MxMIndia

Category: MEDIA

  • Dr Nirgudkar, Editor and Head of Zee 24 Taas, will hold additional charge as Chief of dna

    Dr Uday Nirgudkar of Zee 24 Taas to hold additional charge of dna

    By A Correspondent

     

    Dr Uday Nirgudkar, Editor and Head of Zee 24 Taas, will hold additional charge as Chief of dna. Dr Nirgudkar takes charge of the leading English daily which was helmed until July last year by Malcolm Mistry. He will report to CEO Ashish Pandit and Group CEO,Dr. Bhaskar Das.

     

    An MBA and doctorate in marketing from Pune University, in a career spanning over 20 years, Dr Nirgudkar has handled diverse businesses from conceptualization to execution.

     

    In the past, Dr Nirgudkar has been Business Head at IL&FS, COO of Godrej Lawkim (2004-06), Vice President at Aptech (1994-2002), Marketing Manager, Kores (1991-94) and Forbes, Forbes & Campbell (1989-91).

     

  • In 2015, Mr Bean celebrates its 25th anniversary with the brand going from strength to strength

    Turner appointed licensing agent for Mr Bean in Asia

    By A Correspondent

     

    Tiger Aspect Productions has appointed Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific as its exclusive licensing agent in Asia for Mr Bean, effective immediately.

     

    Turner Asia Pacific’s dedicated licensing division – Cartoon Network Enterprises – is tasked with driving licensing activity for Mr Bean for the next three years and will represent the brand in key markets in Southeast Asia, as well as India.

     

    This year is a landmark year for the franchise. In 2015, Mr Bean celebrates its 25th anniversary with the brand going from strength to strength. The second installment of The Mr. Bean Animated Series is set to debut in Asia Pacific in April, broadcast on Turner’s kids’ channels including on Boomerang in Southeast Asia and Australia, on Cartoon Network in Japan and on POGO in India.

     

    Melissa Tinker, Vice President of Cartoon Network Enterprises Asia Pacific, said: “It is extremely exciting to be representing a brand with such a powerful presence in Asia. For a quarter of a century now, audiences have been chuckling along to the antics of Mr Bean – and his famous teddy – and Rowan Atkinson’s unique creation has become a genuine global brand. It’s a perfect complement to our already strong portfolio.”

     

    Katherine Senior, Executive Producer of Mr Bean, added: “I am delighted that we have been able to strengthen our global relationship with Turner in Asia.I am really looking forward to working with the Cartoon Network Enterprisesteam to bring some fun and innovative Mr Bean products, and services to a region where Mr Bean is so hugely popular.”

     

  • This association makes Godrej Nature's Basket, the sole large gourmet retailer to list its range online on a marketplace platform

    Godrej Nature’s Basket partners with Snapdeal.com

    By A Correspondent

     

    Godrej Nature’s Basket has announced its partnership with Snapdeal.com. Through Snapdeal, the eclectic Indian and international gourmet range from Nature’s Basket will now be available to consumers in 5000 plus cities, thus expanding the brand’s reach significantly across the country. This association makes Godrej Nature’s Basket, the sole large gourmet retailer to list its range online on a marketplace platform.

     

    Commenting on the association, Mohit Khattar, MD, Godrej Nature’s Basket said, “We are thrilled to partner with Snapdeal.com. This is a huge opportunity for the brand to connect with all discerning customers who are currently not serviced by our offline and online formats. We continue to aim to make food shopping a bigger pleasure and enable better and brighter experiences for customers by making it even easier for them to source the finest from around the world.”

     

    Godrej Nature’s Basket has listed over 700 products on India’s largest online marketplace in the first phase and the range will increase exponentially in the coming months. The brand will also introduce its chic gifting options range on the platform. Exclusive and elegant Godrej Nature’s Basket gift hampers, catering to discerning and quality conscious customers, will make their debut soon.

     

    Speaking on the development Amit Maheshwari, Vice President – Fashion at Snapdeal.com said, “Godrej Nature’s Basket is India’s leading chain for premier gourmet products and we are extremely delighted to enter into this partnership. Our gourmet category has been receiving an encouraging response from 40 million+ users and this partnership is a strategic move to further strengthen Snapdeal.com’s gourmet category. We are sure of a positive response from our customer base and hope fine food connoisseurs will cherish ordering these amazing flavours from around the world.  We look forward to a long term and mutually beneficial association with Godrej Nature’s Basket.”

     

  • Concept PR bags Agency Excellence Award

    By A Correspondent

     

    Concept PR has been awarded the Agency Excellence award at the 9th Global Communication Association’s (GCA) conference held at Bengaluru over the week-end. Concept PR was the sole agency to be awarded at the conference.

     

    Union Minister for Law and Justice Mr D. V. Sadananda Gowda presented the A P Chowdappa Memorial Award for Excellence in Communication in Agency Sector at the two-day GCA Conference that concluded on January 09, 2015, and attended by about 200 delegates from across the world, including 20 from five continents.

     

    Acknowledging the award, B N Kumar (BNK), Executive Director of Concept PR, said: “I would like to dedicate the award to Team Concept, pan-India. We thank all our clients for giving us an opportunity to work with them and achieve their communication goals.”

     

    BNK, who was also a speaker at the global meet, said he gained immensely from the deliberations as experts from across communication fields shared their experiences and views.

     

    “It is a tribute to the tremendous support and understanding shown by all our clients and the excellent team work put up by Team Concept from across. Well thought out strategy, coupled with deliverables has been the hallmark of our success. This award will motivate all of us to strive hard and reach greater heights,” said Ashish Jalan, CEO and Director, Concept PR.

     

  • Chairman Adil Zainulbhai is confident Parigi will take the media conglomerate to the next level

    AP Parigi to be Network18 Group CEO

    By A Correspondent

     

    Network18 has announced the appointment of veteran media person AP Parigi as Group CEO. Mr Parigi will join the organisation on January 29, 2015. He will be based in Mumbai.

     

    With over four decades of experience spanning sectors including infrastructure, telecommunications, media and entertainment,  Mr Parigi serves an an Independent Director, Times Global Broadcasting Ltd and  Zoom Entertainment Network Limited.

     

    “Mr Parigi has built a raft of customer – facing brands, technologies, businesses and management teams. His wisdom and leadership is sure to take N18 to the next level,” said Adil Zainulbhai, Chairman Network18.

     

    “I look forward to mentor and lead what is perhaps the most talented group of professionals in the Indian media landscape. Network18 is fortunate to have the world’s leading media brands as partners and I am keen to enhance each of these valuable relationships,” said Mr Parigi.

     

    An alumnus of the Delhi School of Economics and the Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi, Mr Parigi was Managing Director & CEO of ENIL, the holding company of Radio Mirchi.  Besides being a Director of Times Infotainment Media Limited, Mr Parigi was Executive Vice Chairman of Times Innovative Media Limited (Times Out of Home).

     

    Additionally, he looked at the Times group’s businesses in the internet space, specifically related to Times Internet Ltd and Times Business Solutions Ltd.

     

    Prior to joining the Times Group, he was the Chief Executive Officer of BPL Mobile Communications, Mumbai, a Joint Venture of BPL with France Telecom.

     

    After his Times stint, Mr Parigi was Managing Director & Group CEO of Eros Media International Ltd (India) and post that he he served as advisor to New Enterprise Associates (NEA), India, an affliate of NEA,USA, a $13 billion venture/equity enterprise. Mr Parigi is also on the Business Advisory Council of Said Business School, University of Oxford.

     

  • Ms Reddy take over from long-serving president Thomas Puliyel when he retires in August this year.

    Preeti Reddy to succeed Thomas Puliyel as president at IMRB

    By A Correspondent

     

    WPP-owned Kantar has announced a change of leadership at IMRB International which will see Preeti Reddy take over from long-serving president Thomas Puliyel when he retires in August this year.

     

    Ms Reddy, currently senior vice-president, will work alongside Mr Puliyel during the next few months as the transition takes effect. Once president, she will report to Kantar president Wayne Levings.

     

    Ms Reddy has close to three decades of experience in research and consulting, working with leading Indian and multinational companies. She joined the IMRB group in 2009 when she was appointed CEO of LMRB in Sri Lanka. She has previously worked in consumer consulting at Technopak, was senior vice-president at TNS India and has worked with the BAT group in India.

     

    In other management changes, effective February 1, Jasojit Mookerjea, currently senior vice-president responsible for the International Business Unit and joint head of IMRB One will take on full responsibility for IMRB One as well as heading change management and managing the key account directors within the company.

     

    Sreeram Sreenivasan, currently BAT global account director and vice-president, IBU, will take overall charge as senior vice-president, IBU, based in London. Diptya Mukherjee will continue in his role as vice-president, IBU, based in Calcutta. The management team at IBU is being further strengthened under the leadership of Sreenivasan and Mukherjee and the proposed changes will be communicated in due course.

     

    Vivek Gupta, senior vice-president, will head the Auto, BFSI and Telecom sectors, while the Brand Science business will be merged into IMRB One.

     

    Mr Puliyel joined IMRB in 1981 as manager, overseas projects and remained with the company until 1992 before moving to set up Research International India as country manager. He returned to IMRB as president in 2000. The company has been named research agency of the year eight times since 2005 and Mr Puliyel has twice served as president of the Market Research Society of India.

     

    Mr Levings commented: “Thomas has made an outstanding contribution to IMRB and the broader Indian research market throughout his long and distinguished career. Under his leadership, IMRB has continued to improve and innovate around its offering, expanded into new markets and sectors and has been consistently recognised as the leading research agency in India. He leaves with our thanks and best wishes for his retirement.

     

    “In Preeti, we have an excellent new leader of IMRB. She brings a combination of strong client leadership, general management and consulting capabilities. With the very strong leadership team she has around her, IMRB will continue to build on its world-class foundations.”

     

    Ms Reddy said: “I’m delighted to be leading such a diversified and vibrant business which continues to define research in the region. We have a great team of experienced and highly competent managers to head our different businesses and I look forward to working with them to build IMRB into an even bigger and better business.”

     

    Mr Puliyel added: “IMRB is a wonderful place to work in. The open, empowered work environment is a great magnet for the best research talent. The freedom that the company provides makes it a great place to learn and realize one’s potential.”

     

    Kantar is the data investment management arm of WPP and is the holding company of IMRB. Established in 1971, IMRB’s footprint extends across 53 offices in 18 countries. In India, IMRB International has five full-service offices and sixteen field offices.

     

  • Carat Media will handle the traditional media mandate for IndiaFirst Life Insurance

    Carat bags media account of IndiaFirst Life Insurance

    By A Correspondent

     

    Carat has bagged the media mandate of India First Life Insurance.

     

    India First Life Insurance, a joint venture between two of India’s public sector banks – Bank of Baroda (44%) and Andhra Bank (30%), and UK’s financial and investment company Legal & General (26%), has confirmed the appointment of Carat Media Services as its media agency. The account was won in a multi-agency pitch with eight major agencies participating in the battle including the likes ofLodestar, OMD and BPN. DDB MudraMax-Media was the incumbent on the account. The mandate is for all media such as TV, print, out-of-home, radio, activation and cinema.

     

    Kartik Iyer

    ‎Kartik Iyer, MD India – Carat Media said, “We are absolutely delighted to have been chosen by India First for this mandate. Our team looks forward to working with India First to create strong consumer centric digitally ahead solutions that will enable India First to become the preferred choice of consumer. We are especially pleased that the team of India First saw value in our offerings which are Redefining Media in the market and we look forward to a long partnership which enhances the brand of IndaiFirst in India.”

     

    As part of its new mandate, Carat Media will handle the traditional media mandate for India First Life Insurance including television, print, out-of-home, radio, cinema, activation and ambient. It will, thus, create an integrated media communication ecosystem for its latest client.

     

  • He will be reporting to Kartikeya Sharma, Managing Director, iTV Network

    Dilip Venkatraman joins iTV Network as Group COO

    By A Correspondent

     

    Dilip Venkatraman

    iTV Network has announced yet another appointment in the leadership team by getting on board DilipVenkatraman as the Group Chief Operating Officer, Strategy and Business Development. As part of his new mandate he will be responsible for planning strategic solutions and business development for the network. He will be reporting to Kartikeya Sharma, Managing Director, iTV Network.

     

    Prior to this, Dilip was the award winning CEO of CNN-IBN & IBN7, owned by Network18. With over 23 years of profound corporate experience, including three years in USA he held many key positions at the India Today Group and the Zee Network. A Graduate in Public Administration, he also did his management programme from IIM Bangalore, and the Advanced Management Program from the Harvard Business School, Boston. Dilip believes in leveraging the power of media to energize positive change and shared value creation and has created countless path breaking media initiatives.

     

    Kartikeya Sharma – Managing Director, iTV Network said, ‘I am delighted to welcome Dilipon board as the new Group COO. His strong track record of delivering growth and understanding of the industry, brands and advertisers will be a great asset for us as he joins usat this juncture of aggressive growth.’

     

    On joining the iTVnetwork, Dilip Venkatraman, said, “iTV Network is now at a very exciting point in its journey where it is all set to emerge as the India’s most profitable and largest TV News Network. I am looking forward to drive the growth momentum and add significant contribution to strengthen the network through innovative and effective strategic solutions.”

     

  • Anushree has worked with eminent agency networks like Law and Kenneth, JWT and SapientNitro

    Razorfish inducts Anushree Ghosh into Strategic Planning

    By A Correspondent

     

    Razorfish has announced the appointment of Anushree Ghosh as Director, Strategic Planning. She will be operating from the Mumbai office and is mandated to lead strategy across key businesses for Razorfish India. She will be reporting in to Charulata Ravi Kumar, Chief Executive Officer Razorfish India.

     

    Commenting on the appointment Charulata Ravi Kumar, CEO Razorfish India, “We are constantly seeking highly curious people who have the energy and a razorsharp mind to persistently look for lateral solutions for the clients we partner. Her ability to quickly cut through the million possibilities to get to that one clear insight will be a big asset for us.”

     

    Anushree Ghosh

    On her appointment Anushree Ghosh – Director, Strategic Planning, Razorfish India, “I have admired Razorfish for long and have been closely following all their work in India and globally. The opportunity to drive Business Transformation for some of the most prestigious brands in India is a fantastic one, and I am really excited to be part of the same.”

     

    Anushree has worked with eminent agency networks like Law and Kenneth, JWT and SapientNitro. Over the years Anushree has driven strategy for brands such as e-Bay, Nestle, Horlicks, Smirnoff, Lipton, Marks & Spencer, Lux, Magnum Ice Cream, Lifestyle.

     

  • The channel will also have shows on tourist destination, Vaastu and interiors, new concepts in living styles

    Spin TV mandates Helios Media with revenue monetisation

    By A Correspondent

     

    Spin TV, the speciality TV channel focussing on the Real Estate sector have assigned the mandate of revenue monetisation to Helios Media

     

    Spin TV will offer consumers the ease of surfing from the comfort of their homes for a complete view of the property that they so desire to short-list. Along with such show-cases the channel will also have shows on tourist destination, Vaastu and interiors, new concepts in living styles and dream homes.

     

    OMNIL CEO, Manish Rachh said, “In Helios Media we saw their ability to position channels in the advertiser market in a way that works both in the favour of the advertiser and the channel. Since SPIN TV is in a very segmented space, it was important for us to assign the monetisation to a team that truly comprehends the value of such an offering.”

     

    Bala Iyengar , COO of Helios Media said, “The core of Helios Media is to look “Beyond Obvious” and we have been successfully achieving huge wins purely on the basis of providing the missing link between content and communication who are both addressing the same consumer base. Identifying of this space and appropriate positioning will therefore lead to true value of the channel.”

     

  • Viacom18 team to visit 13 campuses across Indore, Kolkata, Mangalore, Pune, Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore

    Viacom18 returns with 3rd edition of Future Leadership Program

    By A Correspondent

     

    One of India’s fastest growing media and entertainment networks, Viacom18 returns to campuses across the country with the third edition of its Future Leadership Program. The rigorous one-year programs for Graduate Trainees (UnLife) and Creative Trainees (What’s Your Story) are aimed at bringing in fresh thought into Viacom18 and nurturing leaders of the future.

     

    The program targets fresh graduate and post graduate top talent from premier institutions across India. The development journey spans 11 months with multiple interventions – including campus-to-corporate connect programs, highly sought-after courses offered by premier academic institutions, relevant functional and behavioral skill building workshops, work place projects high on innovation, etc., comprising on-the-job learning, and supported by coaching, and classroom training.

     

    Speaking about the Future Leadership Program, Head – Human Resources & Executive Vice President, Viacom18 Media Pvt. Ltd., Abhinav Chopra, said, “In my experience here at Viacom18, infusing fresh energy and thought brought in by young talent yields innovation. Through our Future Leadership Program, every individual stands to gain an edge in their careers while contributing to organizational growth as they prepare to develop into future leaders of Viacom18.”

     

    Beginning January 12th 2015, the team began a seven-city tour and will visit prominent graduate educational institutions such as St. Stephens, St. Xavier’s, Christ College and post graduate creative educational institutions such as MCRC Jamia, Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Jadavpur University in search of the nation’s brightest minds to train future leaders in creative and functional roles in the media and entertainment sector. Starting with Indore, the team will also tour Kolkata, Mangalore, Pune, Mumbai, New Delhi and Bangalore. Candidates will undergo a rigorous 8-stage selection process that includes aptitude tests, group discussions, value and competency based assessments, and personal interviews, to realize an exciting and enriching career at Viacom18.

  • This is in continuation with the company’s vision of helping a million merchants to go online in three years

    Snapdeal strengthens appoints Bhuvan Gupta as VP-Engineering

    By A Correspondent

     

    Snapdeal.com has appointed Bhuvan Gupta as Vice President-Engineering. In his new role, Bhuvan will be responsible for further strengthening the company’s technology platform by building technology which further eases merchants to sell online. This is in continuation with the company’s vision of helping a million merchants to go online in three years.

     

    Snapdeal has been ramping up its engineering team aggressively to further build and enhance customer and seller experience on its site. With the aspiration to become a globally renowned technology leader, Snapdeal’s 1000+ people strong engineering team aims to continue raising the bar on technology that enables great buyer and seller experience.

     

    Bhuvan comes with a vast experience across technology positions in multinational companies across industries, successfully leading technology functions and galvanizing their growth. With over 15 years of experiences, he holds an engineering degree from Birla Institute Technology and Sciences (BITS), Pilani and a business degree from the prestigious Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi. Prior to joining Snapdeal.com, Bhuvan was the CTO at BSB Portal (JV between BSB and Yahoo Japan). At BSB, he built the engineering team that developed popular Hike Messenger, Wynk Music and One touch internet, powering key mobile data initiatives for Airtel.

     

    “We are thrilled to have Bhuvan join the Snapdeal family.  Bhuvan comes with a rich experience and has been at the heart of key mobile and technology innovations in his previous organizations. Technology and innovation are at the core of our company, and we are positive that his passion for technology will ensure that Snapdeal continues to innovate and create life changing experience for buyers and sellers. His onboarding is in line with our plan of onboarding over 1000 of the top computer engineers in the country to make Snapdeal a technology powerhouse,” said Rohit Bansal, Co-founder at Snapdeal.com.