MxMIndia

Category: ADVERTISING

  • The mandate includes media investment and strategic planning in print, television, online, out of home (OOH) and radio

    BMW appoints Lodestar UM as media agency on record

    By A Correspondent

     

    BMW India has appointed Lodestar UM as its strategic media partner. Effective July1, this mandate includes media investment and strategic planning in print, television, online, out of home (OOH) and radio.

     

    Said Vikram Pawah, President of BMW Group India: “The BMW Group has been a pioneer in automotive excellence and the brand stands for emotion, design and heritage with a promise of providing high quality products and services, today and in the future. This philosophy has been an integral part of our brand campaigns for our products and services. We are looking forward to work with Lodestar UM to further build the BMW India brand with new initiatives that are based on strong local insight and innovative ideas. The Lodestar UM team has impressed us with its great strategic media approach and buying efficiency, and we look forward to a wonderful working relationship with them.”

     

    Added Nandini Dias, Chief Executive Officer, Lodestar UM India: “UM handles the BMW account globally in more than 44 markets and we are delighted that this mandate has now been extended to India. This automobile behemoth is one of the leading global brands in the luxury car market. The media mandate is a validation of our global philosophy of better science and better art that delivers better outcome to our clients, in the media moments that matters the most.“

     

  • Currently Delivering Solutions for Lays Maxx; Doritos & Honda Hornet Bike

    Retail Story unveils its inaugural campaign

    By A Correspondent

     

    Brand Street India, an integrated marketing agency, has announced the identity of its retail division  – Retail Story. After having provided retail marketing and communication assistance for a while now, the company is now shaping it as a specialised service for their existing and new clients.

     

    Retail Story rolled out its first campaign, starting from July 1 which is a co-branded promotion of Lays Maxx, Doritos and Honda Hornet bike. Brand Street India has liasoned with Honda Scooters & Motorcycles India and developed a co-branded sales promotion featuring Lays Maxx and Doritos (brands of PepsiCo) along with HMSI.

     

    Speaking about the new division, Surendra Singh (National Head, Brand Street India) said, “A substantial share of our annual billings come from Retail work, so we are incredibly thrilled to announce this specialized division. Retail is a pivotal touch point of a consumer journey and behavior. We certainly want to give more dedication towards this line of business and hence the need to have a separate division.”

     

    The retail division will be led by Yogesh Pahuja who has been working with Brand Street India since its inception.

     

  • The agency will handle all mainline advertising and services including the digital mandate by being its strategic and creative partner

    J Walter Thompson India wins creative mandate for TOI

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Times of India has appointed J Walter Thompson India as its creative agency. The business was awarded after a highly contested multi-agency pitch, notes a communique. The account will be handled out of the agency’s Delhi office.

     

    Sanjeev Bhargava

    The agency will handle all mainline advertising and services including the digital mandate for the English daily by being its strategic and creative partner.

     

    Commenting on the appointment, Sanjeev Bhargava, Director, Brand TOI said: “The strategic thinking that J Walter Thompson has contributed to business building coupled with a multi city high powered creative and servicing capability is what has made them the best choice for us. I am hoping for great work to come from this partnership.”

     

     

    Joy Chauhan

    Commenting on the win, Joy Chauhan, Senior Vice President and Managing Partner, J Walter Thompson Delhi said: “The Times of India has been one of the most precious wins for JWT Delhi in the recent past. It is precious because it is one of the biggest and the most iconic brands of India. We all know that this great publication is so much more than just a newspaper. The brand’s contribution towards the Indian society is second to none. We look forward to creating some path breaking work for this iconic brand.”

     

  • Founder & Creative Chairman Sajan Raj Kurup has aggressive plans to grow CLA to a 'creative ecosystem'

    Rana Barua to lead Creativeland Asia…

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    He’s back, wrote senior adperson Shavon Barua on Facebook early today (July 10). Hubby and also a seasoned adland captain RanaBarua was set to take charge at Creativeland Asia group as CEO.

     

    After 10 years of doing some quality work in advertising, Founder and Creative Chairman Sajan Raj Kurup has announced a strategic move to evolve Creativeland from a communications company into a complete creative ecosystem by investing in creating a group that will have a formidable presence across all key strategic creative marketing verticals. And helping Kurup do that will be Rana Barua at the helm of it as Chief Executive Officer.

     

    Barua, notes a communique, will work closely with Kurup and will lead this new group structure that looks at making quantum leaps across its marketing services offering for clients.

     

    Said Kurup on the appointment: “Very few CEOs in our market have the capabilities of transforming business and scaling up rapidly. There were three things that made me bring on Rana at Creativeland. His ability to be a lethal competitor in the market, his diverse industry experience and strong track record of scaling up.My team and I spent the last decade building Creativeland Asia brick by brick on strong cultural values and business principles. We always kept the long-term in mind. Not a short-term valuation-seeking sell-out model. This organic and careful growth has laid a strong foundation that becomes a fertile platform for a strong business leader like Rana to buildon it further exponentially.”

     

    Adding on Barua’s role, Kurup said: “Rana’s significant experience across media and marketing will also help us drive strategic alliances and partnerships and further boost the Groups presence across Digital Media, Creative technology, Design and shopper marketing functions.He will take on the responsibilities of everyday business and operations. Which I am hoping will also give me more time at Creativeland to be a full time thinker, investor and creator of new.”

     

    With experience of over 22 years in the industry, Barua was last Chief Executive Officer of WPP Group’s Contract Advertising. He has also worked as COO, Red FM, Head of Marketing at Radio City and earlier various stints at JWT, Ogilvy, McCann &Rediffusion Y&R. He is also an executive committee member and honorary secretary of the Advertising Agencies Association of India.

     

    On his new move and role, RanaBarua, Chief Executive Officer, Creativeland Asia Group said:

    “Over the last 10 years, Raj has built a fabulous organisation, team and culture. Which is evident in great client partnerships and work that is disruptive in the market. While Creativeland has always stood out for me as it has to most in the advertising industry, what got me revved up about this opportunity is Raj’sclear vision to build a creative ecosystem beyond the traditional marketing communication gamut.The ambitions and expansion plans we discussed has made me believe that there can’t be a better place to realise them than Creativeland today. Both, in India and overseas. Partnering Raj and leading a super bright team at Creativeland Asia Group, launching new verticals, treading newer geographies and taking on the challenges of building the creative ecosystem of the future makes for my next level of excitement.

     

    The new structure at Creativeland Asia will house verticals of Creativeland advertising, Baaash Digital, Creativeland Pictures (films & content), Creativeland Hospitainments (experiential, events and entertainment) with individual business leaders who will report into the CEO.In addition, internal investments are being allocated to set up and drive new strategic tie ups across Media, Creative Technology, Design, PR, Experiential, Events and Shopper Marketing functions.

     

    While Barua will be responsible to consolidate and drive all the advertising and brand communications verticals, he will also be crucial in shaping up Creativeland Hospitainment which includes entertainment, events and activation and Creativeland Pictures, the groups film and television vertical. Creativeland Pictures has created award winning content for both television as well as the big screen. Its first feature film, Karmayogi, an Indian adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, received great admiration from the International Film Festival of India (IFFI). It ventured into television content and production last year with The Legend of Jagannath, for the National Geographic Channel.

     

    Creativeland Asia is all geared up for an offsite culture workshop to transition into the new structure and leadership. Said Kurup: “Cultural transitions are key when it comes to such crucial hires. We will be doing it the indomitable Creativeland way with a three-day ashram-based leadership workshop which combines yoga, meditation and future search modules.”

     

    According to industry sources, Creativeland was not what got Barua to quit Contract. He was earlier toying with the idea of starting out on his own and a few networks had even evinced interest in investing in his venture. And then the call from Kurup.

     

    Barua officially joins Creativeland today (July 10).

     

  • Appointed Group Chief Creative Officer and Vice Chairman, Ogilvy India

    Sonal Dabral back @ Ogilvy

     

    It’s a day for big creative agency announcements. Ogilvy India has informed the media of the appointment of Sonal Dabral as Group Chief Creative Officer and Vice Chairman, Ogilvy India.

     

    Said Piyush Pandey, Executive Chairman and Creative Director, Ogilvy South Asia:   I am delighted to welcome back Sonal Dabral to Ogilvy India as Group Chief Creative Officer and Vice Chairman. This is a first-time designation at Ogilvy & Mather in keeping with Sonal’s stature. Sonal was my first partner in building the creative reputation of Ogilvy India as it stands today. I am sure we will have a great partnership again to take Ogilvy to even greater heights.”

     

    Dabral worked at Ogilvy India from 1991 to 1999 and then took over as the Creative Head of Ogilvy Malaysia and within three years is said to made it the No. 1 Creative Agency in that country.  Thereafter he took on the reins of creativity in Ogilvy Singapore as its leader after which Ogilvy India wooed him back to India as the Chairman India and Regional Creative Director for Bates Asia-Pacific.  He then took on the responsibility at DDB Mudra as Chairman and Chief Creative Officer.

     

    Adds Pandey: “As my partner in the 90s, he hired more creative talent than I have done in my life.  He not only hired them, but inspired them and gave them wings to fly on their own. Sonal is a popular speaker around the world and a favourite jury member on every international award show.  There is so much to Sonal’s achievements, that if I write them all, his joining us will get delayed.”

     

    Although his date of joining Ogilvy is not known, Dabral’s commitment at DDB Mudra completes in September end.

     

    This appointment is welcomed and celebrated by John Seifert, Chairman & CEO of Ogilvy Worldwide, Tham Khai Meng, Worldwide Chief Creative Officer and Co-Chairman of Ogilvy Worldwide, Kent Wertime, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Ogilvy Asia-Pacific and Eugene Cheong, Chief Creative Officer of Ogilvy Asia-Pacific.  The Ogilvy leadership looks forward to Sonal injecting additional energy to the creative powerhouse for which Ogilvy India is well known around the world.

     

    Piyush concludes: We welcome Sonal to Ogilvy, as we start a new chapter of great Indian creativity. This is what will make our clients’ businesses stronger and Ogilvy India stronger.

     

  • Longtime Ogilvy executive Vikram Menon joins the company as President of Global Operations, while Gopal Krishnan rises to Executive Chairman and Todd Brownrout becomes CEO

    Vikram Menon quits Ogilvy to join Ad2Pro

    By A Correspondent

     

    Vikram Menon

    The Ad2Pro Group, a technology-enabled marketing services pioneer providing strategy, creative and content automation for global brands and media companies, has named Vikram Menon President of Global Operations. Menon comes to Ad2Pro from OgilvyOne Worldwide and Neo@Ogilvy, where he was President and India Country Lead for the last four-and-a-half years. Concurrently, co-founders Gopal Krishnan and Todd Brownrout rise to Executive Chairman and CEO, respectively. As Executive Chairman, Krishnan will continue driving technology innovation and corporate strategy and development while as CEO Brownrout will lead overall Ad2pro Group management and operations.

     

    “We’ve proven our approach makes it possible for all types of marketers, both brands and media companies, to meet the escalating demand for timely and relevant content – affordably and systematically,” said Krishnan. “Now we’re deepening our management talent and bringing our integrated business model forward to adapt quickly to endless marketplace changes.”

     

    Added Menon: “It’s never been more critical, or more difficult, to deliver content that’s relevant to what people are experiencing at any given moment. Ad2pro is making it possible for marketers to keep pace with continual change in people’s lives and media companies to meet the growing appetite for targeted advertising content.

     

  • Having worked with Nielsen, GfK and Gallup Organization, Kumar Rao brings in 17 years of global work experience in the space of research, analytics, statistics and measurement

    BARC strengthens team with two senior appointments

    By A Correspondent

     

    BARC India, the TV viewership measurement provider in India, has expanded its leadership team with the addition of two senior resources. BARC India has roped in Rohit Sarma as the Business Head for its TV business and Kumar Rao as the Chief of Measurement Science. Both of them will be based out of BARC India’s Mumbai office.

     

    Said Partho Dasgupta, CEO, BARC India:“In the last two years, we built the TV measurement business by roping in talent and insights from across the globe. We are now transitioning from a start-up phase to a more process-oriented company. Both Rohit and Kumar bring very relevant skills and experience for this phase of our journey, which will help us better meet the needs of the industry,”.

     

    Added Romil Ramgarhia, Chief Business Officer, BARC India: “Excellence can be achieved only when people commit to constantly raising the bar. At BARC India, we are doing that by first raising the bar on talent. I am looking forward to working with them,”.

     

    Having worked with Nielsen, GfK and Gallup, Rao brings in 17 years of work experience in the space of research, analytics, statistics and measurement. He will report to Partho Dasgupta.

     

    Rohit Sarma has spent over 20 years in the FMCG and media sectors across India and South Asia with companies like ITC, Diageo, Turner and HT Media. He will work closely with both Dasgupta and Ramgarhiain his new role.

     

  • This award is in recognition of his career achievement in India

    Ramesh Narayan first recipient of AFAA Special Award

    By A Correspondent

     

    Ramesh Narayan

    The Asian Federation of Advertising Associations (AFAA) has announced its decision to honour advertising veteran Ramesh Narayan with the AFAA Special Award at the inaugural session of the AdAsia Congress in Bali on November 8, 2017.

     

    Said Raymond So, Chairman AFAA: “This award is in recognition of his career achievement in India and his role in strengthening the advertising industry there”. He added that “Ramesh’s contributions continue to inspire and enable others to accomplish, achieve and reach for greater heights. These were the traits of a true leader.”

     

    Added Srinivasan K Swamy, Vice Chairman AFAA said, “the Committee was unanimous in their appreciation of Ramesh’s role in providing direction, clarity and strategy to AFAA in the Asian region since the year 2000.”

     

  • Agency heads/clients acknowledge MSL role in winning Gold, Silver and two Bronze Lions at Cannes Lions 2017

    MSL demonstrates Publicis’ ‘Power of One’ with four Cannes Lions for group agencies

    By A Correspondent

     

    The honours may have been bagged by other Publicis Groupe agencies, but each of the four winning campaigns saw strategic inputs by MSL India, the group’s strategic communications and engagement firm.The winning campaigns of #GiveHer5-The Ammada Trust, HPCL Roads That Honk and Vicks #Touchofcare, involved crucial strategic communication approach to drive conversations and impact, notes a communique.

     

    Said Amit Misra, CEO, MSL India: “The wins are a true reflection of the power of strategic PR counsel in creating the right conversations that lead to measurable impact. As we continue to work with greater collaboration under PublicisGroupe’s ‘Power of One’, our mission is to consistently raise the quality of our work and partner our clients to deliver integrated solutions. All in line with our promise to be a communication partner that provides strategic counsel and creative thinking.”

     

    For instance, with the Gold Glass Lion for #GiveHer5, The Ammada Trust bagged by Law & Kenneth Saatchi & Saatchi, Praveen Kenneth, Chairman, Co-owner and MD at L&K Saatchi & Saatchi acknowledges the MSL role: “I am a firm believer that passion and hard work always deliver great results. Born from a self-interest to support betterment of girl child in India, the mission and goals of #GiveHer5 have surpassed all our expectations. In a campaign of such nature, while it was definitely imperative for us to drive mass reach to crowdsource support, the more important and tougher task was bringing to light the issue and creating awareness with action; a task more than well managed by MSL. Their strategic communication counsel and approach, makes them an equal partner in this win.”

     

    Said Saurabh Varma, CEO, Publicis Communications India and CEO, Leo Burnett South Asia The Roads that Honk work created for HPCL which bagged a Silver Innovation Lion and a Bronze in Design (Promotional Item Design) for Leo Burnett India: “A great example of how collaboration and the right strategic communication mix can create a big impact. MSL’s role was instrumental in the win, since it was imperative for the campaign to create the right conversations around the idea and its innovation and earn credibility. MSL delivered and deserves as much credit for the win as Leo Burnett.”

     

    The Vicks #TouchofCare which bagged a Bronze in Entertainment Lion was created by Publicis Singapore. Endorsing MSL’s contribution, Nitin Darbari, Chairman and CEO P&G Teva JV China, Marketing Director Asia, Middle East and Africa said, “Vicks #TouchofCare work by MSL is a great example of how power of an idea coupled with strong agency can delivery wonders even at low budgets. The MSL team tapped creatively into the full network of celebrities and influencers with virtually no budget and based on the strength of the idea delivered outstanding value in amplifying the story of Vicks Touchofcare. Added Ritu Mittal, Country Brand Marketing Manager, Procter & Gamble: “The MSL team was exemplary in working the end-to-end PR plan and execution on the #TouchOfCare campaign. The team managed everything within a very limited budget and demonstrated superb agility. The campaign received an overwhelming response across global and national publications as a result of the relentless efforts made by this team.”

     

  • The shopper marketing and activations agency will now work with all Publicis Communications agencies in India

    Arc Worldwide is back, bigger

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    Ten years after it made its first appearance in India, Publicis Communications has announced the launch of Arc Worldwide, Publicis Groupe’s brand activation and experiential shopper agency in the country. Unlike the past where it was essentially a Leo Burnett arm, Arc will work closely with all Publicis Communications India agencies – The Leo Group, Publicis Worldwide (including Marcel), Publicis Beehive, L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, and MSLGroup.

     

    Arc Worldwide specialises in creating shopper interactions with brands. It will provide clients with the same core expertise through acts and activations, events, exhibitions, shopper and rural marketing and retail design across metros and smaller towns and cities.Leo Burnett India’s below-the-line and experiential arm, Leo Burnett Experience, will now merge into Arc Worldwide. VandanaVerma, Executive Vice President at Leo Burnett Experience, will head the new entity.

     

    Saurabh Varma

    Speaking about the launch of Arc Worldwide, Saurabh Varma, Chief Executive Officer, Publicis Communications India, and Leo Burnett South Asia, said: “Arc Worldwide is a critical piece in our ambition for Publicis Communications in India. Arc will create more momentum for our ‘Power of One’ platform. With Arc Worldwide we hope to create meaningful ACTS for our clients using data and technology.”

     

    Added Bob Raidt, Global President, Arc Worldwide: “Arc’s rapid growth is a testament to the agency’s strengths and capabilities. Our expansion to India, and merging with Leo Burnett Experience, will benefit our clients even further. This expansion, coupled with the power of all Publicis Communications India agencies, ensures that Arc can continue to stay at the forefront of the industry.”

     

    Vandana Verma

    Looking forward to leading the new division, Vandana Verma, Executive Vice President at Arc Worldwide said: “Arc Worldwide is one of the biggest brand activation and experiential agencies in the world, and I’m excited about the possibilities the India launch holds for us. People and their behaviour are the key pillars for Arc to create effective and meaningful brand activations. We create programmes that inspire consumers to connect with brands in new ways. Our proprietary tools uncover unique insights into consumer needs and help create measurable actions that have a dynamic effect on our clients’ business. I believe the solutions we can create for clients across Publicis Communications will remain unmatched.”

     

    Arc Worldwide currently employs over 2,000 employees in over 37 countries, working with 400 of the world’s biggest brands, and in India takes off with several brands in the kitty already. These include Nissan, Huawei, Bacardi, Vodafone, ITC Foods, P&G, FCA, Bajaj, Cipla, Amazon, Viacom18, Netflix, Haagen Dazs, Color Plus and State Bank of India.

     

    When it launched in 2007, Arc Worldwide was headed by CVS ‘Venke’ Sharma. Later, around 2012, the focus faded away and also Leo Burnett acquired Indigo Consulting.

     

  • The debut edition of the awards to be presented by News18 India

    Ad Club announces jury panel for ‘Marquees 2017’

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Advertising Club has announced the jury panel for Marquees 2017, the all-new awards event that is scheduled to happen in Mumbai on August 11. Presented by News18 India and powered by Colors and MTV in its debut edition, Marquees 2017 will award brands for their excellence in building effective and sustainable equity.

     

    The jury panel comprises Harsh Goenka, Chairman – RPG Enterprises, Ronnie Screwvala, Co-Founder – UpGrad; Agnello Dias – Chairman & Co-Founder, Taproot India; Navin Chopra – Ex COO, Vodafone & Sr Advisor, TPG Capital; Dilip Cherian – Founding Partner, Perfect Relations and CVL Srinivas, CEO South Asia – GroupM. Hindustan Unilever ‎CEO and Managing Directoris jury chair.

     

    Speaking on the jury panel, Raj Nayak, President, The Advertising Club said: The illustrious jury for Marquees 2017 that consists of stalwarts from across categories brings in great diversity of experience and vigor into the deliberation process.  This diversity is set to provide significant insight mining potential and range in perspective into the evaluation method, ensuring that only the most deserved and path breaking marketers facilitating social and behavioral change emerge victorious.”

     

    On associating with Marquees 2017, Avinash Kaul, Managing Director, A+E Networks | TV18 and President – Strategy, Product & Alliances – Network18 said:“Network18 through its front-running Hindi general news brand News18 India believes in acknowledging talent that has transformational potential. As a news organisation, we bring cutting-edge stories that prompt authorities into action. Similarly, we believe  Marquees 2017 will recognise forward thinking marketers who create campaigns to inspire positive change. The multi-disciplinary jury panel of industry legends is sure to bring further credence and value to the awards, making it a much sought-after event for marketers.”

     

    Talking about Marquees 2017 awards jury, Partho Dasgupta, Chairman, Marquees 2017 said: “The debut edition of Marquees has already set a significant benchmark by bringing together a highly respected jury panel that consist of media legends. The combined experience, wisdom and technical knowhow of the jury is sure to recognise and validate brands and marketers that have redefined and challenged the conventional communication paradigm.”

     

  • Piyush Pandey announces Ogilvy NCD Rajiv Rao's decision to move on… must-read statement

    Rajiv Rao, the man behind the Vodafone ZooZoo & Pug, quits Ogilvy

     

    Rajiv Rao, one of India’s most acclaimed advertising creative directors and National Creative Director of Ogilvy & Mather, has announced his decision to move on. The man responsible for the awardwinning Vodafone pug and zoozoo campaigns has been with the leading creative agency since 1999. A recipient of several awards at almost evey leading global and Indian awards event, Rao is a product of the Sir JJ Institute of Applied Arts in Mumbai. On Monday (July 10), Ogilvy India had announced the return of Sonal Dabral as Group Chief Creative Officer and Vice Chairman. It is learnt that the appointment and announcement had been made given Rao’s decision to move on.

    In a signed statement issued by Piyush Pandey, Executive Chairman and Creative Director, Ogilvy South Asia, writes:

    It is not at all easy for me, as I inform you that Rajiv Rao moves on from Ogilvy India to become a film-maker. It has been Rajiv’s dream to make films for the last four years. I have nothing but a deep sense of gratitude to Rajiv, that he respected my request to stay on to help make a better and stronger Ogilvy.  There are not too many in this business who make a sacrifice of this magnitude.

    Rajiv joined Ogilvy in 1999 with his partner V. Mahesh. And shortly thereafter, they started blazing new trails.

    In 2002, I had the joy of partnering him as a copywriter to create the legendary ‘Second hand smoke kills’ campaign for Cancer Patients Aid Association. This campaign won India’s first double Gold at Cannes.

    Whenever the Orange/Hutch/Vodafone history is written, Rajiv Rao’s name will feature in golden letters. Every piece of work on these brands has Rajiv’s personal stamp on it.

    The ‘silent killer’, Rajiv has always displayed phenomenal leadership skills without saying very much. Along with Mahesh, he led Ogilvy Bangalore from 2003 to 2006 and gave the office a renewed energy. In 2009 Rajiv and Abhijit Avasthi took on the role of National Creative Directors and raised the bar up many notches of creativity at Ogilvy India.  And since 2015, Rajiv has played the role alone and compensated for his partner.

    Loved and admired by one and all in the industry, nationally and internationally, Rajiv is one of the finest creative people and the gentlest giant I have met in my life.

    I am sure Rajiv will be no less a film-maker than the creative leader he has been. We will stay connected in more ways than one.

    Meanwhile, Rajiv will continue as Ogilvy India’s National Creative Leader till Sonal takes over and a smooth transition is complete.

    I will refrain from being personal and just say, “Thank you Rajiv. You are a true son of Ogilvy India. Keep the flag flying.”