MxMIndia

Category: ADVERTISING

  • Wins Panasonic Refrigerators, Microwave Oven and Water purifier

    Milestone Dentsu, Milestone Brandcom’s creative agency, bags Pansonic

    By A Correspondent

     

    Milestone Dentsu, the newly formed creative agency of Milestone Brandcom, part of the Dentsu Aegis Network, has bagged the creative mandate for Panasonic India’s Refrigerator, Microwave and Water Purifier business. The creative duties were handed over to Milestone Dentsu following a multi-agency pitch. Milestone Dentsu, the creative arm of Milestone Brandcom, will be in charge of handling the Japanese multi-national’s leading business portfolio.

     

    Sarthak Seth

    Commenting on the decision, Sarthak Seth, Head-Brand & Marketing Communications – Panasonic India said: “We were looking out for a youthful and progressive partner who could deliver fresh perspectives in terms of planning and creative execution to help us keep pace with the changing trends. We found that partner in Milestone Dentsu. Their approach was fresh and creative, outstanding. We are looking forward to this association and hope that it goes a long way.”

     

     

    Nabendu Bhattacharyya

    Added Nabendu Bhattacharyya, CEO and managing director, Milestone Brandcom: “We are delighted to win a prestigious creative account like Panasonic. We enjoy working on global brands with such diverse portfolio as they challenge our true potential. We have put up a strong ATL Team while we foray into creative services at Milestone Dentsu.”

     

    The business will be handled out of Milestone’s Delhi branch with Ujjwal Anand, Country head and Mayank Khattar, National Creative Director as the brand custodian.

     

  • …but no metals in Print & Publishing

    Day 2 @ CannesLions2017: India wins 7 metals incl 2 Golds…

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    It was a mixed Day 2 for the Indian contingent at Cannes Lions. Seven metals in PR, Outdoor, Promo & Activation and Glass Lions categories including two Golds. But no metal in Print & Publishing.

     

    In Outdoor, Ogilvy bagged a Gold for ITC’s Savlon Healthy Hands Chalk Sticks while McCann Worldgroup India won a Silver for Cat, Dog and Rabbit – for World for All.

     

    L&K Saatchi&Saatchi Mumbai missed the Grand Prix that India has been winning over the last two years but bagged a Gold for its #GiveHer5 campaign of the Ammada Trust.

     

    Ogilvy bagged a Gold and a Bronze in PR for Savlon Healthy Hands Chalk Sticks, and BBDO India took home a Silver for #ReleaseThePressure created this year for soft drink Mirinda.

     

    Ogilvy also won the solitary metal in Promo and Activation Lions – a Bronze in this case.

     

    The big downer of the day was a no show in Print and Publishing and also misses for some campaigns that many thought would definitely win more than just a shortlist.

     

  • Kapur was the Regional Head of Marketing at Citi, and before his 12-year stint at Citi, he led brand and product strategy at Hindustan Unilever Limited

    Sanjeev Kapur joins Metlife as CMO for Asia

    By A Correspondent

     

    Sanjeev Kapur

    MetLife has announced that Sanjeev Kapur has joined the company as senior vice president and chief marketing officer (CMO) of Asia. Kapur will report to Esther Lee, MetLife executive vice president and global chief marketing officer and Chris Townsend, president of Asia. Kapur will also join the Asia Leadership Team.

     

    “MetLife’s commitment to be a company that helps customers “Navigate Life Together” requires that we transform how we meet the changing needs of our customers,” said Lee. “Sanjeev’s deep understanding of insight and data-driven marketing, digital engagement and customer experience makes him the ideal marketing leader to drive this transformation across the Asia region.”

     

    Added Townsend: “Sanjeev’s significant experience and proven track record of driving strong business results will be a great asset as Asia continues to grow and drive value for MetLife. We are pleased to have him on board and confident that he will create competitive advantage for the company.”

     

    Most recently, Kapur was the Regional Head of Marketing at Citi, and before his 12-year stint at Citi, he led brand and product strategy at Hindustan Unilever Limited. Said Kapur: “I’m excited to join MetLife at such a transformative time for the company. I look forward to working with the team to build impactful consumer-focused strategies that will accelerate our transformation to a more modern, purposeful and digital company.”

     

  • With these three, India's tally goes to 24, just three short of last year's tally of 27

    Day 3 @ Cannes2017: Three Silvers for India

    By A Correspondent

     

    It was mixed emotions for the Indian contingent on the third day of the week-long Cannes Lions festival of creativity.

     

    One was hoping that the three entries which bagged Silvers would win Golds for sure, if not a Grand Prix, But then there is a large jury at work, and there’s always an element of chance at Cannes Lions.

     

    In Innovation Lion, Leo Burnett India bagged a Silver Lion for HP Lubricant’s ‘Roads That Honk’.

     

    Meanwhile, in Direct Lions, McCann and Taproot Dentsu were each awarded a Silver Lion. While for McCann it was yet again for its work for Ministry of Public Health, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (Immunity Charm) and for Taproot is was last years Adidas Odds campaign.

     

    There was no shortlist from India in Cyber, Mobile and Creative Data, the other three categories where metals were presented.

     

    With these three, India’s tally goes to 24, just three short of last year’s tally of 27.

     

  • Former MSLGroup (& now Pitchfork Partners) honchos Sunil Gautam & Jaideep Shergill launch PR agency ‘Archer Frères’, more acquisitions on the anvil

    They’re back. Well kinda…

    Sunil Gautam (left) with Jaideep Shergill

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    After exiting MSLGroup in end-2014, PR industry captains Sunil Gautam and Jaideep Shergill launched Pitchfork Partners, a communications advisory with no direct linkages in executing PR or advertising functions. Work was farmed out to various agencies, and Pitchfork also worked with specialised communications specialists from elsewhere in the world.

     

     

    A quick Q&A with Jaideep Shergill, co-founder, Pitchfork Partners

    One remembers our interview with both of you when you launched, and the clear idea then was that you would not get into an execution mode on routine communications activity. But with the acquisition of Seven and the launch of Archer Freres, you’re now part of the PR brigade. I know you’ll had mentioned that you may acquire or tie-up with specialised service providers, but is this a ‘ghar waapsi’ of sorts?
    As the name suggests, Pitchfork Partners Strategic Consulting is and will be a Strategy firm across Brand & Corp comms and Business issues. Having said this, we have continued to support our clients who are front and centre for us with their execution needs by creating an ecosystem of partners across PR, Internal comms, CSR comms, Digital and Social media, Research, Creative, Design to name a few. This model has served us well and will continue.

    Archer Frères has been set up as part of one of the big areas we wanted to support in our original raison d’être of supporting and mentoring colleagues in the industry. The Seven Comms team has also been a part of out ecosystem since the beginning and we are only taking the relationship to the next level. The business will operate separately and its likely that we may have other partners in our ecosystem move to the same stature as Seven has now with the launch of Archer Frères, so watch this space!

     

    How would you say has the PR industry changed from 2014-end when you’ll exited PR full-time to now?

    We continue to believe that there is a huge untapped opportunity and we must continue to better our lot. In that sense, I am not sure too much has changed.

     

    What’s the aspiration for Archer Freres now that the two ‘maharathis’ are promoting it. Grow it to something like a Hanmer and eventually sell it? Or would you like to be a boutique agency, as it is now.

    Archer Frères will remain a boutique. Sunil and I are big believers in the boutique model and that’s how it will stay.

     

    One still remembers the early days of Hanmer, and the way it grew is by hiring top talent, and one of them included you, Jaideep. Are you looking at doing the same with Archer?

    Archer Frères already has great talent, having said this, we will always continue to groom talent and bring them in when we find them

     

    You’ve mentioned that you are looking at other acquisitions too, not necessarily in PR. Which are these domains going to be, and what’s the timeframe?

    All I will say is that you will need to watch this space. Soon enough!

     

    So what’s with this love for names… first Hanmer & Partners and now Archer Freres?
    All credit to Sunil. He is the one with the names! Its fun though. We have always loved having unusual naming conventions starting with Hanmer & Partners, Pitchfork Partners and now Archer Frères.

     

    While there were many large agencies whom Pitchfork assigned wrok to for its clients, one of the smaller ones was Seven Communications. And now, via a communique on Tuesday, Gautam and Shergill announced the acquisition of Seven Communciations and have rechristened it Archer Frères Communications LLP. It will be a full-service public relations (PR) and communications firm with Seven promoter Priyanka Shetty at the helm. Gautam and Shergill will play a strategic role, mentoring theArcher Frères team andits clients, notes a communqiue.

     

    Archer Frères will now be part of the Pitchfork Partners family, spanning the full-service gamut – from planning to media relations and content across corporate communications and brand PR.The clients currently include BBCWorldwide, Mogae Media, Zeotap, Miracle Foundation, Engage4more and Laqshya Event IP.

     

    Said Gautam and Shergill, in a statement: “We are excited to support the PR and communications ecosystem in India and privileged to mentor such a great team.After setting up Pitchfork Partners, we had been deliberating how to tap opportunities in the marketing services industry bysupporting young entrepreneurs.We hope that Archer Frères is the first of many such ventures we can support, mentor and invest in.”

     

    Meanwhile, when asked whether this could be considered a return of the power duo to PR, Shergill told MxMIndia that Gautam and he were set to announce a slew of other acquisitions, not necessarily in the PR space.

     

    He also clarified that while the Seven acquisition is 100 per cent, Pitchfork will continue to farm out work to other agencies as well, as in the past.

     

  • The award is the highest honour given to an individual in India for his/ her outstanding contribution to the advertising industry

    Roda Mehta to be conferred with AAAI Lifetime Award 2017

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) has announced that the recipient of this year’s AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award is Roda Mehta. The award is the highest honour given to an individual in India for his/ her outstanding contribution to the advertising industry.

     

    Mehta played a legendary and pioneering role in establishing scientific media planning and buying in India. While doing so, she built a whole generation of media professionals for the advertising industry. Mehta joined Hindustan Thompson Associates in 1971 and became the first MBA and first woman in the media function of an advertising agency in India. She moved to Ogilvy Benson & Mather in 1975, and rose from Media Group Head to Media Controller for Bombay Office in 1976 to representing Media for the first time on the Managing Committee of Bombay Office in 1978 to being sent to London for 3 months to introduce Account Planning and Research in the Indian operation in 1980 to the Board as Director – Media & Research in 1982. She transferred, as President – South in 1992, became Director -International Client Service in 1994, and Managing Consultant – the Media Network in 1996.  Along the way, she pioneered Outdoor planning and buying and set up a Rural Media network to service client requirements.

     

    Invited on several committees and associations by the industry, including the Expert Committee on TV Marketing for Doordarshan & AIR, she was Founder Member of the Market Research Society of India (MRSI) and Founder Member and Chairperson – Technical Committee of the Media Research Users Council (MRUC).  She chaired MRUC from 1994-96. Ms Mehta was also on the Board of several other committees including Advisory Board – Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (Govt of India), AAAI’s Media Disputes Committee, Economic Times Advisory Panel, etc.  An avidly sought after speaker at industry conferences/seminars, she served as faculty on training programs run by Ogilvy & Mather India and Asia Pacific.

     

    Roda Mehta bagged several prestigious awards including the David Ogilvy Award for Asia Pacific & Agency of the Year Award (Public Service) 1992 for the National Literacy Mission campaign.

     

    Currently she is associated with several non-profit organisations as a Trustee of the Lila Poonawalla Foundation, which provides scholarships and mentoring to economically challenged girls from Maharashtra for postgraduate, graduate/diploma and secondary school education; Board Member and Treasurer of Nagrik Chetna Manch, a citizen’s watchdog organisation on public expenditure. She administers a very active Citizens’ Whatsapp Group for civic affairs of PMC Ward 21 and is a practitioner of Kriya Yoga.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Making the announcement, Nakul Chopra, President, AAAI, stated, “Roda Mehta is a pioneer in more ways than one. This Award is well-deserved recognition for the stellar leadership she provided our industry and our eco-system for over two decades, during which time she also nurtured a whole generation of professional talent.”

     

    Added Ashish Bhasin who was Chairman of the AAAI Lifetime Achievement Award Committee – Selection: “Roda Mehta has single-handedly played a vital role in getting due respectability for the Media function in Advertising.”  Members of the Selection Committee for this Award included Sam Balsara, Srinivasan K Swamy, Ambi Parameswaran and Nakul Chopra.

    This Award, instituted in 1988 by AAAI, has been bestowed on 24 persons thus far. It will be presented on July 14 in Mumbai.

     

  • Indian entrants won eight metals on Day 4 at the Cannes Lions international festival of creativity

    Day 4 @ Cannes2017: All smiles as India tally is 32

    By A Correspondent

     

    On Day 4 at Cannes, Indian agencies had a fair day day with eight metals across Media, Design and Product Design. In Media, McCann Worldgroup continued its good run with a bronze each for Paytm and the Afghan campaign. In Design, Ogilvy’s work for Savlon and Taproot Dentsu’s Adidas Odds won a Silver even as Leo Burnett’s ‘Roads that Honk’ for HP and Famous Innovations campaign for Caratlane won a Bronze. In Product Design where India hasn’t fared too well traditionally, McCann won a Silver for ‘Immunity Charm’  and Ogilvy bagged a Bronze for Savlon.

     

    Clearly, Immunity Charm and Savlon are emerging to be the big winners of the season for India.

     

    With these, India is now well past the 2016 tally of 2

     

  • Pooja comes to Lupin with over 22 years of experience across diverse corporate backgrounds

    Lupin appoints Pooja Thakran as Head – Corporate Communications

    By A Correspondent

     

    Pharma major Lupin Limited has announced the appointment of Pooja Thakran as Head – Corporate Communications. Thakran will lead the Corporate Communications function for Lupin globally and will be based at the company’s corporate headquarters in Mumbai, India.

     

    Commenting on the appointment, Nilesh Gupta, Managing Director, Lupin Limited said, “We are very happy to have Pooja join Lupin as we continue on our transformational journey to emerge as a specialty pharmaceutical and complex generics major globally. She would play a key role in taking Lupin’s Brand and Corporate Communications endeavors to a new level.”

     

  • The tool encompasses media inventory of over 60,000 OOH sites across 1700+ cities in India

    Posterscope automates out-of-home planning with ‘OOHZONE’

    By A Correspondent

     

    Posterscope India has launched ‘OOHZONE’, a fully automated live dashboard for OOH media planning. Its shear scope of process automation and innovative design makes it an impressive asset, which the agency trusts is a milestone in OOH media planning and execution mapping.

     

    The tool encompasses media inventory of over 60,000 OOH sites across 1700+ cities in India.

     

    Haresh Nayak

    Said Haresh Nayak, Managing Director Posterscope: “Location is the new leverage that brands and agencies are eyeing to ascertain the consumer behaviour, and when OOH is the context, mobile devices are the undeniable common currency of information mining. We now have access to large data sources that allow us to break away from traditional audience demographics, enabling us to plan, on location based behaviours and interests. To achieve this we have forged number of partnerships in order to access a variety of mobile data. OOHZONE is now at the forefront of automated, speed-driven and process-oriented planning and by its virtue it will surely stir a paradigm shift in the OOH industry,” he added.

     

  • Indian entrants may have won the largest number of metals ever, but it's been a disappointment for few

    India #9 with 40 metals at Cannes Lions

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    On Saturday, as the curtains came down on the 64th edition of Cannes Lions, one saw mixed sentiments in the Indian contingent. Indian entries bagged 40 metals, up much from the 27 last year, but ask a few entrants and they’ll tell you we expected more.

    For instance, one expected Leo Burnett and Taproot to get more for their innovations. Taproot was even shortlisted for Titanium, but, sadly, it didn’t get any.

    McCann Worldgroup bagged 16 metals for India, including the solitary Grand Prix, and Ogilvy bagged nine metals. But what’s worrying is not the no-show in Print & Publishing, but the zero shortlists in the various digital categories: Cyber, Mobile, Creative Data and Digital Craft. That doesn’t speak too well about the work produced from India. Perhaps one can seek solace in the excuse is that not all enter at Cannes. As per policy (Mullen Lowe Lintas group, for instance) or because sending entries requires deep pockets.

    Meanwhile, David Droga, Founder & Creative Chairman of Droga5, collected the Lion of St. Mark in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the industry. Droga has won over 70 Gold Lions, as well as 16 Grands Prix and Titanium Lions in his career to date. At this year’s Festival, Droga5 picked up 3 Gold, 2 Silver and 6 Bronze Lions, along with a Grand Prix in Cyber for the boldly original work ‘Did you Mean Mailchimp?’

    And Burger King was named Creative Marketer of the Year to honour the brand for embracing and encouraging creativity across their brand communications and for the inspiring global marketing of their products. Axel Schwan, Chief Marketing Officer of Burger King, and Fernando Machado, Head of Brand Marketing at Burger King, collected the award on behalf of Burger King.

    Screen Writer, Director, Campaigner & Co-Founder of Red Nose Day, Richard Curtis, collected the LionHeart Award for his continued and significant involvement in charitable initiatives, including Comic Relief, Red Nose Day, Live 8 and the Make Poverty History campaign.

     

    Other awards presented on the last evening were:

    Network of the Year went to BBDO Worldwide, Ogilvy & Mather were second and McCann Worldgroup third.

    Agency of the Year went to Clemenger BBDO Melbourne second place to AlmapBBDO, Sao Paulo and third to McCann New York.

    Independent Agency of the Year went to Droga5 New York second to Wieden+Kennedy, Portland and 4creative, London in third.

    Holding Company of the Year was given to WPP second place to Omnicom and third to Interpublic Group

    The Palme d’Or, given to the most awarded production company, went to MJZ, USA in first place, second to Smuggler, USA and third to The Mill, USA.

    Highlights from the week can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/user/canneslions and winning work is now available to view at: www.canneslionsarchive.com.

     

  • McCann bagged the highest number of awards at Cannes Lions from amongst Indian entrants – 16 in all, including the sole Grand Prix. McCann entries also bagged four Golds, seven Silvers and four Bronze metals

    [The big win] possible because of our strong creative culture: Prasoon Joshi

    By A Correspondent

     

    There is reason for celebrations at the Mumbai headquarters. At the Cannes Lions festival last week, McCann Worldgroup India bagged the highest number of awards – 16 in all, including the sole Grand Prix. McCann entries also bagged four Golds, seven Silvers and four Bronze metals.

     

    The campaign titled Immunity Charm done for Afghanistan Minsitry of Public Health picked up Grand Prix for Good, four Gold,six Silvers and two Bronze and was the most awarded campaign from India.

     

    The Campaign titled World for All done for Client World for All pet adaption won one Silver.The other campaign that picked up metal was of Paytm titled Paytm – Sweet Change and Dermaclinix radio titled The Scientist, both won a bronze

     

    Commenting on the win, Prasoon Joshi, Chairman, McCann Asia Pacific and CEO and Chief Creative Officer McCann India said: “We at McCann India believe in creative excellence and our performance at Cannes 2017 examplifies this. This has been possible because of a strong creative culture which we have nurtured over the years and real teamwork,” adding: “This wouldn’t have been possible without the ‘Creative First Culture’ at McCann Worldgroup under the leadership of our CEO Harris Diamond. Rob Riley, the global creative chairman has driven this creative vision intricately which has reflected in the overall performance of McCann Worldgroup. Most importantly I thank all our client partners because great work happens only when our clients join hands with us on this quest for excellence.”

     

  • And this is what Ogilvy CEO Kunal Jeswani said: We don't create work to win awards. We just bring our best game to every client and every brief. That's how we win

    Young people at Ogilvy India have done us proud: Piyush Pandey

    By A Correspondent

     

    Outside of the rich pickings by McCann Health, for more conventional advertising work, Ogilvy India bagged nine metals – Two Golds, two Silvers and five Bronzes.

     

    Here’s what Piyush Pandey, Executive Chairman & Creative Director, Ogilvy South Asia said: “I am very happy for the young people who work at Ogilvy India and have done us proud.  My congratulations to all other agencies in India.” Added Kunal Jeswani, CEO, Ogilvy India:  “People often ask me what differentiates Ogilvy. As consumers move seamlessly from one platform to the next and agencies and marketers struggle to keep up, what should clients look to Ogilvy for?  What is the one thing that we rally our people and services around, that defines us and sets us apart?  It is the ability to tell great brand stories and build brand love.  The nine Lions we picked up at the 2017 Cannes Festival is recognition from one of the toughest competitions in our industry, that we do this incredible well.  Great clients and great teams partner to create great work at Ogilvy every day.  How do we do this consistently? We don’t create work to win awards.  We just bring our best game to every client and every brief. That’s how we win.”

     

    Said Kainaz Karmakar and HarshadRajadhyaksha, the creative leaders on Savlon Chalk Sticks which is possibly the second most awarded campaign at 2017 Cannes (after McCann’s Afghanistan ministry of health):  “Savlon’s Healthy Hands Chalk Sticks is simple, surprising and effective,  That is the reason why juries from around the world have thought it to be worthy of such heavy metals, in such large numbers. Beauty Tips by Reshma also got us the highly regarded Lion for Creative Effectiveness. The honesty of this campaign cuts through the clutter and goes straight to the heart,  We are beyond happy and we share this glory with our rockstar teams and our brave clients. “