MxMIndia

Category: ADVERTISING

  • Six months after finalising a creative agency, Skoda has again called for a creative pitch, with the account size estimated to be Rs 10 crore.

    Skoda on lookout for creative partner

    By Shubhangi Mehta

     

    Six months after finalising a creative agency, Skoda has again called for a creative pitch. Industry sources close to the development have confirmed the news to MxMIndia.

     

    The account size for the same is pegged to be Rs 10 crore. It may be recalled that Skoda had awarded its creative mandates to Saatchi & Saatchi post a multi-agency pitch in May this year.

     

    Prior to Saatchi & Saatchi, the account was handled by Saints & Warriors. Before that Law & Kenneth was the sole creative custodian of the Skoda brands in India since 2007. It handled the creative duties for Fabia, Octavia, Laura and Superb.

     

    The creative duties for some of the Skoda brands were also handled by iB&W earlier; but these also went to Law & Kenneth.

     

    Skoda had entered the Indian premium car market in 2001 and set up a plant at Shendra, on the outskirts of Aurangabad.

  • Media agencies did well either globally or nationally but in the case of creative agencies, most national award winners have done well internationally too.

    [LOOKBACK 2011] What creative & media agencies won

    By Ritu Midha

     

    A slew of international and national advertising and media awards dot the year. Agencies bag a prize, are written about, and in a few days, it is business as usual. The next set of awards comes up, another agency tops the chart, and the same cycle begins all over again.

     

    There are, however, agencies which garner awards consistently, across the award shows. Sometimes a few make a mark on the national awards scene, but don’t win so many accolades in international shows or it can happen the other way round.

     

    The year 2011 had a few interesting ups and downs: BBDO which managed to bag 14 awards globally, got just three within India. Contract which got 16 within the country,  got just two globally. Mindshare won 27 awards nationally and one globally, Maxus had a score of 21 and one respectively.

     

    However, in the case of creative agencies, most national award winners have done well internationally too. (Perhaps the lesser number of global media awards has something to do with it!)

     

    Below is a quick look at how the key winners in national awards did globally, and in a few cases, how the ones which did very well globally, did in the national scene.

     

     

    Click here for a complete list of awards won by Indian agencies in the year 2011.

  • The problem here is the treatment, not so much the concept. They could have made stunning commercials on future events. Instead, they have indulged in a wild, immensely off-putting shor sharaba waali party sharty, and in all the din the brand gets lost somewhere.

    Debrief: Can’t see the wood for the ply

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    Completely stupid ad from the house of Greenply. While it isn’t a bad idea to feature improbable situations from the future, and thus imply that the only thing constant will be the long-lasting Greenply plywood, the method they have used is really bad, and that’s putting it mildly.

     

    The setting is a New Year party, where some crazies sing and dance and predict outlandish things about the future. That the rupee will get you 45 dollars, the Kashmir problem will be solved, man will get pregnant, cars will run on water, etc. And that while we may not be around to see all that happen, the chair made from Greenply will still be there to witness all of it.

     

    Always hoyenga.

     

    [youtube width=”400″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l23PT-GuKSY[/youtube]

    Well, to be honest, I can’t believe it’s the same Greenply that gave us that delightful ad where a Tamilian gent is reborn as a little Sardarji. The problem here is the treatment, not so much the concept. They could have made stunning commercials on future events, almost like little sci-fi films. Maybe with stories woven around them. Instead, they have indulged in a wild, immensely off-putting shor sharaba waali party sharty, and in all the din the brand gets lost somewhere. And yes, the jingle really sucks.

     

    Pata nahin future mein kya hoyenga. Par yeh ad nahin chalenga.

     

    Rating: (On a scale of 1 to 5): 1. Simply put, a really bad New Year party.

     

  • After moving out of Saatchi & Saatchi, Kamal Basu will now be working with Skoda as a client.

    Kamal Basu to head marketing @ Skoda

    By Shubhangi Mehta

     

    Not long after quitting Saatchi & Saatchi as CEO, Kamal Basu is now said to be joining Skoda. Though no official confirmation could be attained at the time of this report, sources close to the development have confirmed the news to MxM India.

     

    Mr Basu was unavailable for comment. He had put in his papers in November 2011 at Saatchi & Saatchi where, as India CEO, he oversaw the agency’s Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru offices. Mr Basu had been with Saatchi & Saatchi India for nearly eight years after spending close to 14 years in agencies including O&M, DY&R and BBDO. He has been involved with multiple consumer categories and a rich set of global and local brands

     

  • The BBDO chief on the BBDO network, the 'culture vs strategy' formula, and the road map ahead.

    Chris Thomas: BBDO India’s performance has been fantastic

    By Tuhina Anand, Video-Shruti Pushkarna

     

    Chris Thomas, Chairman and CEO of BBDO in Asia, Middle East and Africa and Chairman of Proximity Worldwide, has spent over 25 years in the communications industry, and the majority of his time working for BBDO. In an exclusive interview with MxM India, Mr Thomas shares his views on the network and his view on BBDO’s performance in India and the road map ahead.

     

    Q: Are you satisfied with the way BBDO brands are performing in India?

    I think we’ve seen tremendous developments in the BBDO brand in the last three years. Our partnership with RK Swamy BBDO has been a tremendous success and continues to grow and develop. BBDO India has been ranked as one of the most creative and the most effective networks in India.

     

    Chris Thomas on BBDO expansion plans

    You measure their performance at Cannes, by winning the first Indian effectiveness awards at Cannes; there has been tremendous progress.

     

    BBDO India’s performance has been fantastic. We’ve gone from nothing in BBDO India to an agency that punches well above its weight in terms of size, is winning on the world stage, is developing our multinational clients’ businesses and brands in a way that’s highly compelling and effective.

     

    Q: With the recent development of Mudra, would it in any way also affect the scheme of things for BBDO?

    Well, that is a tremendous commitment and recognition of the importance of the Indian market. For Omnicom, there’s been a long standing relationship with Mudra. Obviously from the BBDO perspective, Omnicom’s continued commitment to the Indian market is very important and supportive.

     

    Chris Thomas on Omnicom Mudra acquisition

    Q: Are you looking at expanding your footprint any further? If yes, where would it be?

    The only thing I’m looking at expanding is quality. What I’m always interested in, is doing great work that’s talked about and moving consumers in the Indian market. If we have specific needs to be addressed in specific geographies, then we develop those needs. But the most important thing to expand is to make sure that we are doing the best work in the market and expansion comes after that, not before.

     

    Q: So if you were to define BBDO, would you say it’s small, mid-sized or big?

    BBDO is a network around the world, so obviously it’s enormous. But it’s not what we focus on, what we focus on is on being good. BBDO is defined by what we call the work, the work, the work, producing the best and the most compelling commercial content on behalf of our clients.

     

    So in this market, we absolutely live up to and deliver on that promise, and that’s why it’s been fantastic for our clients.

     

    Q: In the current times, what are the two challenges that you are facing?

    The challenge… it’s true in all of the Asian markets, it’s around the world, I think. But I think particularly in India and China, the key for all of our networks is to make sure that we are attracting the best people into the industry, we are retaining them and we are developing and growing them. So for me, I spend a huge amount of my time on attracting talent, developing our talent, and making sure that we have got an unfair share of great talent.

     

    Chris Thomas on current challenges

    Q: So what is your formula for attracting talent?

    Well we have a phrase, ‘culture eats strategy for breakfast’, and what we mean by that is, it’s about the power of the brand and the power of the culture. The fact that we are indisputably the most creative network in the world, the fact that this year we’ve been ranked as the No. 1 effectiveness network in the world means that we have a very powerful culture, we are aligned around a set of beliefs and what we care about, and that tends to attract good people. And that’s what we preserve and protect at all cost. So culture ahead of anything else.

     

    Q: We’ve been hearing about a talent crunch but there’s also the issue of being paid well. Is that an issue or is it being blown out of proportion?

    I think there’s a difference between accountability and effectiveness, and I think as an industry, we are spending quite a lot of time thinking about accountability. There are things we can count, like the cost of production, cost of media and so on. And we need to be concentrating a lot more on effectiveness and the value we add as a business to our client’s business. If you do that and you can demonstrate that case and that value, then you can command a premium. But it’s for the clients to see value and that’s about generating effectiveness and effective work. And I think if you can get that right, then the remuneration conversation can follow from there.

     

    Chris Thomas on his formula for attracting talent

    Q: Can you tell us about Proximity in India?

    We launched Proximity about a year ago now. Obviously as a network, it’s a rapidly growing direct CRM and digital network. I think there’s been a huge amount of conversation around social media, digital CRM, and we are seeing good growth in that business and I think that will continue in India as digital media, broadband penetration, use of mobile – which is enormous in this country – continues to grow, there are tremendous opportunities ahead.

     

  • 11 developments in media and advertising that 2011 will be remembered for.

    The Anchor: 11 noteworthy happenings of 2011

    By Tuhina Anand

     

    #1 The Dentsu deal. This was one of the earliest developments of 2011, creating a buzz when Sandeep Goyal made a fortune after selling his 26 percent stake in Dentsu India. Denstu Inc, the Japanese company which had a JV with Goyal’s Mogae Group became the sole owner. This development later saw some senior appointments like Rohit Ohri moving out of JWT to be the Executive Chairman of Dentsu Group India and much recently appointed Divya Gupta as the CEO of Dentsu Media.

     

    #2 World Cup comes home. India gave a stupendous show of its cricketing prowess when it lifted the World Cup. The series was a great opportunity for advertisers to get maximum eyeballs while ESPN Star Sports got the status of the official broadcaster of the series. Captain Cool, MSD walked away not just with the cup but also was given the title of the most influential Indian in Time’s list. Not to forget all the endorsement deals that the Indian team got post the win.

     

    #3 UTV-Disney deal. This was the mother of all deals when Walt Disney declared to buy stakes of UTV Software Communications. The deal is valued to be around Rs 2000 crore. Walt Disney already had a majority stake in UTV. The former will launch an offer to delist shares of the latter which will begin early next year.

     

    #4 Tough time for Kalaignar TV. The DMK run Kalaignar TV was in the news albeit for the wrong reasons. It got dragged in the 2G spectrum license episode and the brand took a further dip with its MD Sharad Kumar behind bars. This was one incident that Kalaignar would like to forget but its easier said than done especially because its taxpayers money that has been misused if the paper trail is proved correct.

     

    #5 Appointments and Dis-appointments. Ashish Bagga was elected President of The Indian Newspaper Society for the year 2011-Uday Shankar of Star India for was re-elected as the President of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) for his second term. Also Shashi Sinha of Lodestar was elected as the President of Ad Club Bombay. After being with TV Today Network for almost 16 years, G Krishnan, the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director quit. Haresh Chawla, the CEO of Network18 Group too decided to call it a day. Meanwhile Raj Nayak filled in the place left vacant by Rajesh Kamat when he took over as the CEO for Colors.

     

    #6 Justice Katju’s policing. Press Council Chairman, Justice Markandeya Katju had earned the ire of media by constantly trying to police media and gag the freedom of press. His suggestions to bring media under strict government purview and his thoughts on objectionable content had many in media being vociferous in their protest.

     

    #7 Rise of independents. The year marked the rise of independents in the advertising agency business who did well and earned name purely on their talent be it Taproot India with their fabulous work on Airtel and Pepsi or Creativeland Asia winning applauds at international awards arena.

     

    #8 AdAsia in Delhi. Delhi became the place to be for the advertising folks from around Asia who gathered for AdAsia. It was in 2003 that AdAsia was held in India in Jaipur and it came back only in 2011. The lineup of speakers was enviable and the number of delegates impressive. Thus a stimulating conference for all present.

     

    #9 Omnicom stake in Mudra. The Omnicom Group that has been trying to gain greater foothold in India managed to do so by taking a majority stake in Mudra. Post this Mudra also made its first structural change where it would be known as DDB Mudra and have DDB, Mudra, and Mudra Max under its umbrella.

     

    #10 Bobby and JWT shake hands. Bobby Pawar declared his intention to move out of Mudra soon after the Omnicom deal, thus giving enough fodder to the media to speculate on. His next destination is JWT and promptly Colvyn Harris took the opportunity to set his agency in order and went appointing three NCDs and a CCO at the helm. They sure will have their hands full in the New Year.

     

    #11 Anna Hazare’s magic. Who would have thought that a septuagenarian clad in Gandhi topi would become the most recognized face of 2011 and maybe even scoring more than Salman Khan in his meteoric rise to popularity? Not to mention that his fasts and LokPal Bill has taken enough of newsprint and debates on TV and has become a trending topic on the social media.

  • For Mumbai, which is not a politically active city unlike Delhi, Team Anna needed to think out of the box to get the crowds in.

    Anil Thakraney: The trick Anna missed

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    So, Anna Hazare’s Mumbai campaign suffered a serious setback. Only a few thousand ‘fans’ landed up, though expectations were of lakhs of people joining in. In fact, I was so mortally petrified of the projected traffic chaos, I made sure I did not plan any travel in the city… I stayed hidden under my bed like a coward for the period of the planned agitation.

     

    Quite clearly there are many reasons why the dharna flopped, and I won’t go into them out here, that’s for columnists in the mass media to worry about. But I must say this: For Mumbai, which is not a politically active city unlikeDelhi, Team Anna needed to think out of the box to get the crowds in. For one, they needed to hire a professional event management company, which would have organized entertainment and refreshments for the attendant junta. People are already fatigued of the Lokpal issue, and there have to be add-ons if Mumbaikars are tempted to give up their routine lives and spend three whole days at the MMRDA grounds. I am quite sure some event companies would have slashed their fees for the noble cause.

     

    Two, and no I am NOT kidding about this, Team Anna ought to have done a promo tie-up with Bollywood, without making a song and dance of it. For example, Don 2 released around the time of Anna’s Mumbai chapter. Could they not have tied up with Farhan Akhtar and Shahrukh Khan? What’s the worst that would have happened? SRK asking people to watch his flick, that’s about it. He does that everywhere, anyways. But in return, his presence would not only have pulled massive crowds in, it would have got Parliament on the edge. And the media would have shown much more interest in the event, even the Page 3 journos would have landed up.

     

    I am sure some of you might think I am trivializing a serious issue out here. Well,

    I am not. Because it’s quite clear to me that poor old Anna Hazare does not have the money or the means or the charisma to send Mumbai into a tizzy. He needed help. He needed to be clever. Because after the Mumbai flop show, even the Anna loyalists are having second thoughts about a solid Lokpal bill. And many fans across the nation seem to be losing faith in him.

     

    It would be a terrible loss for the country if Anna sahib were to fade away into oblivion. It’s time to think different.

     

    * * *

     

    PS: Since I am always cribbing and carping about the Indian media, I have decided to be nice in my last post of the year. For the entire year 2011, news channels behaved liked hysterical cheerleaders for Anna Hazare, thereby throwing all professionalism out of their studios. But as the year closed, I noticed a sense of calm and fair play across the board. The debates were more balanced and nuanced. Even Arnab Goswami was unbiased!

     

    Let’s hope we get to watch more of this in 2012. Happy New Year!

     

  • On the first working day of the year, Anil Thakraney presents the 20 things he desires from the Indian media and adworld.

    Media & Adland Wishlist 2012

     

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    The Indian media, in general, has got a number of things right. It puts serious pressure on the ruling government and sometimes the judiciary, so that the right things happen, and they happen fast. This crusading spirit is important in a slow- moving, chaotic nation like ours, so kudos on that front.

     

    However, there are a number of things that are not so right with our media, especially the mass media, and here’s hoping we get to see some course correction in the coming years. Here’s my Top Ten wish list.

     

    1. Radiagate was a wakeup call for all journalists. When access to the rich and powerful gets too close, one needs to quickly draw a line and back off. Some didn’t, and are lucky to still have their jobs. The scandal brought immense disrepute to the profession, and credibility will be hard to restore completely. Here’s hoping in the future the Indian media remains free of any such nonsense. We can’t afford it.

     

    2. The Broadcast Editors’ Association put out a 10-point code of conduct for news channels on how they should cover the Bachchan baby birth. And the very private family event passed off very privately without the channels breathing down their necks. What one would like to see in the coming year is that this practice becomes standard operating procedure during private celeb moments, and there is no need for codes any more. This would also delight Shri Katju.

     

    3. While it did change to a certain extent as the year closed, most editors behaved like Anna Hazare’s cheerleaders all through the year 2011. This is not just unfair, it’s against the fundamental principles of journalism. Here’s looking forward to less bias and more balance in the year 2012.

     

    4. It’s very clear that our media houses have aligned themselves with various political parties, and their respective biases keep becoming apparent even to the layman. This must change for sure, starting from 2012. Media without objectivity is like Rakhi Sawant without silicone. No one wants that.

     

    5. No more paid news. Repeat after me children… no more paid news. Repeat after me children… no more paid news.

     

    6. Here’s hoping all those TV anchors who indulge in hysteria and drama are promptly transported to the Bigg Boss house in the coming year. And are not allowed to enter newsrooms again. The junta wants news and views. Not nautanki.

     

    7. No more front half-pagers in the coming year. Where advertisers demand that the front page be vertically slashed. A fatwa needs to be declared against proprietors who agree to this criminal practice.

     

    8. Would like to see some kickass innovations in the print media this year. Both, newspapers and magazines. The digital media threatens big-time, it’s like a wolf at the door, and our old-world editors continue to pretend nothing’s happening, as they dish out the same tired stuff. I am also hoping editors who refuse to re-invent are shown the door before 2012 closes.

     

    9. Really wish that in the year 2012 the maha excitable radio jocks shut the eff up and play the effing music. Even if all the radio stations play the same ten songs at the same time.

     

    10. All the girls in the TV newsrooms need to glam up. I noticed the nails are becoming brightly coloured these days, but I want to see more. I mean, if I am stuck with the likes of Abhishek Singhvi, Chandan Mitra and Mani Shankar Ayer discussing the same tosh night after night, I need some joy to come from somewhere.

     

    Ad World 2012

    The Indian ad world, though it gives many awards to itself, hasn’t really set the world on fire. Okay, so we do score the odd international award now and then, but clearly we have a long way to go. Aside from that, our ad guys will face many serious challenges in the coming years, and quite frankly, I am not sure the industry leaders are ready as yet. I still get a sense of complacency and self-satisfaction when I meet agency bigwigs.

     

    Here are ten changes I would like to see in 2012.

    1. Once and for all, ad agencies must set aside their rivalries and egos, and must come together to work out a fee structure. It’s obvious the agencies are underpaid by their clients, and this puts serious pressure on their resources. This is also a common complaint I hear from agency heads. Well, grumbling won’t solve the problem. Start the New Year with many beers, and figure a way out!

     

    2. I think hot shops are back with a bang in the ad world, and in the coming year they will put real pressure on the large networks. Aggie and Padhi are just one example, but I predict more people will quit large agencies and set up their own boutiques. Since their rates will be lower, many clients will be tempted to defect from the traditional agencies. And I think this is a good development as it will result in superior work overall.

     

    3. Experts in TV media continue to head ad agencies, and I am hoping at least a few agencies will smash this system and promote young creative chaps skilled in the new media. Because old-world creative directors generally don’t understand the digital space, and they need to make way for the young geeks. Sooner the better.

     

    4. Simultaneously, I wish in the year 2012, youngsters in the ad agencies get off the internet (and that includes Facebook) and spend some time in the villages and small towns. There is a dire need for agency staffers to be well rounded in their skills. This is not Singapore. This is India, and a whole lot of people are still looking to buy their first colour TV.

     

    5. I wish ad agencies would bring back the lost pride into their strategic planning function. The number one reason many suits quit the business to join the world of marketing is the lack of brand planning within ad agencies. Ad agencies have become creative sweatshops, and this leaves no work for managers but to be good executors. Starting 2012, I am hoping this changes, because it’s bleeding the ad world of its talent.

     

    6. Dear Creative Director, please, please, please do at least ONE nice press ad in the year 2012. I beg of you. People still read newspapers in this nation. Puleeeeaze!

     

    7. I know the media buying function is now completely divorced from advertising. And it is my belief that this has badly affected media innovations. I recall those days when the three of us – the account executive, the media planner and the creative director – would lunch together and crack ad ideas. I hope at least once in the year 2012, Balki, Lynn and their client servicing person share a drink and discuss brands.

     

    8. No fake ads in 2012. Repeat after me, children. No fake ads in 2012. Repeat after me, children. No fake ads in 2012. Repeat after me, children.

     

    9. No noisy TV commercials in 2012. People don’t buy from shriekers. Repeat after me, children. No noisy commercials in 2012. People don’t buy from shriekers. Repeat after me, children.

     

    10. I am hoping at least one brand will show all of us how to exploit viral magic on the internet in 2012. At least one brand will become the Kolaveri of 2012.

     

    Cheers!

     

    Anil Thakraney has worn various hats in advertising and as a journalist for around 25 years. He is editor-at-large, MxMIndia. The views expressed here are his own.

    Visual: Rafiq

     

  • Behind every great commercial is super strategy. Every week, MxMIndia will bring you the brief and the strat as given by the client and whatever else that went into creating a winning ad. AdStrat is compiled by Shubhangi Mehta.

    Ad Strat: Vodafone ‘Zoozoos’

    Rajiv Rao NCD,Ogilvy&Mather

     

    Name of the Campaign/Ad: Vodafone ‘Zoozoos’

     

    The Brief: Talk about the various VAS (Value Added Services) that Vodafone has to offer in a way that’s clutter breaking and also keeping in mind the chaos of advertising on IPL, India’s most watched show on TV

     

    Research: Previous IPL experience showed us that the same people were watching the matches every day. Hence there was a high level of impatience when it came to watching the same communication over and over again. We took that learning on board and decided to treat even communication like content – something new to look forward every day.

     

    [youtube width=”400″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te5kc5PFZFY[/youtube]

    Key issues: The ads were to be universally understood and enjoyed. Another challenge, because we were working with a large number of scripts, was to keep the freshness going. Third issue was purely operational – actually pulling off such a large number of films in one go was in itself a huge challenge.

     

    Media vehicles: While it was principally led by television, this was a truly 360 degree campaign involving digital, outdoor, retail, radio and experiential media.

     

    Market and client feedback: Two words: HUGE HIT. The campaign resulted in a spike in VAS uptake. On brand health measures, the campaign helped the brand overtake the market leader. It was awarded for creativity and effectiveness at the Abbys, AME, Spikes, Effies and the Vodafone global awards, amongst others. An exclusive line of zoozoo merchandise is a regular feature at Shoppers Stop outlets. The campaign was the most viewed viral in the world for a whole month. It helped the brand garner 2.5 million fans. The success of the Zoozoos is not in that India fell in love with them, but in that the love affair is still as fresh and going strong after 3 years.

     

  • The ad effortlessly communicate that Google Chrome can make you prosper in your line of activity.

    Debrief: Google Chrome: Real marries virtual

    By Anil Thakraney

     

    Excellent advert from Google Chrome. Taking their global idea forward, which is ‘The web is what you make of it’, they have Indianized the concept quite wonderfully. It’s about explaining to a layman how easy it is to expand your business by creating your own website.

     

    The TVC features an artist from Tanjore (Tamil Nadu). His miniature paintings aren’t selling much, and the man looks pretty disillusioned. He then creates a website for his work, and soon his fame spreads far and wide and he turns into a flourishing entrepreneur.

     

    But the magic lies in the execution of the commercial, it’s a combination of the real and the virtual, and it’s difficult to describe it. Watch the TVC.

     

    [youtube width=”400″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZYIBQqRodA[/youtube]

    Now here’s a commercial where everything comes right. The idea, the direction, the editing, the setting, the casting, the music score… all come together literally like a work of art, and effortlessly communicate that Google Chrome can make you prosper in your line of activity. It’s actually a very basic thought, but the fabulous execution takes it to another level.

     

    Also, it must be said, this is a risky storyboard. Things could easily have gone horribly wrong with a mediocre treatment. Full marks to Google Chrome and their ad agency for taking that risk. It’s paid off.

     

    Rating: (On a scale of 1 to 5): 4. Art and science come together seamlessly to create magic.

     

  • The Silent National Anthem acquired an audience largely on account of its brilliant emotional connect.

    ‘Silent Anthem’ is among 2011’s top 10 most-watched YouTube videos in India

    By A Correspondent

     

    With an Indian viewership of 1,150,509 and around 1,300 people’s comments, “The Silent National Anthem” video has made it to India’s top 10 most-watched YouTube videos of 2011.

     

    The official Google India Blog recently carried out an analysis to check ‘What were we watching the most in 2011?’ The research spooled back through videos and channels that absorbed collective global attention this year and compiled the list capturing the global view counts of popular videos uploaded throughout 2011.

     

    The research revealed that in India, the top 10 most-watched YouTube videos of 2011 were:

     

    1. Don 2 – Official Teaser
    2. RA.One – Teaser Trailer
    3. Agneepath Trailer – Official
    4. Singham – Trailer Full HD
    5. Star Light Star Bright – Mother Goose Club Nursery Rhymes
    6. MissionImpossible 4 – Ghost Protocol – Official Trailer
    7. The 7 Trumpets of Revelation | The Day Trumpet 1 Hits Earth
    8. iPhone 5 Concept Features
    9. Bodyguard – Official Trailer HD
    10. The Silent Indian National Anthem

     

    While more than 50 per cent of the list comprises trailers of Bollywood movies (the industry is known for high decibel media spends), The Silent National Anthem acquired an audience largely on account of its brilliant emotional connect.

     

    The premise ‘Patriotism knows no language’ was brought to life through hundreds of special kids with hearing/speech impairments singing the National Anthem in sign language for India’s 61st Republic day.

     

    BIG Cinemas, in association with the Mudra Group, released the video across its cinemas on 26 January, 2011.

  • Gaurav Hirey will be moving to Singapore to be a part of the GroupM Regional Talent Team and has been appointed as HR Business Partner for Maxus (Asia Pacific)

    Sonali Vaidya to head HR at GroupM India

    By A Correspondent

     

    Sonali Vaidya

    GroupM, the leading media planning and investment agency of the country has just announced the appointment of Sonali Vaidya as Human ResourcesHead,India. Sonali Vaidya takes over from Gaurav Hirey, who will move toSingaporeto be a part of the GroupM Regional Talent Team and has also been appointed as HR Business Partner for Maxus (Asia Pacific). Ms Vaidya will be based in Mumbai and will report to Vikram Sakhuja, CEO South Asia, GroupM.

     

    Commenting on her new appointment, Ms Vaidya said: “I am excited to be a part ofIndia’s biggest and best media agency. Talent management is in its formative stages. There are huge opportunities for our businesses to realize the benefits of managing talent. I am looking forward to being a part of this journey and delivering delight to our employees and customers!”

     

    Ms Vaidya has over 14 years of experience in the human resources field across companies such as ABN-AMRO Bank, GE Consumer Finance and ESPN Star Sports. She joins GroupM from Alchemy Group, a financial services group, where she was Group HR Head. Ms Vaidya’s emphases are on building an extremely intensive talent management program to engage and grow GroupM’s talent internally.

     

    In his new role, Mr Hirey will lead the HR activities for the Region including recruitment, talent management and development, corporate social responsibility and employee relations. He will also support GroupM Talent projects in addition to this. He will report to Angela Ryan, the GroupM Global Talent Head and Neil Stewart CEO- Maxus Asia Pac.

     

    Gaurav Hirey

    Commenting on his new role, Mr Hirey said: “The last three and a half years have been an intoxicating journey and it is a delight to see GroupM become, not just the best place to work, but become the place where the best work. The focus on talent by the management team, especially from Vikram Sakhuja has been phenomenal. Our success in talent management is clearly reflected in the level of satisfaction we are delivering to our clients and our employees who have made us the employer brand of choice. I am extremely excited at my new assignment as it gives me an opportunity to learn and share best practices from across the region. It is my belief that the talent function in this industry can make a significant impact on our business and hence our clients.”

     

    Mr Sakhuja said: “We are delighted to welcome Sonali on board. She brings a wealth of commercial people management experience to the role. Gaurav has done a fabulous job in the past 3 years to bring scale, structure and credibility to the GroupM talent agenda that has gone from setting HR systems, to stepping up employee engagement and communication, to scaling up recruitment and performance management. His efforts to make GroupM one of the best places to work in has been validated by the Employer Branding Awards. We’re confident that Sonali will prove to be a great asset for our organization.”

     

    GroupM is WPP’s consolidated media investment management operation, serving as the parent company to agencies including Maxus, MEC, MediaCom and Mindshare.