MxMIndia

Category: ADVERTISING

  • The account will be handled out of the agency’s Gurugram office

    Havas Media wins integrated mandate of Micromax

    By Our Staff

     

    Havas Media India has won the integrated mandate of Micromax Informatics Ltd, the and consumer electronics company. The mandate includes both traditional and digital media as well as creative and strategy for the brand.

     

    The account was won following a multi-agency pitch and will be handled out of the agency’s Gurugram office led by Uday Mohan, President – North & West India, Havas Media.

     

    Rachna Lather
    Rachna Lather

    Said Rachna Lather, Marketing Head, Micromax India: “Havas Media’s social media strategy & creativity is well-known in the market. Micromax as a brand is very nimble footed and are launching products in the market back to back. We want to work towards further strengthening Micromax’s footprint in the digital landscape, and working cohesively on an integrated communication approach. We look forward to a fruitful partnership with Havas Media, which is aimed towards mutual growth and success.”

    Mohit Joshi
    Mohit Joshi

    Added Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Group India:  “We are thrilled to partner with Micromax, a truly glocal brand. It is an exciting time for Micromax to re-establish itself in the Indian market as a flagbearer of the Make-in-India initiative. Keeping in line with Havas Media’s consumer-centric approach and the Group’s growing expertise in performance and market-place initiatives, we look forward to charting the brand’s journey and strengthening its positioning in the market through our meaningful Media Experience (Mx) philosophy.”

     

  • To oversee media strategy, planning, and buying for both brands, Roca and Parryware

    Dentsu X to be media partner with Roca Parryware

    By Our Staff

    Dentsu X India has won the media account for Roca Bathroom Products Private Limited, or Roca Parryware. As per the mandate, Dentsu X will oversee media strategy, planning, and buying for the entire portfolio of both brands, Roca and Parryware. The agency won the account following a media pitch.

    KE Ranganathan
    KE Ranganathan

    Said KE Ranganathan, Managing Director, Roca Parryware: “Our company is back to healthy double digit revenue growth since October, 2020. Looking into the year ahead, there is huge optimism to sustain and grow even higher. To drive this growth momentum we are embarking on a focused brand campaign through mass media for our power brands – Roca and Parryware. While these two brands enjoy high brand recall among our customers, it is important for us to continue to stay on top-of-the-mind and embed relevant brand attributes. With this agenda we looked towards dentsu X for a solution. We were impressed by their understanding of our target audience and the bathroom space. Their proprietary tools and strategy will help us optimise each platform and enhance our reach. We are excited to work with dentsu X and develop innovative new media plans.”

    Divya Karani
    Divya Karani

    Added Divya Karani, Chief Executive Officer, Dentsu X: “We are delighted to be the strategic media partners to Roca Parryware. We look forward to partnering them in scaling new heights.”

     

     

  • To further strengthen three-year-old partnership with new horizons

    iCubesWire bags partnership with Ambience Group

    By Our Staff

    Digital marketing agency iCubesWire has bagged the creative mandate for Ambience Group. The agency has been serving Ambience Group as its digital agency for more than three years. With this, the agency will now be responsible for creating brand communication across digital and offline media channels and will also play a key role in managing campaigns to discover new horizons.

    Said Ankush Kaul, President, Sales and Marketing, Ambience Group: “It has been a sheer pleasure to work with the creative geniuses at iCubesWire. Since the agency has a great deal of experience in the real estate domain, it was only wise to put our faith in them and strengthen our three-year-old partnership further. We are hopeful that our association with iCubesWire will be fruitful to us, and they would be an equal partner in our ambition to achieve greater success for our brand.”

    Sahil Chopra
    Sahil Chopra

    Added Sahil Chopra, Founder and CEO, iCubesWire: “We feel delighted and honoured to come on board as the creative agency for Ambience Group. Our team, as always, will leave no stone unturned to deliver the best marketing services that will enable the brand to grow its business manifold. With our expertise in conceptualising creative campaigns to engage target audiences both online and offline, we are all set to bring exponential business returns for one of our most esteemed clients.”

     

     

  • To drive momentum of 'Urban Company Salon for Men'

    Taproot Dentsu films for Urban Company

    By Our Staff

    Urban Company, the home services marketplace, has launched a new campaign to push further its two-year-old dial-up services at home. Conceptualised and executed by Taproot Dentsu India the campaign comprises two master films.

    Said Pallavi Chakravarti, Executive Creative Director, Taproot Dentsu: “Some people waste time in the pursuit of grooming. Others have no time for grooming. For people in both these situations, it’s time for Urban Company. Our campaign uses subtle humour and juxtaposes life without UC against life with UC, thereby showing people what they stand to gain with the click of a few buttons.”

    Added Rahul Deorah, Vice President – Marketing, Urban Company: “Urban Company Men’s Salon services have seen exponential growth over the last 2 years owing to the unparalleled convenience and quality they provide and we look forward to continuing the same in 2021.”

     

     

  • A special logo, which is a tribute to FCB’s ‘Never Finished’ philosophy, has been uveiled

    FCB Ulka celebrates 60 years in India

    By Our Staff

     

    FCB Ulka Group is celebrating its 60th anniversary.  It may be recalled that Ulka Advertising was established in 1961 by Bal Mundkur with just seven people and a clear vision of building an agency that put creativity at the centre of everything it did. The agency has now metamorphosed into the FCB Ulka Group, which ranks among the Top 5 networks in the country with over 750 employees, spread across six offices, partnering 120+ clients. The group is marking the 60-year milestone with the launch of a special logo, which is a tribute to FCB’s ‘Never Finished’ philosophy.

     

    Speaking on the occasion, Rohit Ohri, Group Chairman & CEO, FCB India said, “I would like to take this opportunity to salute the outstanding leadership of the FCB Ulka Group. The organizational culture that has been built over the years has stood the test of time and brought us to our 60th year anniversary. I’m truly proud of our journey and excited about the possibilities of the next 60 years,” adding: “While this is an important milestone, we look at it as a new beginning. A time to renew our commitment to creativity, and a reminder to ourselves to always be ‘Never Finished’…”

  • Elevates leaders in India, Southeast Asia & Middle East

    Havas Health & You expands business footprint

    By Our Staff

    Havas Health & You has announced the elevation of Susan Josi as Managing Director of Havas Health & You- SEA and Middle East, and Sangeeta Barde as Managing Director of Havas Life Sorento, with immediate effect. Susan and Sangeeta have been at the helm of Havas Health & You’s APAC-based agency since the network’s acquisition of Sorento.

    Said Charles Houdoux, Partner and CEO, LATAM APAC, HH&Y: “These new appointments are incredibly well-deserved, and I am thrilled to witness as Sangeeta and Susan further showcase their immense talents and know-how, both regionally and globally. They have certainly made Havas Life Sorento a proof point for value add in the area and will continue to lead with strategic vision.”

    Added Josi : “The SEA and Middle East regions offer a rich scope of potential. The landscapes are changing dynamically and there is an intensified importance being placed on health and wellness. Our capabilities in these areas have grown to a point where it makes sense to have consistent regional leadership as health brands prioritise their presence in these markets.”

    Said Barde: “I am looking forward to leaning into the vast digitisation opportunities in our data and media centres and working to perfect new and simplified content creation models. Deep collaboration with groups and partners domestically and internationally is a necessary and exciting endeavour. I am thrilled to be taking this next step to connect the dots across groups and regions.”

     

     

  • To recognise and reward gender equality work

    Kyoorius partners with ‘Indian Creative Women’

    By Our Staff

    Kyoorius has announced its partnership with Indian Creative Women, an independent forum working on amplifying the percentage of women creative directors in the Indian Advertising and Design industry. In collaboration with them, Kyoorius has come up with a host of initiatives that will boost gender equality on their stage and in the industry.

    One of these is the Zee Equality Award – The Purple Elephant, which will recognise and reward work that has addressed and impacted gender inequality in India through innovative thinking. The colour ‘purple’ signifies justice, dignity and has been historically associated with efforts to achieve gender equality. The winners will be decided by a special jury to be announced shortly.

    Said Sakshi Choudhary, Founder – Indian Creative Women: “Kyoorius is one of the most credible and influential award bodies in Asia. Every year, it brings powerful brands and agencies of India on one platform. We’re delighted to partner with them to drive real change. This year, they are a shining example and a true benchmark of what this industry can achieve on gender diversity. Our wish is to see each decision-making room in agencies as balanced as the Kyoorius jury room this year.”

    Added Rajesh Kejriwal, Founder and CEO, Kyoorius: “We have, since inception, been cognizant of the role of a platform like Kyoorius in achieving gender balance and equality in everything that we do. We are delighted to partner with Indian Creative Women for the Purple Elephant Award. In addition, we are also delighted that Zee Entertainment has enthusiastically agreed to support the Purple Elephant initiative.”

    Details of the judging criteria for the Purple Elephant are available on the site.

    Meanwhile, in 2022, Kyoorius will also recognise the innovative efforts of agencies and brands to hire, retain and promote women into leadership. This will include introduction of new policies that organizations have introduced to consciously give women within the industry an equal opportunity.

  • Partners with CarDekho to develop ‘E ‘symbol for Elderly

    Leo Burnett crusades for safe driving for senior citizens

    By Our Staff

    Autotech company CarDekho has launched campaign ‘E’ for Elderly, to promote a safe driving environment for senior citizens. The campaign launched across all digital platforms, has been conceptualized and executed by Leo Burnett. Due to the pandemic, the elderly are reluctant to take cabs and have started driving, and the company wishes to create a safe driving environment for them. Just like ‘L’ stands for learners, ‘E’ will be for elders. The campaign is targeted towards all the eligible drivers to take extra caution while driving close to a car with an ‘E’ symbol on it. The company’s brand ambassadors Akshay Kumar, Mahesh Babu, Rahul Dravid and K. L. Rahul have also joined the new initiative.

    Said Gaurav Mehta, Chief Marketing Officer, CarDekho Group: “This campaign reflects an ideology that the brand stands for –developing an inclusive and caring personal mobility environment for everyone. There has been a huge change in the way we live now. We want to make everyone feel safe and have a hassle-free driving experience, especially senior citizens. We hope this campaign will promote simple, incremental behavioural changes and more empathy towards elders driving on the road.”

    Added Rajdeepak Das, CEO& Chief Creative Officer – South Asia, Leo Burnett: “’E for Elderly’ is a great example of how a simple idea can create a big change. With the pandemic we have seen the rise in people taking personal transport, including our senior citizens who have taken to driving once again. But how to make people compassionate towards elderly who getting back to driving after years. So we created “E” as the sign for Elderly drivers. You can write on a paper, print, use tape, as long as it’s an E it does the job. We are very proud to be a part of this initiative with CarDekho and hope to make a positive difference with this campaign”

  • To build a strong foothold in the market

    Mullen Lintas appointed creative partner for SIP Abacus

    By Our Staff

    SIP Abacus has awarded its creative duties to Mullen Lintas. The account will be handled by the Bengaluru office of Mullen Lintas. The scope entails building the brand via omnichannel advertising and visibility via social media.

    Dinesh Victor
    Dinesh Victor

    Said Dinesh Victor, Founder & Managing Director, SIP Academy India Pvt Ltd.: “We are confident that our association with Mullen Lintas will help not just raise the awareness of SIP Abacus brand but also will let more Indians come to know the power of the Abacus Program!”

    Sibi Sekhar
    Sibi Sekhar

    Added Sibi Sekhar, Director, SIP Academy India Pvt Ltd.: “We are delighted to have Mullen Lintas on board as our agency and we look forward to their well-known branding and communication expertise to take our flagship brand SIP Abacus closer to children and parents aligning with our powerful vision.”

    Hari Krishnan
    Hari Krishnan

    Said Hari Krishnan, CEO, Mullen Lintas: “SIP Abacus has been quietly brewing a storm in the educational sector over the last 17 years and has helped many children across the country to develop arithmetics and build their concentration skills. We are excited to be given the mandate to craft the brand strategy and point of view for SIP Abacus that will enable more parents and children to embrace the concept of mathematics and emerge successful. The category understanding and creative firepower demonstrated by our team led by our CCO Azazul Haque is what worked the magic for us.”

     

     

  • Captures fun energy of brand with mascot Fido Dido

    DDB Mudra films new TVC for 7UP

    By Our Staff

    Soft drink 7UP has launched its new TVC reiterating its ‘Think Fresh’ philosophy. The TVC, which features its mascot Fido Dido, celebrates today’s youth and their ingenious spirit to not be bowled over by googlies.

    Said Naseeb Puri, Marketing Director, Flavors (7UP and Mirinda), PepsiCo India: “Life is a series of many curveballs but taking these googlies head-on, and flipping them to one’s advantage with wit and fresh thinking is what determines who wins at the end. This is exactly what 7UP’s philosophy is all about, – inspiring youth to ‘Think Fresh” and use their wit to effortlessly tackle challenging situations. 7UP has always created content that has resonated strongly with the youth and we believe this new TVC is no exception. It is a fun campaign, and we are confident that people will enjoy Fido’s and our hero’s fresh thinking and be encouraged to approach life with an upbeat attitude.”

    Added Vishnu Srivatsav, Regional Creative Director – Advertising and Digital, DDB Mudra Group: “Brand 7Up has a vibe of its own and it was crucial for us to capture the fun energy and fresh thinking that the brand stands for in the communication we develop. It’s a brand that speaks to youngsters by showcasing their lives, their trials and tribulations and their redemption. Add to that a cool character like Fido and his quirk makes for an even more compelling story telling.”

     

     

  • Will sponsor Action Replay bug across all IPL matches and multiple feeds of Star Sports

    TV9 Network bags sponsorship of KKR, bets big on cricket

    By Our Staff

     

    TV9 Network has extended its partnership with Indian Premier League 2021 (IPL 2021) team Kolkata Knight Riders for the second consecutive year. The TV9 brand will be on the Kolkata team’s jersey starting April 9 and until May 30, when the final match will be played. Last year, TV9 Network had also sponsored Trinbago Knight Riders, KKR’s sister franchise in the Caribbean Premier League.

     

    In addition to KKR sponsorship, TV9 Network has signed a deal with Star Sports for sponsorship of the Action Replay Bug across all the IPL matches and multiple feeds of Star Sports. The Action Replay Bug will showcase logos of the network’s key channels, including TV9 Bharatvarsh, TV9 Telugu, TV9 Kannada, and TV9 Bangla. TV9 Bharatvarsh, the network’s Hindi news channel which made television history by catapulting itself to the top 3 position in record time, will also be taking spots on Star Sports during the two months of IPL.

     

    Barun Das
    Barun Das

    Speaking on the network’s aggressive growth plans, CEO Barun Das, said: “We became the biggest TV news network less than a year ago, and now it’s the turn of our digital business. To have grown at this dizzying pace feels great but, honestly, we have just begun. You can expect a series of globally benchmark-setting moves from the network in the months ahead.”

     

    Welcoming TV9’s return as a sponsor, Venky Mysore, CEO of KKR said: “TV9 is a perfect partner for KKR because it is a rapidly growing brand across television and digital, with a phenomenally strong regional footprint to boot. So, we are glad to have them on our jersey in IPL 2021 as well. The recent launch of the Bangla news channel, TV9 Bangla from the network is sure to add tremendous value to both our brands by building a connect with the spirit of Kolkata. We look forward to continuing this association for years to come”.

     

    TV9 Network is also the only news brand to leverage IPL 2021 on Star Sports with strategically deployed commercials, notes a company communique. Said Arshad Shawl, Director, Alliance Advertising & Marketing, the agency that facilitated the deal: “IPL provides the perfect platform for high visibility in the right frame of entertainment and sports. TV9 is already a formidable player in the TV News genre, coupled with fastest growing digital news platform in India in the recent months. The positive associations & reach from IPL will help TV9 increase the channel footprint nationally and respective regional feeds as a part of their envisaged growth trajectory.”

     

     

  • In their new roles, Karthik & Vinit will report to Prasanth Kumar, CEO of GroupM South Asia

    @GroupM: Vinit Karnik is Head – Sports, Esports & Ent – S Asia & Karthik Nagarajan is Head of Branded Content

    By Our Staff

    GroupM India has announced the promotions of Vinit Karnik and Karthik Nagarajan. Karnik, the Business Head of GroupM’s Entertainment & Sports practice (ESP), will take over the new role of  Head – Sports, Esports and Entertainment, GroupM South Asia and Karthik Nagarajan, Chief Content Officer for Wavemaker India, will take on additional responsibility at GroupM in the new role of Head of Branded Content, GroupM India.

    Said Prasanth Kumar, CEO of GroupM South Asia said, “Disruption and evolution go hand-in-hand and it also brought in opportunities in the content, sports and entertainment space and it is consistently redefining the market place. Over the years, we have been building these spaces by shaping great solutions for our clients. While we will continue to build on advertising technologies that will add speed and scale, we are equally committed to enhance our creative process and enable larger solutions in the content space. We are fortunate to witness leadership grow within as they bring in experience, adaptivity and inventiveness for being fit for the future. These leadership appointments signify our commitment to the journey and I am confident in both Vinit and Karthik’s abilities and together we look forward to creating great solutions and opportunities for our clients as well as our partners.”

     

    Added Karnik: “The new-age consumers have a better understanding of advertising and this can be seen by their ongoing interactions with brands and readiness for participation.  The demand for higher personalization shows that. Data indicates that delivering high-quality personalized content is what sets successful brands apart from their competitors. Today a brand has various means to reach out to its audience be it via sports, social media, eSports, influencers etc. Hence by strengthening our offerings and by bringing together creative optimization and data, we want to ensure that the brands get to reach their consumers with content, which is highly personalized, effective and relevant for them.”

     

    Karthik spent a significant part of his early career in consulting, as a practice head for Frost & Sullivan in the United States. Before joining GroupM in 2011, Karthik set up Nielsen’s online division and was also the India Country Head for NM Incite, the joint venture between Nielsen and McKinsey for social media consulting in India. He set up the social media practice for GroupM India, which also included its foray into advocacy. Karthik also evangelised the data agenda for GroupM by building its social analytics practice, products like Radar and the command centre offering. In 2015, Karthik conceived and launched Brew, which became the premier content up-front event for not just GroupM but the industry as well.

     

    Said Nagarajan: “Content is a cultural intervention for a brand and the need to be authentic has never been more critical. Hence the journey of an idea today is seeped in data-led audience truths as much as it is in creativity. From an era when brands rode the trend waves, we are well and truly in a phase where brands author their sub-cultures. This is what makes it an extraordinary time to be in this industry. I am looking forward to taking on this additional responsibility at GroupM, at a time when the lines between content and commerce are blurring”.

     

    In their new roles, Karthik & Vinit will report to Prasanth Kumar, CEO of GroupM South Asia.