MxMIndia

Category: ADVERTISING

  • Announces the launch of its office in Ludhiana

    Havas Media unveils new office in Punjab

    By A Correspondent

     

    It’s not just the political parties which are turning their attention to the land of the five rivers. Havas Media, India has expanded its operations to Punjab with the opening of a new office in Ludhiana. The agency announced the official launch of its office, increasing the agency’s national presence in seven cities and across 130 markets globally.

     

    The expansion will enable international and local clients from the Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh and J&K markets . Said Ashok Bawa who has been appointed as Business Director of Havas Media Ludhiana: “There is a lot of potential in this market and now Ludhiana has its first International media agency. We are excited to be associated with a multinational agency and to be representing Havas Media in Ludhiana. We have the local insights which coupled with the expertise of the international group will help both local and international brands develop meaningful and long-term relationships with local consumers.”

     

    Anita Nayyar, CEO, Havas Media Group, India and South Asia commented, “The opening of Havas Media Ludhiana comes at a very strategic time as the group completes 10 glorious years in the Indian media industry. The team carries with itself an experience of more than 40 years operating in Ludhiana and working with clients like Hero Cycles and others. We are confident that the team’s expertize will help capitalize on local businesses around the region.”

     

    Added Mohit Joshi, Managing Director, Havas Media Group, India:  “We are excited about the growth we are experiencing and this move represents a commitment to continue to build on the success our team has accomplished. As we focus on the region’s positive economic growth and expanding client network, we look forward to offering our customers a more efficient, competitive and meaningful communication solutions.”

     

  • Featuring its newly launched Inspiron 2-in-1 laptops that balance work and play

    Dell celebrates the versatility of young Indians in new festive TVC

    By A Correspondent

     

    Dell is all set to launch its new television commercial as part of its festive campaign. Premiering on Dell’s Facebook page, the television commercial will be aired across leading English entertainment and movie channels, Hindi entertainment, movie and music channels, regional language channels and cinemas in 456 screen across 75 cities.

     

    Conceptualised and executed by the Grey group, the new TVC brings to the forefront Dell’s aim to create innovative products that seamlessly fit into the lives of its consumer’s. The TVC brings alive the ease with which the new range of Dell 2-in-1s allow its consumers to flip between work mode and fun mode, without compromising on either. The story portrays a young entrepreneur who has to work on a new project while her husband waits for her for to join in on the festivities. With the versatile Dell 2-in-1 she effortlessly flips between “office mode” and “Tyohar mode”. Added to that is an interesting element that spotlights the lives of modern couples, where the flexibility of the husband’s role is also highlighted as he starts making the festive sweets even as he waits for his wife to finish her work.

     

    Said Ritu Gupta, Director, Marketing – Consumer & Small Business, Dell India: “This is the exciting story of many urban Indian households and working couples.  We want to show people how technology can be used to enhance their daily life, depicting a real world example. In this instance the work-life duality of an entrepreneur is highlighted and equated to the dual flexibility that the product offers. At Dell, we view technology as a tool towards enabling users to do more with their lives. This understanding of consumer needs reflects in stunning products that match user needs and serve as true companions.”

     

    Added Vishal Ahluwalia, VP and business head, Grey Bangalore: “Grey works collaboratively with Dell to create a strong emotive connect with Dell’s consumers through real life narratives in which technology is integral to aiding celebrations. This year’s festive campaign salutes the spirit of the new age Indians who multitask through every situation, even in a festival as success for them goes hand in hand with personal happiness.”

     

     

  • Rangnekar is based out of Lodestar UM Mumbai and reports into Nandini Dias, CEO, Lodestar UM

    Nikhil Rangnekar joins Lodestar as Media Consultant

    By A Correspondent

     

    Nikhil Rangnekar

    Lodestar UM has appointed Nikhil Rangnekar as Media Consultant. Rangnekar moves from Spatial Access where he was CEO of the Media Audit and Advisory business. Rangnekar will be based out of the Lodestar UM Mumbai reporting into Lodestar UM CEO Nandini Dias.

     

    “Nikhil is an industry veteran and we are delighted to have him on board. He has a varied background having worked in various capacities driving strategy, business and audits. He brings in a lot of experience and strategic thinking which we intend to leverage,” said Dias.

     

    Armed with over 19 years of experience in the advertising and the media industry, Rangnekar started his career with Starcom in 1997 where in 14 years he climbed the ranks from a management trainee to executive director. In 2011, he quit Starcom to join Spatial Access. He is also the chairman of the marketing committee of IRS at MRUC.

     

    Talking about his new role, Rangnekar said, “I am extremely happy to join Lodestar UM in the role of a strategy consultant. For me, it’s a prestigious assignment working with one of the largest groups in the world and in India. I will be working with the individual brand teams in helping them take our strategy product to the next level. I will also be working closely with the Labcentre team on the various proprietary researches and tools that IPG Mediabrands has and aim to evolve them in line with the changes happening in the media environment in India. If my last role was more about driving efficiency, the new role is more about driving effectiveness. Lastly, I am proud to have got this opportunity to work with industry stalwarts like Shashi and Nandini.”

  • Millward Brown, IMRB, and TNS will now become Kantar Millward Brown, Kantar IMRB, and Kantar TNS respectively

    Kantar unveils new corporate identity & management structure

    By A Correspondent

     

    WPP-owned data, insights and consultancy network Kantar has announced the launch of a new corporate identity- for the parent brand and its 12-strong family of operating brands- designed to create a unified look-and-feel across the whole business. Operating brands not previously Kantar-branded will now take a Kantar prefix and a new, common typeface.  For example: Millward Brown, IMRB, and TNS will now become Kantar Millward Brown, Kantar IMRB, and Kantar TNS.

     

    Kantar’s new identity reflects and externalises an on-going change programme that started in January. The programme includes greater collaboration between operating brands and the creation of a new insights group through much closer alignment of the company’s custom brands. In addition, global operations capabilities have been brought together into a single entity and the company is moving towards more aligned shared services in HR, finance and IT. The company will shortly be adding to the portfolio of expert brands with the launch of Kantar Public, uniting its global expertise in governmental and public policy work; and Kantar Consulting, which will draw expertise from several of our brands to provide a full and broader range of marketing and sales consulting solutions and capabilities to our clients.

     

    Commented Kantar CEO Eric Salama: “The rebranding is a tangible, visible expression of our desire to present clients with more easily-navigable and connected solutions that bring together the best of Kantar’s expertise,” adding: “We believe our clients and partners have started to experience the benefit of this approach – in more rounded, detailed and holistic research and recommendations. And it is helpful that for the first time we really look like a single family of brands serving a common purpose.”

     

    Along with the rebranding, Kantar is introducing a new tagline, “Inspiration for an extraordinary world”, drawn from its new corporate purpose statement, “To inspire our clients, our people and society to create and flourish in an extraordinary world.”

     

    Said Preeti Reddy, CEO, South Asia – Insights, on the rebranding: “Clients have consistently asked us to be more collaborative in the way we work with them; faster and more agile at a local and global level. They want the ‘best of Kantar’ on a consistent basis, not just on occasions. Earlier this year, we put in place a whole new way of working to remove siloed thinking and barriers between the Kantar companies to collaboration for client benefits. In South Asia, we will be able to bring together the thought leadership of three powerful brands and harness the power for our clients. This combination brings with it an ability to converge thoughts when required to solve a problem as well as an ability to diverge solutions when clients need choice. That is a unique mix and in, my view, will make Kantar an even more dominant force in South Asia.

     

    The new identity, developed by WPP branding firm The Partners, will be rolled out across all external and internal communications channels in the coming months.

  • A quick chat with Advertising Standards Council of India chairman Srinivasan K Swamy, done minutes after he was unanimously elected (+Video)

    ‘ASCI decisions are not taken by the Board’

     

     

    On Friday (September 9), Srinivasan K Swamy, Chairman and Managing Director, R K Swamy BBDO, was unanimously elected Chairman of the Board of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) on September 9. Abanti Sankaranarayanan, Vice Chairperson, CIABC was elected Vice-Chairman and Shashi Sinha, CEO, Media Brands was reappointed the Honorary Treasurer. Other members of the Board of Governors are Al Rajwani (Managing Director & Chief Executive, Procter & Gamble), Benoy Roychowdhury (Executive Director, HT Media), Mr. Dev Bajpai (Executive Director Legal & Corporate Affairs & Company Secretary, Hindustan Unilever Ltd), D Shivakumar (Chairman & CEO, PepsiCo India), Gurmit Singh (Vice President & MD, Yahoo India), N S Rajan (Global Partner & MD, Ketchum Sampark), Narendra Ambwani (Director, Agro Tech Foods), Prashant Singh (MD, Neilsen India Region), Raj Jain (CEO, Bennett Coleman & Co Ltd.), Rohit Gupta (President – Network Sales & International Business, Sony Pictures Networks India), S K Palekar (Adjunct Professor & Advisor – Executive Education, Institute of Management Technology), Subhash Kamath (Managing Partner, BBH Comms India) and Sunil Lulla (Chairman & Managing Director, Grey Worldwide India). Anuka Roy caught up with the new ASCI Chairman for a quick chat:

     

    On his new role:

    ASCI is fairly well-known. There is no advertiser or agency of consequence that has not been told that their ad is somehow misleading or offensive. They all know because they have been hit by ASCI at some point. My real task I do not think is to talk about what is ASCI, that is known. The important thing to tell people is that ASCI’s decision is not made by the Board of Governors of ASCI but is made by something called Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) and what is more relevant there has members from the civil society. The majority of the members are from the civil society that means consumers activists, educationists, lawyers, doctors  – they constitute the majority in CCC. Only some people are from the advertising industry. These people look at advertisements and figure whether they are misleading, offending and then they take the decision. So, they are the ones who take the decision. That is something I would like to take an important part of the agenda to tell people who adjudicates on passing a campaign and hopefully that would set the record straight because the general perception is that ASCI is being influence by the people in the Board of Governors and their mission is against one competitor because the Board influences the decision. That is something I would like to bring in front, so that people know what is happening here

     

    His agenda as the new ASCI Chairman:

    To talk about CCC. There are many things we need to talk about with respect to what it does. For example, when a mission is given, that is an appeal process, you can then get appeal.  When the matter is very complex, you have experts coming in briefing the CCC members about the complexities, whether it is technical or a complex thing they cannot understand, expert is called in. Based on that, CCC members actually take a call. So, there are many things which we can talk about. And, of course we have regular issues like someone will take us to court; we will have to figure out what our strategy will be to defend ourselves. There are all these government bodies that are a part and parcel of us. If ASCI is finding a place in Consumer Protection Act then there is a lot work to be done.

     

    Any other new initiative to engage the consumer, like the WhatsApp initiative:

    The point today is not to get more complaints. We ourselves are monitoring the complaints. We have a group of people looking at all that is appearing in all important advertising categories to see whether an ad is offending or not. Even if you do not complaint, we will track those ads. The marketing of WhatsApp and all is more to engage the consumer but we have been tracking a lot more ads on our own.

     

    On the Patanjali controversy:

    Patanjali is taking ASCI to court, the court will decide whether Patanjali is right or ASCI is right. The fact of the matter is ASCI’s decision is not the Board’s decision, it is the decision made by people like consumer activists, journalists, doctors, educationists etc. So, the court will look at all the facts and decide. Advertising is a critical part of every business and is somebody is going to challenge them in running the business they will take them to court, it is a part of life and we will address it.

     

  • The GOB will advise and assist the Group CEO and MD, Chairman and CCO and CFO on various aspects related to leading and growing the organisation

    DDB Mudra announces formation of Group Operating Board

    By A Correspondent

     

    As a part of its endeavour to build a best in class and future-ready marketing services organisation, the DDB Mudra Group has reconstituted the Executive Board and has announced the formation of The Group Operating Board (GOB). Consisting of leaders with a proven track record within the group and the industry, GOB members bring together diverse skillsets in marketing services and technology from across geographies.

     

    The GOB will advise and assist the Group CEO and MD, Chairman and CCO and CFO on various aspects related to leading and growing the organisation. The GOB will focus on achieving the group’s People and Product goals to deliver client excellence.

     

    The Group Operating Board will include

    • Aditya Kanthy, Chief Strategy Officer, DDB Mudra Group
    • Anurag Bansal, Chief Financial Officer, DDB Mudra Group
    • Gour Gupta, Executive Director, DDB Mudra Group & CEO, DDB Mudramax (OOH, Events & Experiential)
    • Madhukar Kamath, Group CEO & MD, DDB Mudra Group
    • Ranji Cherian, President, DDB Mudra South & East
    • Rajiv Sabnis, Executive Director, DDB Mudra Group & President, DDB Mudra West
    • Rita Verma, Executive Vice President- Organization Development, DDB Mudra Group
    • Sathyamurthy Namakkal, Executive Director, DDB Mudra Group & President, DDB Mudramax- Media
    • Sonal Dabral, Chairman & CCO, DDB Mudra Group
    • Vandana Das, President, DDB Mudra North
    • Vineet Gupta, Chief Digital Officer, DDB Mudra Group and MD, 22feet Tribal Worldwide

     

    Quoting on the development, Madhukar Kamath said, “I am extremely proud of the leadership team we have built across all disciplines at the DDB Mudra Group.I value their leadership and business building skills. I am thrilled that each one of them is also a specialist in his / her field. The GOB will enable the DDB Mudra Group, in becoming the partner of choice for our people and clients as we look to build brands and businesses in a data-rich and digitally-enabled world. As we grow, the Group Operating Board will help lead collaborations with external partners in technology, data analytics and content. I look forward to the exciting times ahead.”

     

     

     

  • Micromax product integration in latest music video by singing sensation Manj Music &Raftaar featuring Amy Jackson

    Micromax partners One Digital Entertainment for its Canvas Fire range smartphones

    By A Correspondent

     

    Micromax Informatics announced its campaign for its recently launched Canvas Fire smartphone range. The campaign includes Micromax’s partnership with One Digital Entertainment for the product integration of the Canvas Fire range in the music video of the soundtrack ‘Lak Hilaade’ by Manj Musik and Raftaar, also featuring Amy Jackson. The campaign, along with the music video of the peppy soundtrack aims to establish the Fire range by Micromax as the ideal fit for music lovers with its compelling audio centric features like Auro 3D sound technology and front firing speakers.

     

    The music video seamlessly integrates Micromax’s Fire range and the official video posted on T-Series YouTube Channel has garnered over 10 million views within the first week of its release on September 1, 2016. The ‘Lak Hilade’ video that features leading celebrities, Bollywood personalities and artists has become a social media rage.

     

    Commenting on the partnership, Shubhajit Sen, Chief Marketing Officer, Micromax Informatics said, “Being a youth-centric brand, Micromax has always been focused on Movies, Music and Sports. Taking this ahead, we are proud to partner with One Digital Entertainment for our new campaign..”

     

    Commenting on the partnership, Gurpreet Singh Bhasin, COO and co-founder, One Digital Entertainment said, “The reward and reach this track has garnered proves our stand yet again. We are extremely happy to have partnered with Micromax who believed in this strategy of connecting with their audiences. The surround and integrated marketing plan that was mounted around the music video has helped amplify content reach on platforms beyond YouTube.Subtle integrations and strategic partnerships of this nature often unlock magical value that usually stays hidden. This is a win-win for all – creators, content, consumers and brands.”

     

  • The campaign celebrates the individuality of Vivana's customers

    Viviana Mall launches new brand campaign in collaboration with Thought Blurb

    By A Correspondent

     

    Viviana Mall, in collaboration with its creative agency Thought Blurb, is inviting customers to celebrate their everyday moments in their new brand campaign. With the season of festivities in tow, Thought Blurb plans to strengthen the brand’s celebratory proposition by launching their new campaign ‘Celebrate Everyday: Celebrations continue at Viviana Mall’. The campaign celebrates the individuality of Vivana’s customers. Knowing that every customer has different choices, likes, dislikes and preferences; the mall with its plethora of experiences promises every visitor a unique celebration.

     

    On the development, Rima Pradhan, Head of Marketing, Viviana Mall said, “The mall has always tried and created innovative ideas and campaigns to engage with customers. We regularly look for different avenues to give them a unique experience every day and hence we have collaborated with creative agency Thought Blurb for the ‘Celebrate Everyday’ campaign. We are confident that the campaign would create even stronger bonds with our customers.”

     

    “The idea behind the campaign is to give customers a reason to celebrate everyday and give them options to unwind themselves,” Pradhan added further.

     

    Commenting on the release of Viviana’s latest campaign, Thought Blurb’s Managing Partner, Vinod Kunj said, “Viviana since inception has been exhorting people to discover a reason to celebrate every day. So much so that today Viviana has become the happiness destination for Mumbaikars spanning all the way from Chembur to Ghatkopar going uptoPalghar and beyond. It is the go-to destination for lighter moments of life in Thane. It’s today a reference landmark in Thane.”

     

  • Conceptualised and executed by Mullen Lintas, the film has been unveiled only on the online medium

    Bajaj Avenger celebrates ‘Brotherhood Day’

    By A Correspondent

     

    Not many know that  ‘Brotherhood Day’ is observed on September 11. For brands, this has been a distant proposition where nothing significant has been attempted to connect with their consumers. But this Brotherhood Day, Bajaj Auto took the lead with its cruiser brand, Avenger to connect with popular bike brand, Royal Enfield, in its category in a unique way.

     

    Conceptualised and executed by Mullen Lintas, the film has been unveiled only on the online medium. It captures the common thought of riding shared between the two brands who are both iconic in their own respective ways. As such, brotherhood as a concept is inherent to the road, the rider and his machine. The insight is especially true for brands that put these machines out on the road. What better occasion than Brotherhood Day to talk about the thought, through a film that is pitched right in order to resonate with both, Bajaj Avenger and also with the whole riding community.

     

    Sharing his views on the unique nature of the idea, Sumeet Narang, Vice President – Marketing, Bajaj Auto Ltd. said, “There is a natural tendency for bikers to connect and bond during their rides. And that connections cuts across language, culture, region, brands and bikes. The core belief of Avenger is ‘liberation’ and that one should never be trapped by any man made boundaries. This ‘Brotherhood Day’ film also encompasses the same thought subtly and manifests the joy of riding as one.”

     

    Highlighting the unique aspect of the digital film, Ayyappan Raj, EVP – Mullen Lintas Mumbai said, “The best part of creating work for Avenger is the fact that there is a very clear brand brief and from there we keep looking for and finding new, interesting ways to engage with our audience. Wishing Royal Enfield Brotherhood Day is one of them. The insight was at the core of how riders feel clannish to the brands they belong to. On eve of Brotherhood Day, Avenger being a most sought after bike for long rides, it called out to all bikers to ride and celebrate the bikers’ brotherhood day. Between the Avenger brand team and Mullen Lintas team there’s a lot of co-creation that’s happening and there’s a lot more to come.”

     

    The film traverses the journey undertaken by two riders on their favourite riding machine. Whether life offers a rough or smooth ride or puts one through circumstances that are not pleasant, it is the innate bond of brotherhood that keeps them going to achieve more in life. The film communicates this thought in a very candid manner.

     

    The film was tweeted with a greeting by Bajaj Avenger to Royal Enfield and simultaneously unveiled on Bajaj Avenger’s Facebook page and YouTube channel and will be promoted across other social assets as well. Since being unveiled, the film has received over 700k views in 24 hrs. Viewers have started tagging their RE/Avenger friends on FB and are also sharing pictures of the two bikes together and going for a ride too.

  • Gawade's mandate is to create a new benchmark of innovation and creativity in the marcom space that drives tangible value for brands including Percept One clients

    Shashank Gawade appointed EVP, Percept Activ

    By A Correspondent

     

    Shashank Gawade

    Percept One has announced the appointment of Shashank Gawade as Executive Vice President, Percept Activ, with effect from September 6.

     

    Gawade’s mandate is to create a new benchmark of innovation and creativity in the marcom space that drives tangible value for brands including Percept One clients.

     

     

    Nupur Mahajan

    Said Nupur Mahajan, Chief Executive Officer, Percept One: “As advocates of multi-channel marketing we understand that the success of any tactical experiential activity strongly depends on strategy, data, creative insights and a seamless stitching together of these with the brand at the core. Shashank’s foray and expertise across FMCG, media sales, rural, technology start-ups and then also, media planning and buying coupled with his leadership ability and team play makes one almost certain that he will deliver copybook excellence.”

     

    Gawade is a communication specialist and was most recently associated with BrandVU as Managing Partner and consulted multiple organisations on scaling up, expansion and going to market. Prior to this he was leading the experiential marketing practice as National Director, Maxus and GroupM.

     

    Talking about his appointment, Gawade said, “I am ecstatic to contribute to Percept One at this point of my career and build a holistic marketing communication services delivery and strengthening the experiential marketing arm at Percept Activ. There’s a lot for us to offer by synergising services from the Percept bouquet, to drive value for brands that we work with. We have a lot to give back to the people who associate with us and it can be achieved by thinking intelligently, planning smartly and delivering consistently.”

     

     

  • for MxM: Mohanty will lead the creative function for the Delhi and Kolkata offices of Lowe Lintas reporting to Chief Creative Officer, Arun Iyer

    Lowe Lintas appoints Joy Mohanty to head creative for North & East

    By A Correspondent

     

    Joy Mohanty,

    Lowe Lintas has announced the appointment of Joy Mohanty as Regional President – North & East. Mohanty will lead the creative function for the Delhi and Kolkata offices of Lowe Lintas reporting to Chief Creative Officer, Arun Iyer.

     

    In a career spanning 23 years, Mohanty has worked with leading agencies in India. His last assignment was as National Creative Director, Publicis Capital, from where he moves after over 11 years. His portfolio includes work for leading clients like Maruti Suzuki Corporate, Makemytrip, Maggi, Nescafe Sunrise, Nestle Every Day, Milkmaid, Intex, Subway, Spicejet, Swift, Apollo Tyres, Suzuki Motorcycles, LG Home Appliances and others.

     

    Welcoming Mohanty to the agency, Arun Iyer said, “Lowe Lintas Delhi has been buzzing with some spectacular work in the recent past. Having someone like Joy Mohanty lead and drive the creative function, will further consolidate our reputation as being the most creative agency in Delhi, as also to push forward the creative agenda in Kolkata. We welcome him wholeheartedly and look forward to working closely with him to usher in an even stronger creative culture in these 2 offices of Lowe Lintas.”

     

    Speaking about his new role at Lowe Lintas, Mohanty added: “It’s a great feeling to be part of an institution like Lowe Lintas. I have admired their work over the years. It will be an honour for me to add energy and momentum to a body of work already making waves. I can’t wait to get started.”

     

  • Tokri.com is a Pune-based hyperlocal delivery startup

    IBD bags strategic and creative mandate for Tokri.com

    By A Correspondent

     

    IBD has won the strategic and creative mandate of Tokri.com, a hyperlocal grocery and daily needs’ delivery brand operating in Pune. Multiple agencies pitched for the account, with IBD emerging victorious, riding on its creative and strategic brilliance.

     

    IBD provided a differentiated strategy for Tokri.com in its pitch and also brought onboard actor Shraddha Kapoor as brand ambassador to ensure credibility and avail the advantage of association with the brand.

     

    Said Neeraj Kansal, Founder, Tokri.com said, “IBD has added tremendous value in building our brand. They have been insightful and strategic, and delivered outstanding creative work. Having the right partner in today’s world of brand and business is critical for success. We are happy to have IBD as our communication partner, as they understand the nuances and pace of both the market and consumers. We are looking forward for some great creative work from IBD.”

     

    Commenting on the account win, Rahul Gupta, Managing Director, IBD said “For Tokri.com, it was important to offer a differentiated positioning in order to facilitate trial opportunities. Our strategy of designing a city specialist for Tokri.com, coupled with outstanding creative execution was the key factor for this win. We are very excited to have bagged this mandate; it shows our mettle and potential at handling brands across diverse categories and domains. We are excitedly looking forward to doing some good creative work on the brand.”