MxMIndia

Category: ADVERTISING

  • It's billed as the "night that can change the lives of hungry, young creatives"

    Stage set for Portfolio Night on May 23

    By A Correspondent

     

    The clock’s ticking for signing up for Portfolio Night 2018. Here’s where one could visit: http://portfolionight.com/14/cities/64/mumbai

     

    Portfolio Night, as is known, is held globally on the same day/night. This year, in Mumbai, Portfolio Night is happening under the auspices of Whyness, ecoleintuit.lab and The One Club for Creativity, New York.

     

    As the world’s largest advertising portfolio review program, Portfolio Night is an incredible opportunity for fresh, young talent to flaunt their ideas and art, one on one, to the biggest names in Indian advertising, a communique adds.

     

    This year’s edition will be held on Wednesday, May 23, on the Mumbai campus of ecoleintuit.lab, the French design school based in Prabhadevi in Central Mumbai.

     

     

  • Thetook its cue from the group’s vision statement that harbours a bright square smiley, alongside values such as ‘Unleash Talent’, ‘Touch Lives’ and ‘Outperform

    Dentsu Webchutney, RPG Group launch ‘Hello Happiness’ campaign

    By A Correspondent

     

    The RPG group has partnered with Dentsu Webchutney to launch a campaign featuring four films with their brand tagline ‘Hello Happiness’.

     

    This new campaign, notes a communique, took its cue from the group’s vision statement that harbours a bright square smiley, alongside values such as ‘Unleash Talent’, ‘Touch Lives’ and ‘Outperform’. Spread across six weeks, the campaign, driven largely via short films, illustrates how the group has brought happiness into the lives of diverse stakeholders.

     

    Said Manjira Sharma, DGM – Corporate Brand & Communications, RPG Enterprises: “At RPG, we believe that if we are able to bring any change into the lives of people, we have done justice to the group’s existence. And this change is only evident through people’s smiles; that is the bar we have set to measure our success. This is the reason we had to own the position of ‘Happiness’.”

     

    Nishi Kant, EVP and Branch head, Dentsu Webchutney says, “Real happiness is very tangible and each RPG film brings this home for the viewer – whether that be a child jumping around at an unexpected happiness, the tears streaming down a mother’s cheek at her daughter’s achievement, the boundless joy experienced by a grandfather in his grandchild’s company or the cheerful confidence of a happy employee. The term Hello Happiness means the active expression of Happiness and that is what the RPG Group stands for.”

     

     

  • Financial stability is a must for press freedom said Chief Guest Press Council chairman Justice CK Prasad

    Red Ink Awards presented to Mark Tully, Faye D’Souza, others

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    To ensure freedom for the news media, it was necessary to ensure the financial stability of journalists and job security. It is only if a journalist is financially secure that he can do his job with peace of mind, said Justice C K Prasad, Chairman of the Press Council of India (PCI).

     

    Giving his closing remarks as the chief guest at the ‘National Red Ink Awards for Excellence in Journalist’ on Friday, Justice Prasad said it was not fair on the part of media owners to run down the appointment of Wage Boards for media employees. Other industries such as cement and pharmaceuticals are all governed by the Minimum Wages Act, where such law does not exist for newspaper employees, he pointed out.

     

    “An editor returning to his office only to receive a pink slip did not augur well for the free press,” he said, adding that he had examined the balance sheet of many media groups and found the profits they were making could easily support the payment of Wage Board salaries.

     

    Earlier, he emphasised that the job of the Press Council of India is to ensure the freedom of the press, and “we are not here to regulate the

     

    Sir Mark Tully, who worked for over two decades as the Bureau Head of BBC in the subcontinent, received the RedInk Award for Lifetime Achievement’. In his acceptance speech, Tully said he grew up as radio reporter, and he would always prefer radio to television. Radio broadcasts gave a personal touch as “the listener gets the feeling that the news reader or reporter talks to him directly,” he said and recalled how at a village gathering in Uttar Pradesh, people greeted him as “a friend”.

     

    Tully, who was deported during the Emergency, said for journalists credibility was everything, and in today’s age they must learn to grapple with fake news. Just a small crosscheck and verification of facts would help in giving the right information to the society. He said public service broadcasting was a bolstering factor of a free press. Citing the BBC as an example, Tully said in his 40 years of working for the organisation, he could not recall a single instance where he had been asked to change or drop his news dispatch.

     

    Faye D’souza, Executive Editor of TV channel Mirror Now, who was given the ‘Journalist of the year’ Award, said her reporting was built on covering the issues that affected the common man. Focusing on credible news without much antics helped her channel stand out in the crowd and make a mark for itself.

     

    “I stick my neck out to report not what politicians are saying but what hits the man on the street, even as the entire media could be busy with irrelevant breaking news,” she

     

    Earlierr, a power panel consisting of Vijay Darda, Chairman, Lokmat Group, Raghav Bahl, Founder & Chairman, Quintillion Media, Anant Goenka, Executive Director, The Indian Express Group, and Samir Patil, founder and CEO of Scroll Media, debated the important and relevant issue of: Is there a business in News Media’.  Senior Journalist and Founder of IndiaSpend.Org  GovindrajEthiraj anchored the panel discussion.

     

    Most of the panellists agreed that news media was not a great business but there was money to be made. Bahl stressed that as the scenario shifted to digital platforms, a healthy business in niche areas was not difficult; however as the business scaled up along with the number of brands, the challenges also increased. He emphasised that the mandatory legal requirement in broadcasting for 51 per cent Indian ownership had become a bottleneck to expansion. It was not a level playing field as the law did not apply to other areas like print or digital.

     

    Mumbai Press Club secretary Dharmendra Jore said this year the RedInk Awards had received a record over-2,000 entries. Gurbir Singh, the convenor of the Awards Committee, said accusing the media of being anti-Establishment was foolish as by its very nature news media will always be anti-Establishment irrespective of the party in power.

     

    Awards were given away in 11 competitive categories and 5 special categories. As many as 32 journalists received trophies and Rs 1 lakh as cash prizes. The RedInk Award for ‘A Media Start-up that is making a difference’ was given to IndiaSpend.org, for its initiative in developing data journalism in India.

     

     

    Winners of Redink Awards 2018:

    Business & Economy

    Print : Sruthisagar Yamunan, Scroll.In | Kabir Agarwal, The Wire

    TV : Sushil Kumar Mohapatra, NDTV India

     

    Crime

    Print : Santosh Singh, The Indian Express

    TV : DeepuRevathy, Manorama News

     

    Environment

    Print : T. R. Vivek, Newslaundry.com | Aruna Chandrasekhar, The Caravan

    TV : Sushil Chandra Bahuguna, NDTV India

     

    Health & Wellness

    Print : Menaka Rao, Scroll.in

     

    Human Rights

    Print : Radhika Iyengar, Al Jazeera Media Network

    TV : Shone Satheesh, Scroll.in

     

    Lifestyle & Entertainment

    Print : Shamik Bag, Mint

     

    Politics

    Print : RikyntiMarwein, Highland Post

    TV : Jainendra Kumar, ABP News

     

    Science & Innovation

    Print : R Ramachandran, Frontline

    TV : Jugal R Purohit, India Today

     

    Sports

    Print : Shail Desai, Mint

    TV : Smitha Nair, Scroll.In

     

    The Big Picture

    Winner : Vinod Kumar T, The New India Express

    Runner up 1 : Indranil Mukherjee, Agence France Presse

    Runner up 2 : SibuBhuvanendran, Malayala Manorama

     

    Women Empowerment & Gender Equality

    Print : Leena Gita Reghunath (Surabhi Kanga), The Caravan : Shalini Nair, The Indian Express

    TV : Moumita Sen &Ruchira Sharma, India Today

     

    Media Start-up of the year : IndiaSpend.com

     

    Mumbai Star Reporter : Yadu Joshi, Lokmat & Chaitanya Marpakwar, Mumbai Mirror

     

    Journalist of the Year : Faye D’Souza, Mirror Now

     

    Lifetime Achievement Award : Sir William Mark Tully

     

     

  • Elebird to rebrand and spearhead packaging design and creative marketing outreach for Timios

    Timios awards creative mandate to Elebird Creatives

    By A Correspondent

     

    Bengaluru-based full-service creative agency Elebird Creatives has been awarded the complete creative mandate for Timios, a packaged food brand exclusively for children.

     

    Said Aswani Chaitanya, Co-founder, Timios (FirmRoots India Pvt. Ltd.): “We’re excited to sign on Elebird Creatives as our Creative Partner. Elebird has delivered exceptionally well creatives for our marketing and branding initiatives. Needless to say, the ideas, enthusiasm and creativity on display were excellent and we expect to create some great campaigns together in the coming days.”

     

    Said Rajiv Krishnaswamy, Co-founder and Head – Marketing, Elebird Creatives: “Our vision was to establish timios brand as the market leader in its category. We’re very excited to partner with them in reimagining healthier food options for the new generation.”

     

     

  • The Hemant Misra -headed agency will be handling account for all three business verticals – Mobiles, Consumer Durable and IT Peripherals

    Intex also moves from Publicis to Magic Circle

    By A Correspondent

     

    Consumer electronics company Intex Technologies has awarded its complete creative advertising mandate to the recently launched Magic Circle Communications. It may be recalled that Make MyTrip and GoIbibo had also announced their decision to switch camps recently. The account was till recently handled by Publicis, where Hemant Misra, the founder of Magic Circle, worked until recently.

     

    The agency will be handling all the three core business verticals – Mobile Handset, IT Accessories and Consumer Durable range. On n awarding the business to Magic Circle,  Keshav Bansal, Director, Intex Technologies, said: “Intex is one of the fastest growing brands in the consumer electronics space, having attained leadership position in mobiles, multimedia speakers, power banks and LED TVs apart from other products. Keeping in mind, our plans to accelerate growth and presence across media platforms through varied campaigns this year, Hemant Misra was the absolute choice as our marketing communications partner. Being an industry veteran, Hemant doesn’t need any introduction and has earned respect owing to his vast form of work and brand associations. We have worked with him earlier when he was heading Publicis India, and so he understands the ethos and essence of Brand Intex completely. We are very happy to have him with us and are sure that together we will be able take brand Intex and Magic Circle to greater heights.”

     

    Added Hemant Misra, Managing Director, Magic Circle on the win: “We feel truly blessed by the confidence and trust reposed in us by such a large client. My team has worked really hard on Intex in the past and the results have gladdened our hearts. It is a challenge working in these categories since they are so dynamic and competitive that we will continue to innovate and never pause at any format. We have always been treated as part of the team by the client and this motivates every member of my team to stretch both body and mind to do our best on the business.”

     

    Magic Circle was launched on May 1 by Misra and partnered by Natwar Singh and Dheeraj Renganath.

     

     

  • According to sources, advanced levels discussions are on for the buyback of the 40% Y&R and Dentsu stakes in the 45-year-old agency

    Is Arun Nanda buying WPP stake in Rediffusion?

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    Is Diwan Arun Nanda buying WPP’s 26.7 per cent stake in Rediffusion Y&R? According to (reasonably reliable) sources, advanced levels discussions are on for the buyback of the Y&R and Dentsu stakes in Rediffusion Y&R. Together, the two global majors own 40 per cent of the 45-year-old Rediffusion Y&R. Or what’s officially called Rediffusion Dentsu Young & Rubicam Private Limited.

     

    It may be remembered that until recently it was WPP that was keen on buying out the 60% owned by Nanda and Ajit Balakrishnan. But that was the WPP run by Sir Martin Sorrell. Now Nanda is reportedly keen on buying the WPP stake. And not just that, the Dentsu stake too.

     

    Not many think it’s a wise move as this will allow Y&R to enter the country on its own and pose fresh competition in what is clearly a tough market for creative advertising agencies.

     

    While Rediffusion recently bagged the prestigious State Bank of India mandate, the creative advertising business overall has been under a cloud over the last year-and-a-half. Even some of the bigger named agencies, including those from the WPP group, have been facing a squeeze on earnings.

     

    According to our sources, post the buyback of the shares, a merger of Rediffusion, the agency, and Rediff.com, the general interest internet-based portal, is also being mulled.

     

    While our sources do not reveal the deal size, and whether it’s in line with the estimates of a Rs 100 cr valuation for the 60 per cent stake owned by Arun Nanda and Ajit Balakrishnan of a few years back, given the changed business scenario, the 40 per cent equity could well be valued at a low Rs 20 crore.

     

    Part of the current Rediffusion Y&R fold is the Made-in-1946 agency Everest Brand Solutions, Rediffusion-Wunderman, Sudler& Hennessey and the PR wing.

     

    As per the Rediffusion Y&R website, the story goes that “one evening in 1973, three leading stalwarts of advertising came together to discuss the state of creativity in advertising. They wanted to do something about the mediocrity, the contentment with the status quo, the inertia that seemed to pervade agencies and people. The three people, Diwan Arun Nanda, Ajit Balakrishnan and Mohammed Khan, came up with a gameplan – to start their own advertising agency, Rediffusion. An agency that would be passionate and bold; an agency that would take ownership of clients and their work to new heights; an agency that would create fearless, category-busting work.

     

    That was a different era. Forty-five years ago. The rules of the game have changed dramatically. The dramatis personae of the advertising business have changed. Will it be achche din yet again for the two Big As of the Media business – Arun and Ajit. Time will tell.

     

     

  • There are 413 jury members from 50 countries including someone from Sri Lanka for the first time

    Only 10 jury members in 9 categories from India at Cannes Lions. None in 17 categories

    By A Correspondent

     

    Cannes Lions, the International Festival of Creativity, has announced the 413 jury members chosen to award and celebrate the best creative work from around the world.This year’s juries are composed of individuals from 50 countries, including for the first time representatives from Georgia, Nigeria, Kenya and Sri Lanka.

     

    Sadly only 10 jury members across nine categories are from India and as many as 17 categories have no representation from India. There are of course people from Indian origin or folks who have worked in India in the past (like Ravi Rao, Rupen Desai etc), but then they aren’t from an Indian agency.

     

    Said Jose Papa, Managing Director of Cannes Lions: “The job of the Cannes Lions jury is to act as the custodians of creativity and celebrate work that demonstrates the value of creativity in all its forms. We are committed to ensuring that our juries include a diverse range of people from across the branded communications ecosystem.”

     

    Last year the Festival announced new Lions with the introduction of a new Awards architecture to better reflect and support the fast-moving creative industries. These Lions include Creative eCommerce Lions, Brand Experience and Activation Lions, Social and influencer Lions, Sustainable Development Goals Lions and the Industry Craft Lions. An overall reduction in the number of categories within individual Lions refined the focus, while new categories were introduced to reflect how creative companies are operating.

     

    Added Terry Savage, Chairman, Cannes Lions:“Cannes Lions is now in its 65th year and in that time the industry, and the organisations operating within it, has changed dramatically. These new specialised Lions require a broader range of skills and experience which will ultimately help expand our perspective of creative excellence. The Lions are constantly evolving, just as the industry is, and our jury members are fundamental to ensuring that we keep creativity at the core of what we do.”

     

    The 2018 Cannes Lions Awards will be presented at ceremonies taking place each evening throughout the Festival from June 18 to 22.

     

    So here’s the list of folks from Indian organisations who will be part of the juries at Cannes Lions 2018:

     

    Brand Experience & Activation Lions

    Brijesh Jacob, Chief Creative Technologist, DDBMudra Group, India

     

    Design Lions

    Lulu Raghavan, Managing Director, Landor, India

     

    Direct Lions

    Prateek Bhardwaj, National Creative Director, McCann Worldgroup, India

     

    Film Lions

    Senthil Kumar, Chief Creative Officer, J. Walter Thompson, India

     

    Media Lions

    Rajni Menon, CEO, Carat, India

     

    Outdoor Lions

    Pallavi Chakravarti, Executive Creative Director, Taproot Dentsu, India

     

    Pharma Lions

    Lyndon Louis, Senior Creative Director, Havas Live Sorento, India

     

    PR Lions

    Valerie Pinto, CEO, Weber Shandwick, India

    Ishteyaque Amjad, Public Affairs & Communications, Coca-Cola, India & South West Asia

     

    Product Design Lions

    Darshan Gandhi , Head of Design, Godrej Consumer Products, India

     

    Creative Data Lions, Creative eCommerce Lions, Creative Effectiveness Lions, Digital Craft Lions, Entertainment Lions, Film Craft Lions, Glass: The Lion for Change, Health & Wellness Lions, Industry Craft Lions, Innovation Lions, Mobile Lions, Entertainment Lions for Music, Print & Publishing Lions, Radio & Audio Lions, Sustainable Development Goals Lions, Social & Influencer Lions, Titanium Lions:

    Koi Nahi. இல்லை (Illai). No one!

     

     

  • BBDO New York isAencyof Year at Montreux Festival Switzerland

    6 Golds for India at Montreux

    By A Correspondent

     

    Indian companies did well to win 6 Golds and 5 Finalist Awards at the Montreux Golden award Festival Switzerland. The 2018 Golden Award of Montreux attracted 3,400 entries from 38 countries.

     

    Indian winners incuded Open Strategy & Design for Crisil Foundation corporate id „ I am progress“ which won Gold in the Design Category while Out of the Box won Gold in Direct Marketing for their Sparsh Calendar “Feed a child for 365 days a year “

     

    Sony Pictures won Gold for Kaun Bang Crorepati-Play along in Digital/Interactive category while Viacom18 Colors won Gold for India Bangaya Manch in the Events category. Jagran Prakashan won Gold with 957 Pages from a Daughter’s Diary in Best Use of Print Media.

     

    To round up the strong Indian performance was a Gold for Miami Ad School India in the Talent Section with Print my Protest in Use of Media.

     

    The agency of the year was BBDO New York with 6 Golds for work done on GE, P&G, Bacardi, Mars and Sandy Hook Promise.Energy BBDO and BETC Paris finished second and third overall among all agencies

     

    The Montreux Golden award Festival awards only Golds and no Silver or Bronze. So a Finalist at Montreux Festival is a very worthy felicitation. There were 5 Finalist Awards given to PHD Media for Ferrero in Radio category, Dainik Bhaskar in the Illustration of Poster category, Mathrubhumi in Corporate Film category, Jagran Prakashan in Use of Print Media category and Viacom18 Colors(in cooperation with Leo Burnett Orchard) in Mixed Media category,

     

    The jury included Davide Boscacci, Publicis Italy, Michael Weinzettl, Lürzer’s Archive, , Bryan Barnes, BBDO New York, Luis Silva Dias FCB International, Olivier Teepe, Cloud factory, The Netherlands, Istvan Bracsok, White Rabbit, Hungary Ajay Chandwani Percept India and Strategic Brand Engagement Consultant, Mark Chalmers,Virtue, Conor Brady Critical Mass, Ludovic Tenart, Havas Paris,, Barbara Aparo, fashion.tv , Paul Collins, Sapient Razorfish + Digitas, Michael Mrakovcic , DNA Counsel, Australia, Frank Bodin, Havas Switzerland,; Adam Kerj McCann Sweden &Nordics.

     

     

  • He has already worked as Chief Investment Officer of Ventureland Asia, the group’s venture capital fund

    Creativeland Asia brings on board Venkat Balasubramanian as CFO

    By A Correspondent

     

    Venkat Balasubramanian

    Creativeland Asia Group has brought on board Venkat Balasubramanian as the group’s Chief Financial Officer. Bala has also served as Chief Investment Officer of Ventureland Asia, the group’s venture capital fund.

     

    He has worked in the past with the Smithsonian Institution (US), Agenda 21 (UN), Universal Forum of Cultures (Barcelona), The Earth Centre (UK) and Wieden+Kennedy, as CFO.

     

    On Balasubramanian’s appointment, Sajan Raj Kurup, Founder & Creative Chairman, Creativeland Asia Group, said, “When a prudent investment advisor and a finance expert comes on board, it is early signs of the times to come. Through last two years of his consultancy with Ventureland, I have found in Bala, a great partner who understands the ambition Creativeland has for itself. Now, as a key member of my team, I am certain his finance and legal acumen along with his keen sensitivity for the creative culture and his experience of working across various sectors across the globe will play a significant role in chartering a stronger growth trajectory for Creativeland.”

     

     

  • The case study is authored by Prof Anand Narasimhan and Transformation Project Manager Ivy Buche.

    GroupM India’s transformation journey is a case study at IMD Biz School, Switzerland

    By A Correspondent

     

    Leading management institute IMD Business School, Lausanne in Switzerland has created a case study on the digital transformation journey of GroupM India..The case study is authored by Prof Anand Narasimhan and Transformation Project Manager Ivy Buche.

     

    Commenting on the case study, CVL Srinivas, Country Manager WPP India and CEO, GroupM South Asia said: “It is an honour to be recognized by the world of academia and become a part of the IMD curriculum. In late 2012, the advertising and communications industry was challenged by digital disruption. As our business underwent metamorphosis, a critical part of the journey is taking the human capital into confidence and preparing them to work in a future-ready organisation. Along with the technology aspects of transformation, at GroupM India we successfully leveraged the talent dimension in implementing digital transformation. The case study will help other companies navigate their own transformation initiatives in a dynamic market.”

     

    Added Prof Narasimhan: “I have taught the GroupM India case to different audiences. What is striking for our participants is the care and diligence that GroupM paid to the human dimension of digital transformation – the need to incorporate millennial voices and the imperative to train talented individuals to beef up their technology skills. GroupM India provides a great example for other companies to use digital disruption as an opportunity rather than a threat.”

     

     

  • Marcel to accelerate the transformation of the Publicis Group from a holding company to an 80,000-person enterprise platform, notes a communique

    Publicis Unveils Marcel

    By A Correspondent

     

    Publicis Groupe has unveiled Marcel – named after Publicis Groupe founder Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet – AI-powered innovation that, as a communique notes, will “accelerate transforming the organisation from a holding company to a platform, creating the first truly borderless, frictionless enterprise workforce, comprised of 80,000 employees worldwide, and usher in a new era of creativity and innovation.”

     

    Said Arthur Sadoun, Chairman & CEO, Publicis Groupe, in a statement: “In June last year, Publicis Groupe announced the creation of Marcel, to connect our 80,000 employees and completely reinvent the way that we work, for ourselves and our clients. Since then, our industry has gone through unprecedented challenges, demonstrating that incremental change is not a solution. The need for reinvention is stronger than ever. At Publicis Groupe, we haven’t waited to act. We have broken the divide between data, creativity and technology. We have broken our silos through the Power of One. Today, we are breaking the barriers between talent and opportunity with Marcel. Marcel is a journey to shift Publicis Groupe from a holding company to a platform and give creative minds the freedom to progress and thrive in this ever-changing industry. Marcel is the proof of our commitment to our people. At Publicis, we will put them first in our transformation, and give them the opportunity to learn, share and create more than anywhere else. Marcel is the proof of our commitment to our clients. They will be able to leverage our incredible diversity of talent to bring to life the ideas they need to grow their business. And, of course, Marcel is the proof of our commitment to our industry. We will be a force for good, by leading the change. Tying the development of Marcel to our one-year industry event hiatus was a controversial decision, but a necessary one. It drew a line in the sand and left no doubt that we are determined to do whatever it takes to reinvent an industry that has struggled to evolve over the past 40 years. So I’m grateful to our people, our clients, and our partners at industry festivals around the world for their support and solidarity during this period, which will end in July 2018. And, last but not least, I’d like to thank everyone at Publicis Groupe who, both directly and indirectly, have contributed to the ideation and production of Marcel. Marcel is the power of all of us, working as one, and we have already begun to prove that.”

     

     

  • Eight Amul ads that tell the IPL 2018 story… from Star bagging the coverage rights to Dhoni& Co turning champions

    IPL 2018 via Amul Topicals

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    You know how much we at MxMIndia love to re-tell stories via Amul ads. Whether it’s Sachin Tendulkar’s long innings as a cricketing great or India winning the World Cup, we go to the Amul topics to help reflect on the times. Here we bring you eight Amul ads that tell the IPL 2018 story… from Star bagging the coverage rights to Dhoni& Co turning champions. Enjoy!