MxMIndia

Category: ADVERTISING

  • DDB Mudra Group has announced the elevation of Vanaja Pillai as the company’s Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Impact

    Vanaja Pillai to head diversity, inclusion & impact at DDB Mudra

     

     

    Vanaja Pillai
    Vanaja Pillai

    In her expanded role, Pillai will work closely with CEO and MD Aditya Kanthy and HR head Rita Verma on initiatives to grow a diverse and inclusive workplace, including talent acquisition, retention, training and outreach to talent in underrepresented communities.

     

    Said Kanthy: “If we don’t change, we’re done. To compete in our times, we need to take a critical view of every aspect of our business. Our approach to talent and culture included. There is much to do in this area, and Vanaja is just the right person to lead us to success. Besides being a stellar leader, having run operating roles in the agency business with flair and distinction, Vanaja has over the last two years built one of the industry’s best run diversity programs – the Phyllis India Project. This work with the Group’s effort as a global network to bring in diverse voices to help shape workplace culture and brand communication of the future.”

     

    On the appointment Nikki Lamba, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, DDB Worldwide said: “Vanaja’s work on the Phyllis India program has been applauded across DDB’s borders and is a brilliant example of senior leadership driving actionable change in advancing DEI within the DDB family. We are excited about her taking on this larger mandate and bringing DEI to the heart of our business, people and product strategies in India. There is a lot of good work happening already in parts of the DDB network that India will surely build off and gain from.”

     

    Speaking on her deeper role, Pillai added: “It has been an exhilarating journey, from the intent of creating an India chapter for the Phyllis Project, to having the first batch graduate last week. The bar has been set high for every challenge we pick up from hereon. Over the next year we will focus on a select set of DEI goals and approach them with the same rigour and passion that made the Phyllis India Project what it is today. From an overall talent perspective, the pandemic made us even more aware of the need for constantly focusing on people and their growth. We hope to make some of our talent programs world-class this year.”

     

  • The business will be led by Uday Mohan, President and Chief Client Officer, Havas Media Group India

    Havas Media launches Havas Content

    By Our Staff

     

    Havas Media Group India has announced the launch of its specialised content division called Havas Content. The business will be led by Uday Mohan, President and Chief Client Officer, Havas Media Group India. To further strengthen the division, the agency has made two key hires. Prachi Narayan has joined as Vice President, Content and Shivani Kaushik as Content Manager, who will support Uday in scaling this offering across Havas Media Group India’s client portfolio.

     

    While Narayan has worked as a journalist and producer in news broadcasters like NDTV, CNBC-TV18, TV Today Network and Republic as also running campaigns for brands, Kaushik is a writer and joins Havas from Josh Talks where she was heading content for North.

     

    Rana Barua
    Rana Barua

    Speaking about the launch, Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas Group India, said: “We understand the power of good content and the launch of Havas Content couldn’t have come at a better time. The wide range of work that the team has done for a varied set of clients in the content space, and the impact it has made to our client’s business made it a logical step to launch this as a separate vertical and further scale it up. It’s another step towards further empowering the brands that partner with us, and help them craft more meaningful stories.”

     

    Mohit Joshi
    Mohit Joshi

    Added Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Group India: “Content has been an integral part of Havas Group’s Meaningful Brands proprietary study each year. In the past, the study has revealed that Content is falling massively short of consumer expectations. With the current content overload, misinformation, fake news and the pandemic-driven shifts in consumer behaviour, it has become more imperative than ever to create differentiated content that not just grabs the consumer’s attention but also helps & rewards them, making the brand a seamless part of the consumer’s journey. I am confident that Uday, along with Prachi and Shivani will make the content division the best in the business in India.”

     

    Uday Mohan
    Uday Mohan

    Added Mohan: “In this new world order, consumers are constantly on the lookout for brands with a greater purpose, brands that can impact their lives positively. Content has proved to be an important tool in making consumers see that purpose. Havas’s reputation globally in the content space is unparalleled. With Indian brands becoming content-conscious, we believe this was the perfect time for us to officially launch our content division in India. Bringing together the combined expertise of Havas Village, and the content powerhouse within the Vivendi network, we are confident Havas Content will become a one-stop-shop for all our client’s content needs.”

     

  • Ayappa KM, Devika Prabhu, Geet Rathi, Megha Tata, Raj Kamble join jury panel

    Five more jury chairs for Abbys 2022

    By Our Staff

     

    The Jury Chair at ABBYs 2022 is being assembled with stalwarts of the advertising industry, both national and global! Five new jury chairs have been invited. These being:

     

    Ayappa KM, Director and Partner, Early Man Films

    Devika Prabhu, Business Head, Kids & Infotainment, Disney Star

    Geet Rathi, Design & Creative Director, TBWA

    Megha Tata, Managing Director, South Asia – Warner Bros, Discovery

    Raj Kamble, Founder & Chief Creative Officer, Famous Innovations

     

  • BBDO, DDB Mundra Group and TBWA\India

    Three Omnicom agencies to host Portfolio Night 2022

    By Our Staff

     

    Three Omnicom agencies – BBDO India, DDB Mundra Group and TBWA\India – will be co-hosts for The One Club for Creativity’s global in-person Portfolio Night 2022 in Mumbai on June 2.   In addition, the agencies will co-host an online Pan-India Portfolio Night on June 1 for those outside of Mumbai.

     

    Established in 2003, Portfolio Night has long been recognised as the world’s largest advertising portfolio review programme.  This fast-paced evening of advice, networking and recruitment takes place in cities around the world on the same date to help the next generation of creative talent entering the industry.

     

    Said Kevin Swanepoel, CEO, The One Club for Creativity: “Portfolio Night is a unique global event that serves as a high-visibility opportunity for agencies and creative directors to give back to the industry by guiding the earliest steps of future copywriters, art directors and technologists.  We are very grateful to BBDO India, DDB Mundra Group and TBWA\India for working together to make this important global event possible in person in Mumbai and virtually for all of India.”

     

  • To focus on expansion across key business verticals

    Chimp&z Inc elevates Ashish Duggal as COO

    By Our Staff

     

    Ashish Duggal
    Ashish Duggal

    Chimp&z Inc, tge digital marketing agency, has elevated Ashish Duggal, erstwhile Vice President – Growth & Operations to the role of Chief Operating Officer of the company effective from April 2022. In his new role, Duggal will focus on accelerating the agency’s expansion across key business verticals by adding new revenue streams and will continue to report to the group founders – Angad Singh Manchanda and Lavinn Rajpal.

     

    Lavinn Rajpal & Angad Singh Manchanda
    Lavinn Rajpal & Angad Singh Manchanda

    On the elevation, Manchanda and Rajpal said: “Ashish is a thinker with an acute understanding of our clients’ evolving requirements. He has a track record of harnessing creativity in all its forms to deliver rapid growth and results.  His knowledge and erudition about the ever-changing digital market always came to fruition for the agency. We wish him the best for his new role and hope that he continues to deliver strategic solutions that will uplift Chimp&z Inc.’s success metrics.”

     

  • To focus on new business development across the Southern market

    Carat India appoints Megha Jain as VP – Planning, South

    By Our Staff

     

    Megha Jain
    Megha Jain

    Carat India has appointed Megha Jain as Vice President – Planning, South. She will report into Anita Kotwani, CEO, Carat India.

     

    As per the mandate, Jain will focus on new business development and growth for Carat across the Southern market including Bengaluru and Kochi, while overseeing the agency’s existing clients.

     

    Anita Kotwani
    Anita Kotwani

    Commenting on the appointment, Kotwani said: “The game plan for Carat India is to bring in leaders with integrated skill set that can enhance client relationships. Megha’s focus will be to drive strategic stewardship with our key clients in Bengaluru and other Southern markets. She will also be instrumental in helping us drive growth for the Southern market. Enriched with experience to work with top brands, she will add huge value to our global and local clients. I am thrilled that Megha will be part of the talented team and I believe she will be an asset to the organisation.”

     

  • Kamath will work on strategic initiatives for Publicis Groupe

    Subhash Kamath moves to advisory role. Dheeraj Sinha will also be Chairman of BBH, Russell Barrett is CEO & CCO

    By Our Staff

     

    Publicis Groupe India announced that it has appointed Dheeraj Sinha as the Chairman of BBH India in addition to his existing mandate as CEO & CSO, Leo Burnett, South Asia. Partnering Sinha will be Russell Barrett, as CEO & Chief Creative officer, BBH India. Subhash Kamath moves into an advisory role for the group on other strategic initiatives.

     

    Said Anupriya Acharya, CEO, Publicis Groupe South Asia: “I would like to thank Subhash for his leadership and contributions on BBH. Today BBH India is synonymous with truly world-class advertising. With Russell as CEO and CCO of BBH India and Dheeraj taking additional charge as Chairman, BBH India, we will further accelerate the agency’s spectrum of capabilities and creative product to deliver unmatched value to clients. Dheeraj comes with an impeccable track-record on growth, and this is also a testament of the strong leadership talent we have”

     

    Added Kamath: “It’s been a fantastic journey of 13 years, having founded this agency from scratch in India. It’s an agency built on a very strong people’s culture with creative excellence & strategic thinking at its very core. But I’ve been doing this for a very long time and as I enter the twilight of my 35-year career in advertising, I believe it’s time to hand over the baton to the next generation of leadership as I transition into an advisory role for Publicis Groupe. I’ve known Dheeraj for many years, and I know his passion for strategy & creativity. Along with Russell and Sanjay and many of the talented ‘black sheep’ in the organisation, I know I’ll be leaving BBH in very safe hands.”

     

    Said Sinha: “BBH is a dream brand amongst creative agencies. The brand has always believed in great work powered by sharp thinking. I have been a great admirer of its philosophy and the work that BBH has done globally. I am very excited with this opportunity. We have some great work, clients, and teams at BBH. Our goal will be to be one of the topmost agencies in the BBH network globally, creating work for our clients that brings them growth and glory.”

     

    Added Barrett: “BBH is an amazing brand, and this is an exciting new chapter in the exceptional story that has been scripted so far. I’ve enjoyed an enriching partnership with Subhash, Sanjay and Arvind, as we’ve done some proper black sheep work together. I now look forward to partnering with Dheeraj, who I’ve worked with before, and I can say from experience, that he brings a lot of energy and dynamism to every interaction and piece of work he touches.”

     

  • Flexible one-stop solution combines media metrics and e-retail data

    Havas Media floats global e-commerce vertical

    By Our Staff

     

    It’s raining new business and new business divisions at Havas Media, the media agency arm of Havas Group India. It has now announced the launch of Havas Market, a full-service e-commerce offering that aims to empower consumers in their shopping journey, providing meaningful e-retail experiences and generating incremental business for brands.

     

    To lead this division, HMG India has appointed Sharukh Lakhani as Lead – Havas Market. Lakhani joins from Wavemaker where he led the e-commerce media strategy for clients including Mondelez & Sun Pharma.

     

    Rana Barua
    Rana Barua

    Commenting on the launch, Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas Group India, said: “With the launch of Havas Market, India is poised to become a leader in creating meaningful shopping experiences. The division will give clients access to real-time market intel to help them form better decisions on the back of data and technology. I’m excited about the Group’s ambitious plans, forging into new avenues, that not only strengthen our capabilities, but also ensure upskilling of our people and processes, thereby providing a seamless and integrated experience to our clients.”

     

    Mohit Joshi
    Mohit Joshi

    Added Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Group India: “The current e-retail landscape in India is very competitive and complicated for the consumer. From fashion, beauty, electronics and mobile, to food, healthcare and entertainment, each product category has witnessed a significant growth in e-commerce spends. India already has close to 200Mn+ online transacting users. Given Havas Media Group India’s diversified client portfolio, we identified a great opportunity to develop an in-house e-commerce practice. With Havas Market, we want to become the go-to-market entity in the industry, offering an end-to-end solution and optimizing clients’ e-retail business. I’m confident with Havas’ existing capabilities and the stellar team of experts, we will be able to scale the vertical to even greater heights.”

     

  • Elevates Sameer Sojwal and ropes in Nilay Moonje to jointly lead the creative team

    Sideways strengthens creative leadership

    By Our Staff

     

    Sideways Consulting has announced strengthening its creative leadership. It has elevated Sameer Sojwal and roped in Nilay Moonje to jointly lead the creative team.

     

    Said Abhijit Avasthi: “The last six years have set the stage for Sideways’ next growth phase. Sameer and Nilay are from that rare breed of creative folks whose work moves the market place and inspires the industry too. They are adept at traditional and new age businesses, and think beyond advertising in areas like product design and tech dev which are important to Sideways. Sameer and Nilay will be ably supported by our other creative group heads such as Misht, Viraj, Ninad, Vaibhav and Namaah.”

     

  • Brands need to work extra hard to be counted and associated with the property, writes Sanjeev Kotnala

    Clean Bowled! Brands not doing justice to IPL

    Picture source: BookMyShow.com

     

     

    By Sanjeev Kotnala

     

    Sanjeev KotnalaIn 2018, I wondered if IPL could ever be the Super Bowl of India? With the IPL then attracted – it was a natural question. The last few years have demonstrated the expectation was hugely misplaced. 10 team format, suspect performances of marque teams and legends, high media cost, and fragmented audience, IPL has lost the chance of ever being Superbowl of India, at least in terms of advertising, media and communication.

     

    This year ads breaking on IPL have left much to be desired, and I am surprised that some of them even made it to the screen. It places a big question mark over creative, strategic, media and clients and their decision making.

     

    It always makes sense to invest in creativity. And more so when the associated media cost is as high as 14-16 Lak per 10 seconds. Good advertisements help in enhancing media efficiencies and resultant ROI. IPL is still the event to bank on. An excellent creative exposed less frequently is far better than a mediocre creative released more frequently. That’s the truth and not a secret. Everyone knows it, yet only a few seem to believe and act on it.

     

    There is a concern about IPL dropping viewership, and everyone has their list of probable reasons. But, IPL is still the Superbowl equivalent in India but fails to get the brand and creative attention and excitement.

     

    We have had our own share of excellent ads exploiting the opportunity IPL presents. One cannot forget Vodafone ZooZoos, Amazon Chonkpur cricket team, and Flipkart Kids. Initial ads from Dream11 were refreshingly fresh, and Airtel took creative leaps time and again. Even the Cred frenzy we have seen is a good example. However, in 15 years of IPL, creatives that became the talk of the town and a subject of discussion across the nation have been few.

     

    Even the high media cost and sponsor’s share of the time have not stopped brands. Some 84 new brands advertised in the first 30-odd games of IPL. Not much can be said for their creativity. The ads don’t grow on you, but they tire you and fast become a blind spot.

     

    FOGG still makes sense with their multiple situations. Dream11 had a dream until one realised their thinking seemed illogical. MyCircl11 used a creative device for your attention and then fizzled out. Cadbury, with ground staff focus, stands out but is not really a surprise; they have been exploiting opportunities, and IPL was no different. On the other hand, brands like Kamala Pasand, Vimal are mere passengers- you did not expect much other than adding the list of celebrity endorsers. However, the title sponsor’s Tata Neu has also disappointed in its pre-launch and post-launch ads.

     

    It is time for the client and the agency to re-evaluate their strategic investment in the game. Re-evaluate their media vs creative cost and time weights, including the number of edits and films they need to make to properly exploit IPL. The brands need to work extra hard to be counted and associated with the property.

     

    The audience comes to watch their teams and favourite sportsperson perform. Ads will always be an irritant. The challenge remains to create advertisements that the audience will engage with and want to watch. I think only Vodafone ZOOZOOs or Amazon Chonkpur scaled these heights and set the benchmark. And no brand has come near Vodafone in terms of exploiting the opportunity.

     

    All have read the pitch right. Brands in IPL need to be sustainably disruptive with their communication and creative device for desired audience engagement and ROI. And the media data does not really capture this essence, and IPL alone cannot do the magic for the brand.

     

    We have had a few brands attempting creative devices to capture audience imagination, taking disruption to heart. And few like RuPay wasting away the opportunity, and the ads are not hilarious.

     

     

     

  • To develop premium unscripted series

    Ravi Shastri teams up with Lintas C:EX

    By Our Staff

     

    Lintas C:EX Entertainment, the content business vertical of the MullenLowe Lintas Group, under the leadership of Yogesh Manwani has teamed up with Ravi Shastri for an unscripted series. Conceptualised by Lintas C:EX Entertainment, the series will be headlined by none other than former India men’s cricket captain, coach and commentator Ravi Shastri.

     

    Said Amer Jaleel, Group CCO and Chairman of MullenLowe Lintas Group: “Since we began Lintas C:EX Entertainment last year, we have been exploring ideas that resonate with our vision and help set new benchmarks in the premium content space. The concept of this global unscripted series with Ravi is a testament of that vision. We are glad that Ravi shares our belief and passion for this concept and got on board right away. We are excited to partner with him and there could not have been a better start to our innings in the premium content business.”

     

  • To inspire a new generation of media planners

    OMG unveils second edition of digital bootcamp

    By Our Staff

     

    Omnicom Media Group returns with the second edition of its Digital Bootcamp to train and nurture a bevy of digital marketing acolytes, with a focus on media planning this time around. The OMG Digital Bootcamp will focus on helping young graduates hone their craft and ultimately give them a crucial head start in the digital marketing space. The paid internship program has been launched once again with the collaborative efforts of Executive Upskilling platform, Eleves.

     

    Said Kartik Sharma, Group CEO, Omnicom Media Group, India: “Our continuing success, curiosity to explore new realms in media and the potential to become even better motivates us to constantly push the boundaries and set an example as a pioneering force in the industry. With this returning edition of the Bootcamp, we seek to attract even more bright minds who believe in creating a digitally sustainable future with zero limitations. Some of our best experts will serve in collaboration as a guiding force in empowering and nurturing upcoming talent.”

     

    Added Anand Chakravarthy, Co-Founder of Eleves: “We live in a very different world today than what it was even 3 years ago. As more brands and services move online to cater to the fast-growing internet population in India, Digital Marketing is key for their success. But this requires a practical perspective of digital platforms and how best to leverage them to build brands online. We are thrilled to partner with OMG and run the second batch of the Digital Ninja Bootcamp, where our faculty will give them hands-on and practical upskilling across key digital platforms.”