MxMIndia

Category: ADVERTISING

  • The guest teams included winners from Pidilite & Swiggy

    Star Re.Imagine Awards celebrates creativity and sportsmanship

    By A Correspondent

     

    Winning teams of the Star Re.Imagine Awards that created the two award winning campaigns – Fevikwik’s ‘Khushiyon ke chand pal’ and Swiggy’s ‘No order too small’, conceptualised by Ogilvy & Mather and Lowe Lintas respectively witnessed an action-packed sporting spectacle between Manchester United and Tottenham along with a stadium tour of the team.

     

    The guest teams of Pidilite & Swiggy, included the two lions of St Mark- Piyush Pandey and brother Prasoon Pandey; Vivek Sharma – CMO, Pidilite; Srivats Thirumala – VP Marketing, Swiggy; Sonal Dabral, Vice Chairman & Group   Creative Officer, O&M; Hari Krishnan, President – South India- Lowe Lintas, Vanita Keswani – CEO, Madison, Ankit Rastogi – MD, Havas Media; Binu Thomas, Havas Media India Pvt Ltdamongst others.The contest was run for all advertisers that ran on the Star Network during VivoIPL 2018

     

     

  • Andrew Scott will continue in his role as Chief Operating Officer of WPP

    Mark Read assumes charge as WPP CEO

     

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    Very proud to be given the chance to lead @WPP with our fantastic people and clients. Time to update my twitter profile!

    • Mark Read, hours after the announcement of his appointment to the corner office at WPP. On Twitter (@readmark).

     

     

    For some weeks now, the name of Mark Read as the new CEO of WPP has been doing the rounds. It was imperative for WPP to have someone who is familiar with the set-up and has considerable equity with its long-standing clients.

     

    Read has held multiple leadership positions across the company, including nine years as an Executive Director of WPP plc. For 12 years, as Head of Strategy and then CEO of WPP Digital, he was responsible for the company’s digital development, including the move into technology through the acquisition of 24/7 Real Media, the creation of digital network Possible and the launch of Stream, WPP’s celebrated “unconference”.

    In 2015, he was appointed Global CEO of Wunderman, where he transformed the network into one of the world’s leading customer-focused digital agencies. Wunderman, as we know, is among WPP’s largest businesses, with more than 10,000 people in 200 offices across 70 countries and clients including Microsoft, Dell, Shell, BT and Adidas.

    In April 2018 he was named joint Chief Operating Officer of WPP, with responsibility for clients, operating companies and people.

    Earlier in his career, Mark co-founded and developed internet start-up WebRewards. He also specialised in the media and marketing industries as a principal at consultancy Booz Allen & Hamilton, having started his career at the WPP parent company working on corporate development.

    Mark has an MBA from INSEAD and an Economics degree from Trinity College, Cambridge University, and was a Henry Fellow at Harvard University. He is the Chairman of the Natural History Museum Digital Council. Wired magazine ranked him as one of the Top 25 Digital Influencers in Europe in 2014 and he was named The Drum’s Digital Individual of the Year in 2015 and 2017. He lives in London with his wife and two children.

    According to the New York Times, Jon Williams, a former Grey CEO, told Reuters: “For any leader coming into any business the most important thing is to have respect. Because of Mark’s operational delivery and because he’s got a personal relationship with a lot of the business leaders, he’s got that respect. He can hit the ground running.”

    Around noon India time on September 3, WPP made official the appointment of Mark Read as Chief Executive Officer and his appointment to the Board of WPP as an Executive Director with immediate effect.

     

    Said Roberto Quarta, Chairman of WPP: “The Board carried out a rigorous selection process, assessing internal and external candidates. That process, alongside Mark’s wise and effective stewardship of the business in the last few months, left us with no doubt that he is the right leader for this company, and we are delighted to announce the Board’s unanimous decision to appoint him as Chief Executive Officer of WPP,” adding:  “Recognised for his leadership throughout the industry, he has an intimate understanding of the business, he enjoys very strong internal support, and he has earned the respect and endorsement of our clients with his constant focus on their needs. He has played a central role in many of WPP’s most successful investments and initiatives, and he has deep experience at board and operational level. Most recently, Mark led the transformation of Wunderman into one of the world’s top digital agencies, and he understands the importance of culture in creating successful organisations. In short, he is in every way a 21st -century CEO.  WPP is a world leader in communications services. The priority for the Board and the task ahead for Mark and the new management team is to build on this position of strength, while pursuing a clear vision for change and value creation.”

     

    Added Read: “WPP is a great company with exceptional people and strong relationships with clients who place a high value on our work. Few organisations have our global reach – 130,000 people delivering results for clients in 112 different countries. Fewer still have our powerful combination of creativity and expertise in technology and data. “Our industry is going through a period of structural change, not structural decline, and if we embrace that change we can look ahead to an exciting and successful future. Our mission now is to release the full potential that exists within the company for the benefit of our clients, to accelerate our transformation and simplify our offering, and to position WPP for stronger growth. To achieve that we need to foster a culture that attracts the best and brightest: inclusive, respectful, collaborative, diverse. What makes our company special is its people, and I am very proud to have been given the chance to build a new WPP with them.”

    Meanwhile, Quarta has resumed his role as Non-Executive Chairman on the appointment of Mark Read as Chief Executive Officer. Andrew Scott will continue in his role as Chief Operating Officer of WPP on a permanent basis as a key member of the senior management team.

     

    Read will be paid in accordance with the Compensation Policy approved by share owners on June 7, 2017, as set out in the 2016 Annual Report.

    • Annual Salary of £975,000 (that’s Rs 8,93,03,662.50… Rs 8.93 crore)
    • Annual Bonus of up to 250% of salary with mandatory deferral of at least 40% of bonus into

    shares deferred for a two-year period.

    • LTIP award of 350% of salary. Performance will be measured over a five-year period using

    measures in line with the WPP Compensation Policy.

    • A cash allowance of 20% of salary, less employers’ national insurance, in lieu of pension.
    • A benefits allowance of £35,000 per annum to cover health, risk and other benefits.

    His contract of employment contains restrictive covenants including an industry non-compete, a non-deal with clients and a non-poach and non-employ of key WPP individuals.

  • The account is estimated to be Rs. 100 crores per annum across all media

    Madison Media wins mandate of Bajaj Electricals

    By A Correspondent

     

    Madison Media has announced that it has been appointed as the media agency for Bajaj Electricals. The account size is estimated to be Rs 100 crore per annum across all media.

     

    Said Hemal Vadera, Head – Advertising, Digital & Branding, Bajaj Electricals: “We are delighted to have Madison Media on board as our media partner. We deal in a competitive market and we needed an agency that understands our business and has the expertise to help us drive huge efficiencies into our media planning and buying. Madison Media had excellent credentials on this front. We are looking forward to this journey ahead.”

     

    Added Vikram Sakhuja, Group CEO, Media and OOH, Madison: “We are very proud and excited to have won the Bajaj Electrical Account and look forward to using Media with impact to grow the brand and category”.

     

     

  • Named Dining Table Creative Services, the marketing, communications and business consultancy will cater to family-owned and small to medium-sized business owners

    Raj Kurup & Prahlad Kakkar launch agency for SMEs and family-owned biz

    By A Correspondent

     

    Creativeland Asia’s Sajan Raj Kurup (Founder and Creative Chairman), and Prahlad Kakkar (Chief Mentor) have launched ‘Dining Table’, India’s first marketing, communications and business consultancy for family-owned and small to medium-sized business owners.

     

    Speaking on the launch, Kurup said: “In my personal experience, I have seen most SMEs and Indian family-owned businesses struggle a lot trying to navigate the creative and media agency models that exist today. Leading to an environment of mistrust, doubt and mismatched expectations. These businesses finally end up roping in trusted individuals to navigate the confusing world of marketing communications and media based more on their comfort rather than their competency. The Dining Table is designed to become perfect balance of competency and comfort for these business owners. The Dining Table will customise and aggregate everything an SME/Family Owned Business needs. The idea is to first create solidarity and trust, where the darndest questions can be asked without the intimidation of a boardroom. Then arrive at tailor-made solutions that the business needs in the most cost-effective manner. This is a place of comfort, a place for friends and family, and a place where crucial decisions are taken. Hence, we have curated a space, wherein there is no need for complex words, egos or formalities. From finding the right agency fit, arriving at right research methodology, restructuring marketing departments, choosing the right business consultants, to a complete design refresh, IP creations, Dining Table will be a business owner’s go-to place to find exactly the right fit or all their marketing, communications and brand transformation needs.”

     

    Added Kakkar: “When Raj discussed the concept with me, I jumped at it and I’m excited to kick start this unit with him. Dining Table Creative Services is a great refreshing concept and exactly what business owners require today. I have been closely involved with SMEs for the last 10 years and I am also the chairman of the SME forum in India Having spent bulk of my time consulting and convincing them on the value of brand creation, I have realised that most of them are very savvy business owners but are uncomfortable about investing in building brands because they think it is going to cost a lot. Dining Table is the just the right place for them to get exposed to more cost-effective ways, discover newer brand building models and meet the experts of their choice and talk business in the language they are most comfortable in. And all this over my greatest passion, food!”

     

     

  • Iyer to take on a consulting role with the group, will transition out of the agency over the next year

    Amer Jaleel & Virat Tandon to head MullenLowe Lintas Group. Arun iyer to exit

     

    By A Correspondent

    The winds of change are blowing. And given that the headquarters are near the near-seafront end of Mumbai’s Nariman Point, these winds have been blowing hard and fast.

     

    So we woke this morning to the Brand Equity story on the development at MullenLowe Lintas Group. That Amer Jaleel has been named Group Chairman and Chief Creative Officer. Partnering him, on business, will be Virat Tandon who’s being named Group CEO. In their new roles, the duo will lead the group mandate in India overseeing its three agencies; Lowe Lintas, Mullen Lintas and PointNine Lintas. And, most importantly, Arun Iyer – Chairman and CCO of Lowe, the older agency, has decided to move on.

     

    Given the Economic Times supplement’s deadlines, this was a carefully planned exclusive given by the agency network. And we rest our case whether the exclusive lolly was really worth it.

     

    Speaking of the new group leadership, Alex Leikikh – global CEO MullenLowe Group said: “A few years ago, we had asked Amer and Virat to start our second agency in India, Mullen Lintas, and they have built it into a top 10 agency in the country in just two years. Amer has been a creative leader of our group in India for a very long time now, and Virat embodies the entrepreneurial spirit of the MullenLowe Group, and as such I am delighted to have them steer our overall business in India to even greater success.”

     

    Interestingly, the communique received from the agency network is silent on the roles of Raj Gupta, CEO, Lowe Lintas, the flagship agency and Vikas Mehta, CEO, PointNine Lintas. Gupta was elevated in March 2017 along with Iyer and Mehta was appointed CEO in mid-2017 along with the agency’s formation. Mehta was also essaying the role of CMO of the group. While the appointments have the blessings of the global guard, it needs to be seen how the appointment of Tandon impacts that of Gupta and Mehta.

     

    Meanwhile, speaking of their new roles, Jaleel and Tandon said this in a communique: “We have a lot of strong assets in the group. Two top ten agencies, Lowe Lintas and Mullen Lintas; a very promising incubation, the Omni-channel agency PointNine Lintas; some of the industry’s best and brightest creative, strategy and business leaders; and last but not the least a culture that makes us stick together and tick. The future is looking different and exciting. There could be no better time for the group to embark on this journey. To stay at the top of its game, MullenLowe Lintas Group realizes the importance of investing in building a strong talent pool with new skills that are relevant in the digital and hyper-connected world. It’s becoming more challenging for brands to win in the marketplace as the consumer is evolving and most categories are being disrupted and transformed due to technology. Clients are looking for all the help they can get from their agencies to win in this new reality. We want to continue to be our clients’ biggest strength.”

     

    Iyer, who plans to start a venture of his own and will transition out of the agency over the next year, has along with the agency planned a twelve-month transition period, during which he will continue to work for some key clients and help with succession planning. This is what he has said:  “I have had the privilege of being part of an institution. I have spent a little over 15 years here. And it is home. Over the last few years, I have been passionate about start-ups and have played a role in developing some strong brands such as Byju’s, Freecharge and Grofers. Going forward, I am planning to work more closely within the start-up ecosystem.” Added Jaleel: “Arun and I have been brothers-in-arms for over eight years now. We’ve been shouldering the equity and reputation of Lintas together and that gives you a sort of a feeling of being in the same womb! Arun has, over the last three years, taken the spirit that Balki infused in Lowe Lintas to a different zone and moulded the agency in his own way. A large part of my job for MullenLowe Lintas Group will be to take that imprint forward.”

     

    The last bit in the communique is critical: “Jaleel and Tandon’s appointments take place with immediate effect. They are working on plans to transform MullenLowe Lintas Group in a few critical areas to remain the key agency partner for clients.”

     

    Ah. Sorry, we aren’t Brand Equity, but this last line can be interpreted variously. Or perhaps not. We are journalists. We don’t have to necessarily do creative thinking. Tandon is a great guy, and so are Gupta and Mehta. But then there can be just one leader.

  • For the record, Foodpanda was acquired by Ola Cabs in December last year

    Happy mcgarrybowen bags Foodpanda’s creative duties

    By A Correspondent

     

    Following a multi-agency pitch process, online food delivery marketplace Foodpanda has awarded its creative mandate to Happy mcgarrybowen. For the record, Foodpanda was acquired by Ola Cabs in December last year.

     

    The pitch for the creative mandate included both advertising and design disciplines, as the startup looks to revamp its identity after the alignment with Ola.

     

    Said Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO, Ola Cabs: “At Foodpanda, our mission is to connect deeper with our love and passion for food, and build not just a great delivery experience but also a great food experience. We trust that Happy mcgarrybowen would be able to take that narrative and ethos to the world with strong design and visual communication capabilities.”

     

    Added Anshul Khandelwal, Head of Marketing- Foodpanda: “We distinctly understand the need to build a strong and differentiated brand that people love. Being a food experience platform, we intend to constantly innovate to build foodie-first solutions for India. Considering Happy Mcgarrybowen’s work portfolio, we are confident that the association will ensure an effective brand strategy and communications.”

     

    On winning the business, Kartik Iyer, CEO, Happy mcgarrybowen said: “In a time where the market has already been created, we are proud to have won the mandates in such a competitive environment. We’re raring to go and leap ahead with Foodpanda right to the top.”

  • Gaurang will report to Vishal Chinchankar, Chief Digital Officer and will be based in Mumbai

    Gaurang Menon joins Madison Digital as NCD

    By A Correspondent

     

    Madison Digital has announced the appointment of Gaurang Menon as National Creative Director. He will report to Vishal Chinchankar, Chief Digital Officer and will be based in Mumbai.

     

    Menon has worked across agencies such as iContract, Quasar, Leo Burnett, BC Webwise and  Mediaturf and has worked on a wide range of brands such as Kellogs, Sunsilk GangofGirls, Jet Airways, Cleartrip, Microsoft, Reliance Communications, Honda Motors, Nestle, Twinings, Dettol, Durex, UTI MF, HSBC, Garnier India, Kissan, Pureit, etc.

     

    Said Chinchankar on the appointment: “We are very happy to have Gaurang on board. Our aim is to be a significant player in the Creative Tech and Content ecosystem of India. His experience in the area of content and smart creative tech solutions will add to our existing proficiency in media performance and we will be able to offer holistic solutions to our clients. I am confident that Gaurang, with his experience and expertise, will help us take this ambition forward.”

     

     

  • Shortlisted entries come from various sectors including FMCG, Retail, Banking and Tech

    MMA India announces shortlist for Smarties Awards

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) has announced the shortlisted entries for the 2018 Smarties Awards in India. From this list, the winners will be announced on September 27 at the MMA Forum to be held in Mumbai.

     

    As many as 90 entries were shortlisted from across industries from hundreds of entries. Those shortlisted for this year’s awards include global brands like Google, Unilever, 21st Century Fox, HSBC, Cadbury, Godrej, Patanjali, Coca-Cola, Diageo, PepsiCo amongst others leading national and international brands.

     

    A total of 12 senior level brand marketers made up the list of juries, namely, Siddharth Banerjee of Vodafone, Priya Nair of Unilever, Gaurav Suri of UTI, Shabnam Panjwani of Edelweiss Financial Services, Viral Oza of Lodha Group, Avinash Kumar of Patanjali, Sandeep Singh of Bira, Asha Kharga of Axis Bank, Kartik Jain of DBS Bank, Abhishek Joshi of SonyLiv, Vishikh Talwar of Millward Brown, and Nitin Agarwal of Hotstar.

     

    “It was not easy judging the entries this year with new and innovative ideas put forth. The level of creativity brought to the table exceeded expectations as the standards of submission improve year on year,” said Priya Nair, Executive Director of Homecare Hindustan Unilever Limited, who was the jury chair at this year’s awards.

     

  • India’s five-year brand value growth stronger than BrandZ Chinese and global rankings

    Brand value of top brands see significant gains, notes BrandZ study

    By A Correspondent

    In their strongest year yet, the collective value of India’s Top 50 brands grew by 34 per cent. WPP and Kantar Millward Brown’s BrandZ Most Valuable Indian Brands analysis reveals brand value was boosted by rising consumer confidence, the country’s return to rapid economic growth and consumers becoming increasingly brand aware.

    Since its launch five years ago, the total value of the BrandZ Top 50 Indian brands grew 110 per cent to $146.1 billion. This compares to a rise of 76 per cent for the BrandZ Top 50 Chinese brands and 60 per cent for the BrandZ Global Top 50 over the same period.

    HDFC Bank has retained its No 1 spot for the fifth consecutive year with a rise of 21 per cent to a brand value of $21.7 billion. The bank has built a reputation for its sustainable livelihood initiative by introducing smaller loans worth as little as $175 that can be accessed via its bank branches.

    The new 2018 ranking has grown from 50 to 75 brands to reflect the strength of India’s growing economy and a marketplace in which more local brands are emerging to present consumers with increased choice.

    For the first time, the ranking also incorporates brands from key and growing sectors such as technology (IT services), technology (online); durables and home appliances, tobacco, and entertainment (TV stations). Privately owned brands, where financial information is publicly available, and unicorn brands based on their most recent valuations are also now included.

    Said David Roth, CEO EMEA and Asia, The Store WPP: “A booming economy and an increasingly digital world are re-shaping India’s brand landscape and creating new opportunities. Brands that get it right, regardless of whether they are established players or newcomers are reaping the rewards.  However, there is no room for complacency in this fast-paced environment where so many ambitious companies are ready to rise to the occasion.”

     

    The BrandZ Top 10 Most Valuable Indian Brands 2018

    Rank 2018 Brand Category Brand value 2018 (US$M) Change
    1 HDFC Bank Banks 21,679 +21%
    2 LIC Insurance 19,823 New entrant
    3 Tata Consultancy Services Technology 14,995 New entrant
    4 Airtel Telecom Providers 11,461 +12%
    5 State Bank of India Banks 7,860 -6%
    6 Maruti Suzuki Automobiles 6,938 +56%
    7 Kotak Mahindra Bank Banks 6,669 +47%
    8 Asian Paints Paints 6,116 +30%
    9 ICICI Bank Banks 4,867 +4%
    10 Jio Telecom Providers 4,090 +68%

     

    As a result of these changes, there are seven new entries in the top 15. Insurance brand LIC comes in at No. 2 ($19.8 billion) thanks to the key role played by its pension plan business whilst Tata Consultancy Services ranked No. 3 ($15.0 billion), having leveraged digital technologies to drive growth and business transformation. Other new high-ranking brands include e-commerce retailer Flipkart (No. 11, $4.1 billion), e-comm payment wallet Paytm (No. 12, $4.1 billion) and Zee TV (No. 15, $3.8 billion).

     

     

    As brands focus on purposeful innovation, the BrandZ premium index has reflected this change, with a rise from 111 to 117 over the past five years.  With a 97 per cent year-on-year increase in brand value, Tata jewelry brand Tanishq led the ranking’s Top Risers on the strength of strong demand for gold and diamonds and the brand’s ability to command a premium price.

     

    Added Vishikh Talwar, Managing Director at Kantar Millward Brown, South Asia: “The premiumisation trend is equally a reflection of the continuous progression of the Indian society over the last few decades. In this journey, consumers with an unprecedented array of options will choose the brand they instinctively trust. Trust is not the sole prerogative of heritage brands; young brands can be equally trustworthy if they have a clear purpose and deliver consumer experiences that reinforce this.”

  • The AAAI Subhas Ghosal Memorial Lecture 2018 will be delivered by Googel India head Rajan Anandan on September 20

    Rajan Anandan to deliver Subhas Ghosal Lecture

    By A Correspondent

     

    Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and Subhas Ghosal Foundation (SGF) have announced the Subhas Ghosal Memorial Lecture by Rajan Anandan, Vice President, Google India and South East Asia on Thursday, September 20, 2018 in Mumbai.

     

    Anandan will speak on what the new internet sser is like and what to expect in the digital world we now live in, a few years from now.

     

    Said Ashish Bhasin, President, AAAI: “In a world that is rapidly being disrupted by digital, it will be extremely interesting to and important for everyone to prepare themselves. We at AAAI look forward to Rajan Anandan’s perspectives at the Subhas Ghosal Memorial Lecture.”

     

    Added Sam Balsara, on behalf of SGF: “Both Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants will find the lecture useful and enlightening.”

     

    All members of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Digital community are welcome to attend the event sponsored by ABP Live. However, RSVP to Sudesh Kapoor at aaai@aaai.inis a must. If you need an invitation, please send an email from your official email id to Mr. Sudesh Kapoor.

     

     

  • CxO’s from HotStar, Nazara, Isobar, Zirca, Hyper Collective, Select Direct on the Jury

    Vivek Bhargava is Grand Jury chair for 2018 DMA Asia Echo

    By A Correspondent

     

    Vivek Bharagava, CEO of Denstu Aegis Network Performance Group, has been appointed as Chair of the Grand Jury of the upcoming DMA International Echo Awards’ Asia edition.

     

    Speaking on the occasion, Vivek Bhargava, CEO – DAN Performance Group said: “There are many awards out there. The Echo since 1929 exceptionally stands out. Previously Indian entrants were devoid of showcasing great work at global arena due to prohibitive fees. The program will see the best of the best shine as we have stalwarts from the industry who will preside the jury groups. I am looking forward to great work being showcased and the best rewarded for fame in India & globally.”

     

    Speaking about the appointment of the jury chair, Vatsal Asher – Governor for the International Echo & CEO, DMAi said: “It is indeed my privilege to be supported by an eminent and experienced jury chairperson. The local Echo with its benefits enable the great work done by brands and agencies compete with global campaigns.”

  • Buzzinga and Cornerstone will help Hinduja Healthcare Surgical build communication about its medical care offerings

    Buzzinga wins digital mandate for Hinduja Healthcare Surgical

    By A Correspondent

     

    Buzzinga Digital has won the digital mandate for Hinduja Healthcare Surgical after a recently concluded multi-agency pitch.

     

    Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Vishal Beri, Chief Executive Officer, Hinduja Healthcare Surgical, Khar said: “As we move ahead to take brand HHS to the next level, it made sense to integrate the communication and digital marketing effort with an agency that could understand the changed requirements, while maintaining the sensitivity of the healthcare industry. Buzzinga Digital and Cornerstone Communications seemed well fitted to handle the positioning and messaging that is now required.”

     

    Commenting on the mandate win, Buzzinga Digital CEO, Yashraj Vakil said: “The unique challenge that Buzzinga is grappling with is not digital. It is to bring warmth, personalisation and friendliness to digital that the lineage stands for. We are very excited to have been the digital agency of choice for Hinduja Healthcare Surgical.”