MxMIndia

Category: Ad Agencies

  • To help the ‘right governance frameworks’

    Kulfi Collective appoints Divya Karani as Chairperson and ED of its Board

    Kulfi Collective has announced the appointment of senior adperson Divya Karani as Chairperson and Executive Director of its Board. Most recently, Karni was the CEO of Dentsu Media, South Asia, where she led the agency for over 12 years.

    Kulfi Collective, through its three divisions, Supari Studios, Post Office and Keeda Media, has partnered leading brands and platforms such as Spotify, Red Bull, Netflix, Lego, Flipkart and Zomato to deliver content, experiences and IPs that shape culture.

    Said Advait Gupt, Co-Founder & CEO of Kulfi Collective:”Divya joining the board will help us build the right governance frameworks as we scale globally. Further, her deep expertise will help us build upstream capabilities to bring brands closer to communities and subcultures in music, sports, gaming, entertainment and lifestyle.”

  • Initiative undertaken in collaboration with Quantum Solutions

    MullenLowe Lintas Group commissions study to deconstruct Indian cultures

    MullenLowe Lintas Group has commissioned study titled ‘State of States’ to deconstruct the different Indian cultures. The initiative is undertaken in collaboration with Quantum Consumer Solutions, to partner their clients in helping create deeper meanings for brands at a local/ethnic/cultural/sub-cultural level and win in the marketplace.

    Commenting on the study, S Subramanyeswar, Group CEO – India & Chief Strategy Officer – APAC of MullenLowe Group said: “There is a rise in ethnic nationalism or localism or even ultra localism in India (and in fact, it’s a global phenomenon too), in which identity is defined by perceived genetic, religious, or linguistic heritage beyond the democratic ideals or principles and our timing of this “State of States” study, a marvel of insight and practicality, couldn’t have been better given the ‘Winning in many Indias’ agenda of many organizations in the country. While politicians use this to whip up fundamentalism outlining their terms of engagement, brands can certainly stoke pride, becoming the firms of endearment.”

    Sharing her enthusiasm on the partnership, Anju Joseph, Partner, Quantum Consumer Solutions added:  “Quantum is privileged to partner with a premier advertising agency like Lowe Lintas on this pioneering journey which dares to go beyond cultural stereotypes and seeks to truly and meaningfully understand what makes a culture tick. The findings have been revelatory and insightful. They provide a verdant landscape for crafting powerful brand strategies and creative expressions that resonate deeply with the audience. In retrospect, it is a wonder that no one has embarked on this audacious journey before this. But as Subbu says, everyone is not Lowe Lintas.”

  • At the time of writing, there has been no communication from Ketchum Sampark, Ketchum or Omnicom. So we don’t really know how the developments are going to be projected and/or dressed up

    Curtains for Ketchum Sampark?

    On April 30, we received a communique from an executive at Ketchum Sampark for a financial services major. The signature in the email said that agency was the winner of PRWeek’s Best Places to Work survey in 2022. For, since then it appears to be a downward slide for the agency that Bela Rajan founded in 1994 and husband N S Rajan joined her to take it to dizzying heights.

    Earlier this week, the teams were told that the agency will shut shop, a majority of the team would need to leave, and a few key folks will service clients as they merge with the network’s PR agency FleishmanHillard (FH). FH doesn’t really have much of a footprint in India, and when last heard some of the staff and clients of Ketchum Sampark were looking elsewhere.

    In its heydays, Sampark was counted among the Top 5 communication consultancies in the country, and in the Top 2/3 in financial and crisis communications. Some of the biggest names in the financial sector were clients of the Rajans. Even corporates like Bajaj Auto swore by Sampark and the Rajans.

    Little wonder that when Omnicom’s Ketchum was looking for a partner in India, the obvious choice was Sampark. In an interview with MxMIndia in December 2011, a few months after acquisition, Rajan told MxMIndia: “We have been working with Ketchum for more than three years now so this tie-up is actually a formalisation of our relationship. We have been very comfortable with the cultural match. I think philosophically, Ketchum and Sampark have always had the same focus in terms of client deliveries, choice of clients, etc so there were a lot of similarities between us.”

    The Rajans quit the agency in 2021, after 27 years of spearheading it. In August, a month-odd before their final goodbye, NS Rajan addressed his teams in a mail: ““Bela and I will surely watch from far and cheer the success of Ketchum Sampark and each one of you.” On Tuesday, when many of his team members were shocked to learn of the inevitable, Bela and NS were on a holiday in distant Scotland. We are sure the evening would’ve ended in a stiff drink to rue the state of their loved one.

    At the time of publication, there has been no communication from Ketchum Sampark, Ketchum or Omnicom. So we don’t really know how the developments are going to be projected and/or dressed up.

    Staff, we hear, have been asked to report to work, and that it will be business as usual for another two months.

  • To help expand global reach

    Infinity gets Satyendra Mallik as CEO

    Satyendra Mallik
    Satyendra Mallik

    Infinity Advertising Services, an integrated advertising and communication organisation, has appointed Satyendra Mallik as its new Chief Executive Officer.

    Said Ajay Adlakha, Managing Director, Infinity: “We are thrilled to welcome Satyendra Mallik in Infinity family. His exceptional leadership skills, coupled with his extensive experience across various industries, make him the ideal to lead Infinity into its next phase of growth.”

  • To promote the ongoing creative revolution

    FCB Ulka names Hemant Shringy as new CCO

    Hemant Shringy
    Hemant Shringy

    FCB Ulka has onboarded Hemant Shringy as its new Chief Creative Officer (CCO).

    Shringy will partner CEO Kulvinder Ahluwalia to lead the FCB Ulka offices across the country.

    Dheeraj Sinha
    Dheeraj Sinha

    On the appointment, Dheeraj Sinha, FCB Group CEO of India and South Asia, said: “Our focus on building a new-age agency demands fresh perspectives. At FCB, our goal is to unite top-tier creative talent and demonstrate that creativity serves as an economic multiplier. Hemant’s track record of delivering outstanding creative solutions, resulting in brand recognition and business expansion, positions him ideally as the creative helm for FCB Ulka.”

  • To lead and drive the planning and strategy function

    BBH India onboards two senior VPs-Strategy

    Himanshu Saxena
    Himanshu Saxena
    Layla Khan
    Layla Khan

    BBH India, part of the Publicis Groupe India, has onboarded two senior level members in the planning function with Ankit Sharma and Layla Khan joining the agency as Senior Vice-President – Strategy. Their mandate will be to lead and drive the planning and strategy function. They will be based out of the agency’s offices in Gurugram and Mumbai respectively. The new leaders will report directly to Himanshu Saxena, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director at BBH India.

    Ankit Sharma
    Ankit Sharma

    Speaking about the two key appointments, Saxena said: “We are thrilled to welcome Ankit Sharma and Layla Khan to our leadership team. Both these leaders come with a stellar track record of delivering highly impactful and effective campaigns on variety of global and local market leading brands. Their wealth of experience and passion for creating exceptional work across advertising, digital, design, experience, and analytics for our clients will reinforce our position as a leading force in India.”

  • Strengthens Full Funnel Digital Capabilities

    Wondrlab appoints Ritika Malhotra as Head of Digital

    Ritika Malhotra
    Ritika Malhotra

    Wondrlab has appointed Ritika Malhotra as Head of Digital, further strengthening its leadership team. Malhotra’s last stint was at FCB Kinnect as VP – West, where she was responsible for the P&L for their largest region and leading solutioning for the brands managed from the region.

    Sanju Menon
    Sanju Menon

    On the appointment, Sanju Menon, Chief Operating Officer, Wondrlab said: “We are thrilled to welcome Ritika to the Wondrlab Network. Her impressive track record, forward-thinking approach and leadership skills make her the perfect fit to lead our platform first thinking. Her key focus areas would be to create phenomenal value for our existing clients and shape the digital practice of Wondrlab to set new benchmarks. Her addition strengthens our team’s capabilities and reinforces our dedication to pushing boundaries in the digital landscape by unleashing and delivering full-funnel solutions for our partners.”

  • To champion the group’s vision, and nurture future-ready teams

    Omnicom Media appoints Rita Verma as its Chief Talent Officer

    Rita Verma
    Rita Verma

    Omnicom Media Group has appoints Rita Verma as the organisation’s new Chief Talent Officer. She succeeds Anju Kurien – who has retired from her position after 13 years of service, during which she was instrumental in accelerating OMG’s strategic footprint in the market.

    In her role, Verma is tasked with solidifying OMG India’s people-centric ethos, championing the group’s vision, and nurturing future-ready teams to advance the growth trajectory.

    Speaking of the appointment, Kartik Sharma, Group CEO – Omnicom Media Group India, said: “Talent is our defining edge when it comes to propelling our collective success and that of our clients. With Rita steering our talent practice, we look forward to fortifying our commitment to our people-centric approach and driving transformations to progress further on our future-fit agenda.”

  • To bridge demand-supply gaps

    Dentsu & Ripplr join forces

    Dentsu has entered a strategic partnership with Ripplr, a leader in digital-first distribution and logistics companies, driving customised strategies that fuel client growth.

    Narayan Devanathan
    Narayan Devanathan

    Under the joint leadership of Narayan Devanathan, President & Chief Strategy Officer, South Asia at Dentsu, and Abhishek Nehru and Santosh Dabke, Co-Founders of Ripplr, this collaboration will leverage the expertise of each party to deliver client-led solutions that bridge the gap between demand and supply chains.

    Commenting on the alliance, Devanathan said: “Ripplr stands out as the unparalleled digital-first leader in distribution and logistics solutions, facilitating the most efficient movement of products from factory to retail. Moreover, when it comes to motivating consumers to engage with products across various channels—be it offline, online, or omnichannel—nobody does it better than dentsu. With our comprehensive suite of solutions at the intersection of marketing, technology, and consulting, this alliance will enable businesses to pinpoint the sweet spot between demand and supply, creatively and effectively bridging gaps across the entire value chain.”

    Abhishek Nehru
    Abhishek Nehru

    Added Nehru: “Ripplr is one of the largest FMCG authorised distribution companies, and our platform services more than one lakh retailers across 10+ cities. We have built a robust tech-enabled playbook for all FMCG brands, along with smart data analytics, helping brands to scale up in the ever-changing omnichannel market. With dentsu as a partner, which is a powerhouse of research, analysis, and strategy, and Ripplr’s execution and reach capability, the combined synergy will enable us to launch and scale brands faster and more efficiently across multiple geographies.”

    Harsha Razdan
    Harsha Razdan

    Said Harsha Razdan, CEO South Asia, Dentsu said: “In today’s dynamic business landscape, where time is of the essence, we understand the urgency of responding swiftly to client needs. We firmly believe that complementary solutions are paramount to not only meeting these demands but also overcoming challenges and fostering sustainable growth. Our partnership with Ripplr marks a significant milestone in our journey. By joining forces, we are empowered to offer a comprehensive spectrum of distribution and customer-facing solutions that cater to the evolving needs of our clients. This collaboration enables us to provide unparalleled value and innovation, ensuring that our clients remain ahead of the curve in an ever-changing market landscape.”

  • To collaborate with leaders across agencies

    FCB India appoints Mayuresh Dubhashi as CCO

    Mayuresh Dubhashi
    Mayuresh Dubhashi

    FCB India, part of the FCB Group agencies, has appointed Mayuresh Dubhashi as the new Chief Creative Officer (CCO).

    Mayuresh brings a wealth of experience to his new role as Chief Creative Officer, with over twenty years in the advertising industry working on some of the biggest brands in the country from The Times of India, Airtel, Pepsi Co, P&G, Oreo, Flipkart, Amazon etc. He’s been at the forefront of combining new-age technologies with classic storytelling in his work which includes designing the Indian Cricket Team’s jersey for MPL using data as well as turning an Oreo cookie into an A.I tool to express oneself.

    As the new Chief Creative Officer, Mayuresh will be at the forefront of FCB India’s creative efforts, partnering closely with FCB India’s CEO Ashima Mehra. His role extends beyond FCB India, as he will also be a key member of FCB Group India’s creative leadership, collaborating with leaders across agencies to continue to elevate the work across the network.

  • Killer hoarding!

    Killer hoarding!

    In the marketing services arena, the outdoor media business is known to have reported questionable trade practices and governance in the past. Things may have improved much over the last decade-odd with international players and networked agencies entering the fray, but what happened in Mumbai on Monday was a shocker. Or perhaps not. Given reports of trees being poisoned trees to ensure visibility of a billboard.

    It’s all over the news media: a hoarding in Mumbai has caused the death of 14 people, and there are 74  who have been rescued from the spot where the hoarding crashed. Updates on this are still coming.

    We are basing our reports on what has appeared in multiple newspapers.

    Here’s what Mumbai’s Free Press Journal has reported:

    The death toll after a big hoarding collapsed in Maharashtra’s Ghatkopar area has risen to 14 on Tuesday. According to the National Disaster Rescue Force, 74 people have been rescued alive from the spot, while 14 have been declared dead.

    The count of total victims stands at 88. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been conducting rescue operation for those trapped since Monday evening, when the incident happened due to heavy rains and strong winds.

    The incident is said to have happened at 5pm on Monday.

    Meanwhile, another report in FPJ notes:

    “… an FIR was registered at Pant Nagar police station against Bhavesh Bhinde, owner of the hoarding (Ego Media Company) under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) among other sections of the Indian Penal Code. A case under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering personal safety of others), 337 (causes hurt to any person by doing any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code was filed against Bhavesh Bhinde by Mumbai Police.”

    As per the FPJ, it had first reported about this illegal hoarding last Friday. “The Pant Nagar police, who were conducting the investigations on who poisoned the trees on the land owned by the Government Railway Police, said they have received complaint in the name of the company which owns the hoarding and now will proceed with the investigation,” a report adds. “As of now (Monday evening) we are in the rescue operation of over (expected) to be around 100 plus people, trapped under the hoarding that fell. Immediately after, along with the BMC, a new FIR will be registered in the matter and stringent action will be taken against the offenders under relevant sections,” an official said. He added, “If the company who owns the hoarding is the same as the ones who poisoned the trees, a supplementary FIR shall be registered.”

    According to a report in The Times of India, the hoarding size was a problem. It was illegal. “Not only was the hoarding illegal, but it was also far bigger (120×120 sqft) than the maximum size (40×40 sq ft) allowed by the civic body.”

    Now if you see a hoarding that’s illegal, why allow it to be there in the first place? Demolish it instantly. Yes, what happened on Monday — ‘Acts of God’, as they are called, happen once in a blue moon, but it’s not just enough to damn the hoarding firm. The civic authorities and all those who are responsible must also be booked.

    It’s also important for the various industry associations – the Advertising Agencies Association of India and the Indian Society of Advertisers chief among them to be vigilant. The Ego Media website boasts of some discerning corporates as its clients. It’s time they also crack the whip.

    Cleanse the system, or get cleansed!

  • To celebrate "Loktantra ka Tyohar"

    Inventech unveils illustrated animated content

    Inventech, the tech and content vertical of Laqshya Media Group, is presenting an animated content piece designed to commemorate ‘Loktantra ka Tyohar’ (The Festival of Democracy). Specifically tailored for Gen Z and first-time voters, this creation aims to infuse the youth with the spirit of democratic participation and celebration.

    Said Sommnath Sengupta, CEO of Inventech: “The concept behind this animated content is to celebrate the essence of democracy and voting, especially for the younger generation who are experiencing this festival for the first time.”