MxMIndia

Category: Ad Agencies

  • The mandate includes creative and strategy

    Leo Burnett appointed the lead AOR for Birla Opus

    The Aditya Birla Group has aligned its creative and strategic mandate with Leo Burnett India for the launch Birla Opus. Leo Burnett has been tasked with designing the brand architecture for the main brand – Birla Opus and drive the strategic, creative, and digital initiatives for their luxury and premium portfolio of brands. The account will be handled by the Leo Burnett Mumbai team.

    Inderpreet Singh
    Inderpreet Singh

    Speaking about the appointment Inderpreet Singh, Head, Marketing, Birla Opus, said: “Birla Opus is a brand that is designed for today’s dynamic and audacious new India. Keeping this in mind we were looking for a partner who would be able to support our vision and craft a narrative that appeals to today’s audiences. We look forward to working with team Leo Burnett.”

    Rajdeepak Das
    Rajdeepak Das

    Ådded Rajdeepak Das, CCO Publicis Groupe South Asia and Chairman Leo Burnett South Asia: “Birla Opus is undeniably one of the biggest brand launches that the country will witness this year. But what’s more exciting for us at Leo Burnett is the drive to bring in the next revolution in the paint category. We’ve found that the visionary, agile and nimble, Aditya Birla Group, is the perfect partner for creating such revolutions. At Burnett we believe in work that ‘Impacts a Billion’ and we know that Birla Opus with its brand vision will do just that.”

    Abhimanyu Khedkar

    Said further Abhimanyu Khedkar, Executive Director, Leo Burnett India: “An opportunity to work on a brand like Birla Opus comes once in a while. We are excited to help shape the brands roadmap and create groundbreaking work at the cusp of culture, creativity, data, and technology.”

  • As Hashtag Orange expands its footprint from Gurgaon to Mumbai, there is a heightened focus on the western region, notes a communique

    Gaurang Menon joins Hashtag Orange as Creative Head – West

    Gaurang Menon
    Gaurang Menon

    Hashtag Orange, a leading digital native advertising agency, has announced the appointment of Gaurang Menon as its Regional Creative Head for the West region.

    As Hashtag Orange expands its footprint from Gurgaon to Mumbai, there is a heightened focus on the western region, notes a communique.

    Said Mukesh Vij, Founder of Hashtag Orange: “I am glad to welcome Gaurang Menon back to the Hashtag Orange team. I am confident that Gaurang’s leadership will play a pivotal role in driving our growth objectives forward. His strategic vision, coupled with his creative prowess, will undoubtedly elevate our efforts as we continue to innovate and expand in the dynamic digital advertising landscape.”

    Amit Shankar, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer at Hashtag Orange, echoed the same sentiment, stating: “I am thrilled to have Gaurang back on board, with even greater expertise and a fresh perspective that is sure to invigorate our team. His wealth of experience and creative acumen will play an invaluable role in elevating our strategies to new heights. Together, we will work on pushing  boundaries, innovating, and delivering exceptional results for our clients.”

  • MxMLive with Rana Barua

    MxMLive with Rana Barua

    In early January 2024, it was announced that Rana will extend his remit to include South East and North Asia. The expansion of Barua’s scope adds nine additional markets under his leadership in his new role as Group CEO India, South East and North Asia. His new titled reads: Group CEO, Havas India, South East Asia and North Asia

    Over the last few weeks, he has met with the media, talking about his new role and vision for his agency network.

    As part of a new season of MxMLive, Pradyuman Maheshwari, Editor-in-Chief spoke with Rana Barua over an interview via Zoom.

    Watch. Enjoy. Like.

  • To work across brands handled by both offices of the agency

    Nisheeth Srivastava is ECD at BBH

    BBH India, the creative agency within Publicis Groupe India, has appointed Nisheeth Srivastava as Executive Creative Director (ECD). Based out of New Delhi, Srivastava’s mandate involves working across brands handled by both offices of the agency and reporting directly to Parikshit Bhattaccharya, Chief Creative Officer of BBH India.

    Welcoming him to the BBH team, Bhattaccharya said: “Nisheeth’s appointment is in line with our objective of building a high talent density team. His vast body of work is a potent combination of culturally rooted insights and progressive ideas. His experience in handling big brand mandates will add another dimension to our game, specifically in Delhi. He joins a high energy, super collaborative creative leadership team comprising Ashwin Palkar, Swati Balani and Arvind Menon. I look forward to their combined magic as they curl a few into the top right corner for our clients.”

  • To enhance its brand recognition and engagement

    Pitchfork Partners appointed by Civic Studios

    Civic Studios, a global media company, has appointed Pitchfork Partners Strategic Consulting – as its communications partner. With this appointment, Pitchfork Partners will spearhead corporate communications for Civic Studios to build and elevate awareness for the company.

    Expressing her enthusiasm for the association, Roohi Bhatia, Director of Strategy & Operations, at Civic Studios, said: “We are thrilled to have Pitchfork Partners on board as our communications partner. Their experience and capabilities will be instrumental in helping us achieve our communication goals. We look forward to working with them and crafting a compelling brand narrative in India.”

    Sharing his views on the appointment, Jaideep Shergill, Co-Founder of Pitchfork Partners, added: “Civic Studios is at the forefront of content production, and we are honoured to be their partner of choice for building the India narrative. We believe that our skills and domain expertise will significantly help in crafting strategic communications that will strengthen Civic Studios’ reputation and brand awareness.”

  • To deliver meaningful solutions to clients

    Havas Media inks partnership with KlugKlug

    Havas Media Network India, the media agency of Havas India, and KlugKlug, the Influencer Tech platorm, have entered a partnership. This collaboration is aimed at introducing solutions in the space of influencer marketing signaling a commitment to elevate the impact and effectiveness of influencer-driven campaigns.

    Said Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas India, SEA & North Asia (Japan & South Korea): “At Havas India, it has been our endeavour to introduce cutting-edge expertise that not only complements our current integrated Village ecosystem but also helps our client partners grow their business meaningfully. While we have already been leveraging influencer marketing as a substantial expertise, this strategic alliance with KlugKlug will enable us to further bolster our offering, making way for a more transparent, tech-driven, and organised ecosystem. I wish both the teams the very best and look forward to some impactful work together.”

    Commenting on the partnership, KlugKlug Co-Founder & CEO, Kalyan Kumar, added: “KlugKlug is absolutely delighted to embark on this journey with Havas Media Network India by adding a scientific layer to the world of influencer marketing for clients. This is a further validation of how closely KlugKlug brings forth ‘data that matters’ for greater business impact. Having successfully validated our technology across India and globally, this is a massive stepping-stone in our efforts to bring true value to the accelerating influencer marketing landscape. With Havas Media Network India’s guidance on continuous improvements, we should be unveiling some Made-In-Bharat global-first innovations in the very near future.”

  • To innovate digital advertising

    Concept Group partners with Numb3r

    Concept Group, independent agency network, has partnered with Numb3r Impact Agency, led by Rishi Kishnani and Tanmay Bahulekar, to “revolutionise traditional advertising paradigms and introduce a new era of creativity and innovation”.

    Said Vivek Suchanti, Chairman of Concept PR: “I’m thrilled to partner with Numb3r, an agency that resonates with my belief in adaptable creative video solutions. It’s refreshing to be part of a fluid, new-age agency where learning and the development of AI tools are at the core of our innovative approach.” Suchanti, as we know, has invested in many startup agencies in the past.

  • In Mumbai

    Emvies to be held on March 22

    The Advertising Club is gearing up to host the latest edition of the Emvies. With a total of 1892 entries received, Emvies 2024 will take place on Friday, March 22, 2024, in Mumbai.

    Of 1892 entries received, 471 were shortlisted. The final round of judging was evaluated by seasoned marketing professionals and select creative directors. Emerging as a gold standard amongst media awards, the Emvies 2024 has over the years grown in scale and strength.

    Said Rana Barua, Group CEO of Havas India, South East, and North Asia, and President of The Advertising Club: “At The Advertising Club, we take immense pride in promoting excellence in the field of Advertising, Media, and Marketing and the Emvies is a testament to our continuous effort. I’d like to express my gratitude to the jury for giving their precious time, and to the media agencies and brands for demonstrating strong ideas to foster growth of the Advertising, Media, and Marketing industry.”

    Added Punitha Arumugam, Chairperson Emvies Committee: “The increase in the number of entries for Emvies 2024 underlines the industry’s unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries. We are delighted to recognize the dedication and strategic brilliance reflected in these entries. It has always been our endeavour to celebrate groundbreaking media campaigns that have significantly contributed towards building resonance for brands.”

  • A content & influencer marketing agency

    Ykone agency acquires Barcode

    Olivier Billon and Rahul Khanna

    Ykone, the influencer marketing agency, has announced the acquisition of 70% of the Indian agency Barcode, a content and influencer marketing agency.

    Said Olivier Billon, Founder and CEO of Ykone: “The acquisition of Barcode Agency is a significant step for Ykone and its international expansion. Ykone YKONE already had a presence in India with an office in Bangalore since 2017. With the addition of Barcode’s operations in India, Ykone ‘s reach in the country and the broader Asia-Pacific region expands even further.”

    Added Rahul Khanna, Barcode’s CEO, added: “We express our heartfelt appreciation to our customers and collaborators in India. This acquisition empowers us to provide worldwide services to our Indianclientele while simultaneously promoting India’s unique narrative globally. We are very proud to join forces Ykone ‘s talented teams. My ambition with Olivier is to achieve worldwide supremacy in the field of Influencer Marketing. We are happy to introduce CAMPAYGN to the Indian market. This innovative tool shall help fill the gap of Indian customers planning their content & social commerce strategy with Barcode and Ykone.”

  • To deliver growth solutions to clients

    Dentsu & Arthur D. Little ink partnership

    Dentsu India has embarked on an industry-first strategic partnership with the global strategy consulting firm Arthur D. Little (ADL), aiming to deliver end-to-end solutions to enable growth for their clients. The partnership will be led by Narayan Devanathan, President & Chief Strategy Officer, South Asia, dentsu, and Amit Dakshini, President & Sector Lead (Automotive & Mobility), ADL.

    Narayan Devanathan
    Narayan Devanathan

    Commenting on the alliance, Narayan Devanathan said: “What happens when customer-centricity and creativity meet the consulting mindset? You get the opportunity to create unprecedented value for clients and their customers while creating new futures. And that’s precisely what the alliance between Dentsu and ADL will create for businesses everywhere – by creating a custom range of demand chain solutions. As businesses look to create sustainable futures for themselves, it’s critical that they are able to map and size demand in new ways and then nurture and fulfil that demand in engaging ways. Our clients look to us to solve their business problems – either by ourselves or in partnership with other experts. The Dentsu + ADL alliance is us walking the talk on this promise to our clients to truly be their partners.”

    Amit Dakshini
    Amit Dakshini

    Added ADL’s Amit Dakshini: “The timing aligns perfectly with the industry’s evolution towards increased software and connected content in modern vehicles, especially with the influx of global brands in India. True market leaders will distinguish themselves by finely targeting demand, crafting unique customer experiences, and fostering strong brand associations across physical and online channels. Partnering with a global leader like Dentsu empowers us to deliver end-to-end, outcome-driven solutions for accelerated sales growth, personalised customer experiences, and market leadership. We envision this partnership supporting Indian brands in establishing a robust global presence.”

    Harsha Razdan
    Harsha Razdan

    Said Harsha Razdan, CEO South Asia, Dentsu: “We are incredibly excited about expanding our offerings to clients. Dentsu’s commitment lies in adopting a holistic, customer-centric approach towards clients’ growth. Facilitating further brand transformation requires collaboration with industry-leading providers, and the partnership with ADL epitomizes this principle. Together, we are forging a truly synergistic offering poised to drive growth for both our clients and organizations. ADL commands a well-established reputation in its domain and introducing a complementary range of services will round off the circle of value-driven solutions for clients.”

     

    Satya Easwaran
    Satya Easwaran

    One final quote. From Satya Easwaran, Partner and Country Head, Arthur D Little India: “We are extremely thrilled with this one-of-its-kind strategic partnership in the industry. Our alliance with dentsu will pave the way for us to nurture and build long-term associations with clients while driving clear business outcomes. Starting with the Automotive & Mobility space, we plan to take this relationship further across multiple sectors including Consumer & FMCG, Energy, Technology, and BFSI.”

  • A new global offering dedicated to brand and design

    Havas launches Conran Design Group network

    Left Top Anti Clockwise Ludwig Duran, Rana Barua, Anaïs Guillemané Mootoosamy, Thom Newton, Lee Hoddy
    Left Top Anti Clockwise Ludwig Duran, Rana Barua, Anaïs Guillemané Mootoosamy, Thom Newton, Lee Hoddy

    Havas has announced the launch of the Conran Design Group network, a new global offering dedicated to brand and design, based on the long-standing expertise and talent at Conran Design Group, and W, Havas’ leading creative branding agency in France, which will be renamed W Conran Design.

    With studios in London, Paris, Mumbai and New York, the network’s team of 250 strategists and creatives will use their expertise in brand strategy, brand design, experience design and communications and engagement to inspire progress for clients and empower brands to make a meaningful impact.

    The network launch also marks the release of Conran Design Group’s new proprietary study, Citizen Brands, an evidence-based brand and design framework that identifies which brands are achieving balanced growth.

    The study finds that the top 20 ‘citizen brands’ – those able to meet the needs of both individual and society – earned £8bn more in revenues on average yearly than their lowest-performing counterparts. They also achieved equity price increases that are on average five times higher than those of the lowest performers.

    Said Yannick Bolloré, Chairman and CEO, Havas: “Conran Design Group is uniquely equipped to lead this new network with more than 60 years of experience in strategic brand and design, a holistic approach, and the benefit of global scale with a local touch. W is the natural partner to support the success of this initiative in France with its 25-year track record of helping companies transform to remain at the heart of the conversation and make a positive contribution to society.”

    Added Thom Newton, Global CEO, Conran Design Group: “We’ve entered the era of expectation inflation – and brands are under huge pressure to deliver growth and good.This will only intensify amid ongoing uncertainty and heighted economic and environmental pressures. Brand leaders will be expected to take an even more active role in how their brands meet and balance these pressures. Our study shows that all companies across all sectors need to find a way to achieve balanced growth, critical in an increasingly unbalanced world. But rather than prioritising growth alone – growth at any cost – the focus should be on progress, progress that’s both balanced and sustainable. Our new global network, supported and informed by the Citizen Brands framework, will help brands achieve that.”

  • Wavemaker & Mondelez shine @ Emvie 2024

    Wavemaker & Mondelez shine @ Emvie 2024

    The 24th edition of the Emvies, held last Friday (March22) saw Wavemaker India with 665 points recognised as ‘The Best Media Agency of the Year’ and Mondelēz India Foods Pvt. Ltd. with 440 points declared as ‘The Best Media Client of the Year’.

    Grand-EMVIE
    Grand EMVIE

    EMVIE - Client of the year
    EMVIE – Client of the year

    Grand EMVIE Thirty-five agencies participated to submit 1892 entries, of which 471 entries were shortlisted. Other than one Grand Emvie, 44 Gold and 68 Silver trophies were presented in addition to 88 Bronze prizes.

    Wavemaker India also bagged the Grand Emvie for Mondelēz India’s Cadbury Celebrations. Mindshare with 460 points stood second and EssenceMediacom with 325 points stood third. It was indeed a GroupM show at the top of the agency roster.

    The Emvie for Diversity Equality & Inclusion (DE&I) was awarded to Mindshare for Dove’s Stop The Beauty Test. The Young Emvie of The Year was awarded to Mindshare’s Rowena Rodrigues for Dove – Crafting Cannes-worthy Brilliance!

    Said Rana Barua, Group CEO of Havas India, South East, and North Asia, and President of The Advertising Club: “The calibre of work showcased at the Emvie this year was truly phenomenal. Standing out in their unique ways, each entry exemplified the exceptional quality of work our industry professionals consistently maintain, reaching global standards. We are delighted to celebrate these winners, whose creativity and strategic brilliance set a new standard for excellence. A heartfelt congratulations to all the winners for raising the bar in the media industry!”

    Added Punitha Arumugam, Chairperson, Emvies Committee: “The work submitted for Emvies continues to astound us. Each year, the innovative and ingenious campaigns elevate the industry’s brilliance to new heights. A huge congratulations to this year’s winners! The quality of work witnessed sets a remarkable standard in the media industry, and we are thrilled to see where the continuing work takes the industry next.”

    The prestigious awards were powered by TV9 Network, co-powered by The Times of India, in association with UltraTech Cement, and category sponsors Craving Digital, Celebrity Cricket League (CCL), and South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA).

    EMVIE 2024 AGENCY OF THE YEAR

    EMVIE 2024 CLIENT OF THE YEAR

    EMVIE 2024 RESULTS