relationships. The business leaders become partners to our clients getting completely immersed in their businesses. Sumitra has an impressive track record, and we are thrilled to have her in our team. The brief to her is to ‘make a difference’.”

     

    Sarkar joins Indigo after her last stint at iContract, where she was the Associate Vice President. Speaking about her new role, Sarkar said, “I’m excited to be part of Indigo Consulting. Their data and brand-led approach to digital communication is very differentiated from what I have seen in other agencies. They have been producing some awesome work on the back of this approach.”

     

  • Dentsu India will be responsible for the complete creative mandate of Toonz

    Toonz Retail appoints Dentsu India as creative agency

    By A Correspondent

     

    Toonz Retail India has appointed Dentsu India as its creative agency.

     

    Sharad Venkta

    Said Sharad Venkta, MD & CEO, Toonz Retail India while welcoming the Dentsu team to the Toonz Retail account: “Hiring a creative agency is a big step for us. This is the first time we have hired a professional agency. The last one year has been phenomenal in terms of business expansion for us. Our store count increased exceptionally well with almost 30 stores getting added in 2016. Also we have plans to take the count to 200 in next 3 years. It’s the right time for us to take the brand to the next level, create awareness of the brand in a larger way and showcase our brand’s strength. We felt the need of a professional agency to communicate our brand value to further build trust amongst the parents and the customers. Dentsu’s ideas were creative, had a human connect and were in line with our thought process. We are looking forward to work with the team and hope they will effectively communicate our key brand attributes”.

     

    Added Simi Sabhaney, CEO, Dentsu India: “It’s always a pleasure to partner a client who is so driven and ambitious. We look forward to building brand Toonz together and taking it to greater heights.”

     

    The business would be led out of the Mumbai office of Dentsu India.

     

  • The veteran CDO for Mindshare Asia Pacific has added the Middle East and Northern Africa to his scope of work

    Mindshare expands Sanchit Sanga role to also be CDO for APAC & MENA

    By A Correspondent

     

    Sanchit Sanga

    Mindshare has expanded Sanchit Sanga’s role of Chief Digital Officer (CDO) for Mindshare Asia Pacific to also include the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA).

     

    In his role as CDO for Mindshare Asia Pacific, Sangaled the agency’s FAST rollout, which offers clients a series of industry leading digital and technology solutionss.  With this promotion, notes a communique, Mindshare is looking capitalise on his success in crafting custom built brand and performance marketing products for more clients using open source technology, AI and data products.

     

    Sanga has been with Mindshare since 2003, when he joined as the National Director for India.  He has since been in several roles for both the agency and GroupM and has been Mindshare APAC’s CDO since April 2015.

     

    Commenting on the new role Sanga said: “I am stoked to be working more closely with our trailblazing MENA team. Under Tony Bourached’s leadership as the digital head for MENA, we have reinvigorated the region with some stellar digital innovations and we will continue to redefine the region with fresh approaches to digital marketing. Our regions for APAC & MENA have many similarities in terms of digital evolution and it’s only natural that the teams work more closely to shape Mindshare digital products and our business outcome services under Mindshare FAST.”

     

    Added Ashutosh Srivastava, CEO, AMEA and Russia/CIS: “Sanchit is an industry leader and has been on the leading edge of marketing technology for years.  His work in establishing FAST in APAC, driving excellence in execution, and setting up industry standards on brand safety, fraud avoidance and viewability have been extraordinary – not just in the results that they deliver for clients, but with the flawless rollout of each client offering. With the launch of [m]Platform, GroupM’s technology offering that consolidates digital and data assets, we want to accelerate capability building and scale up all the products we have developed at the Singapore hub for growth markets. It is great to have someone with Sanchit’s experience and ability leading the effort in more offices.

    Sanga’s role is effective immediately.

     

  • Creativeland Asia turns 10, launches Baaash Digital

     

     

    Ten years after launch independent agency Creativeland Asia, Sajan Raj Kurup has announced Baaash Digital, a digital ready content company that will create, execute and monitor everyday content for brands, and will cater to every communication need of brands from Branded content, Brand/Product Stories, Experiential Engagements, AR, VR, Blogs to Content development for platforms, Usability Engineering, UX and Content delivery ecosystems etc.

     

    Commenting on the launch, Kurup (Founder and Creative Chairman, Creativeland Asia) said: “At Creativeland, we have always challenged status quo and disrupted the market with our thinking. Right now, I truly believe there is a change required in the content ecosystem.Ten years ago, we created a new ecosystem that pushed the bar for brand communications and advertising content in this market. Now, we want to create a new ecosystem for every day content that brands need. A decade ago, brands still relied purely on advertising content. Today, brands need to go beyond traditional advertising content to engage with consumers on a daily basis.

     

    With Baaash, we want to disrupt the traditional digital ecosystem. There has been a flurry of digital and social media shops after the advent of digital agency ecosystem. This eco-system today is fragmented with digital agencies, social media shops, various types of independent content creators, digital media outfits, ORM, social PR etc.  A lot of them who offer ad-hoc cheap social media management which is focussed on functional needs rather than pushing the brand’s creative potential to engage better with consumers.”

     

    Kurup has got Tejas Ravindranath from within the Creativeland team to lead this venture with a team of 24 people to start with.