FCB Ulka has onboarded Hemant Shringy as its new Chief Creative Officer (CCO).
Shringy will partner CEO Kulvinder Ahluwalia to lead the FCB Ulka offices across the country.
Dheeraj Sinha
On the appointment, Dheeraj Sinha, FCB Group CEO of India and South Asia, said: “Our focus on building a new-age agency demands fresh perspectives. At FCB, our goal is to unite top-tier creative talent and demonstrate that creativity serves as an economic multiplier. Hemant’s track record of delivering outstanding creative solutions, resulting in brand recognition and business expansion, positions him ideally as the creative helm for FCB Ulka.”
Sony Max 2, the Hindi movie channel from Culvert Max, is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
Said Neeraj Vyas, Business Head, Hindi Movie Channels: “We are humbled and honoured to mark 10 years of Sony Max 2, a channel that has become a cherished part of audiences’ lives. The last decade has been a remarkable journey of showcasing the golden era of Hindi cinema, and we are committed to continuing our legacy of showcasing the very best of rich Hindi cinema.”
Saffola’s latest print ad campaign got readers wake up to an oil-stained front page of multiple newspapers, across the country – The Times of India in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Kolkata and Lokmat in Pune.
Speaking about the campaign, Somasree Bose Awasthi, Chief Marketing Officer, Marico Limited said: “Following through on health resolutions can be very challenging. Our goal is to help the consumer walk this journey of building a healthy lifestyle, consistently. We took the unusual route of taking the message live after World Health Day, instead of on the day, catching readers in the moment and reminding them of how resolutions made on key occasions are forgotten soon after. By reaching our valued consumers where they are highly engaged and reminding them to choose Roz Ka Healthy Step repeatedly, we are committed to ensuring they don’t fall off the health-wagon.”
Added Ram Jayaraman, Chief Creative Officer (CCO), Mullen Lintas added: “Sometimes, the best contextual/topical ad is one that’s intentionally off by a few days. As Saffola believes that good health is built over time, we deliberately stayed quiet on that single day dedicated to health, World Health Day. We released our creative a few days later to remind people that real victory lies in sustained, consistent actions. And in today’s digital-first world, it is deliciously contrarian to see the good ol’ newspaper pull something off that only it can.”
Said Jolene Solanki, COO, Madison Media Ultra: “Change typically occurs when conversations are triggered. Saffola’s journey of nudging the consumer to take #RozKaHealthyStep is an ongoing journey, however it was important to not just nudge the consumer but to pull attention to how health takes a back seat in our lives. This campaign is an excellent example of how the right blend of creative and medium, can deliver the message contextually and with impact, leading to larger conversations amongst the target audience.”
Goafest 2024 is set to bring back ‘Advertising Rocks’, an initiative that offers a platform for India’s advertising, media, and marketing community to showcase their musical talent. The organising committee has invited solo performers to submit their entries. Selected participants will get an opportunity to perform.
There will be two solo categories – Indian and International. Four shortlists from each category will perform for a distinguished jury and delegates. The ultimate champions will be determined through a combination of jury evaluation and live voting by Goafest attendees
Winners in each category will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 50,000, while the first runner-up will receive Rs 25,000.
Mohit Joshi
Said Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Network India and Goafest 2024’s Co-chair: “Advertising Rocks is back with another exciting edition at Goafest 2024 to celebrate the musical talents of our fraternity. As a fellow music enthusiast, I can’t wait to witness the exceptional performances this year. Looking forward to this unforgettable showcase of talent.”
Subhash Kamath
Added Subhash Kamath, former CEO of BBH and curator of ‘Advertising Rocks’: “Advertising Rocks was a big hit at Goafest last year and we’re hoping we’ll have a lot more participation in 2024. There’s so much musical talent in our industry. They deserve a platform to perform and Goafest is the perfect place for it.”
The deadline for submitting entries for Advertising Rocks is May 15, 2024. Entries by solo performers only belonging to the advertising, media, and marketing fraternity will be considered.
HDFC Life Insurance unveils a new campaign ‘No Jhanjhat Life Insurance Fatafat’.
Said Vishal Subharwal – Group Head Strategy and Chief Marketing Officer, HDFC Life: “India has very low penetration of life insurance – 3.2% coupled with a vast protection gap of about 91. This data indicates an extreme need for awareness of the product category. We at HDFC Life are innovating to create products that are easy to understand and can be purchased online conveniently.”
SBI Securities, the financial services firm, has launched its first campaign this IPL season, which brings out the similarities between cricket and investment. The campaign, #PlayItRight underlines the right investment practices through a series of five films.
The campaign videos have been crafted by Hotstuff Medialabs.
Said Suresh Shukla, CBO, SBI Securities: “Just like in cricket, where early planning, disciplined approach, consistency and the right technique are crucial for a winning season, similarly, to shape your investment journey it is important to start early with proper research to build a secure financial future. The #PlayItRight campaign is a perfect example of how SBI Securities is making investment knowledge accessible and relatable to young investors. By joining the dots between cricket and smart investing, we hope to empower the GenZ and Millennial audience to make informed financial decisions.”
Added Arun Fernandes, CEO, Hotstuff Medialabs: “Cricket and investing fall in the same ballpark. Both involve strategic planning and decision-making. Considering the brand’s core purpose of instilling financial confidence in investors, we felt it would be a great opportunity to help people understand the importance of ‘Playing it Right’ when it comes to their investments. The films were written with young investors in mind, and we hope to reach them with informative content amidst the thrill of matches.”
Emcure Pharmaceuticals has unveiled its new corporate campaign with the tagline – ‘Cure and Beyond’, featuring cricketer MS Dhoni.
Speaking on the occasion, Satish Mehta, Managing Director and CEO of Emcure Pharmaceuticals, said: “At Emcure, we have always been striving to move the needle. The campaign ‘Cure and Beyond’ is our endeavour to put forth our vision and what we stand for. And who better to take this forward than a man who has gone above and beyond all through his life- Dhoni. With this effort, we want to reinforce our core belief of empowering people and communities through innovation.”
Dentsu, in partnership with Amdocs – a software and services provider, has launched the brand’s first-ever campaign in India. The campaign, ‘Live Amazing. Do Amazing.’, aims to showcase the work culture and opportunities that Amdocs offers to its employees and prospective candidates. The campaign is conceptualised and executed by Dentsu Creative India along with sibling iProspect.
Speaking on the campaign, Gil Rosen, Chief Marketing Officer, Amdocs said: “As technology advances rapidly, so do the expectations of our workforce. Amdocs leads the way by offering more than just jobs; it provides platforms for employees to drive change and shape their futures, making an impact on the world with today’s most cutting-edge technologies. Through this innovative employer brand campaign, kicked off with the Raja Kumari video, we aim to showcase the dynamic work culture of Amdocs and celebrate our people.”
Added Amit Murthy, Vice President, Dentsu Creative India: “In our business, briefs like this come once in a lifetime, allowing the agency to think creatively and uniquely. It is a great collaboration between two major companies in the world transcending borders. The high level of trust and independence we received was genuinely unparalleled, and I feel it is reflected in the ideas and work we have produced.”
Said Jay Mehta, Associate Vice President, iProspect India: “To bring this theme to life, our strategy was based on three key pillars: captivating, engaging, and innovative. We crafted a media architecture intended to seize the audience’s attention through visually striking and immersive experiential platforms. Our aim was to create a holistic brand experience that reaches audiences across multiple touchpoints, igniting engagement and nurturing connections with the brand’s consumers.”
UnFoldMart, a marketing and advertising agency headquartered in Gurugram, has collaborated with DocTrePat, which is into health services and medical tourism.
Said Gaurav KR Sharma, Co-Founder of DocTrePat: “We are excited to partner with UnFoldMart as we embark on this transformative journey towards digital excellence in healthcare. UnFoldMart’s digital expertise and strategic insights are invaluable assets as we navigate the online landscape and extend our reach to a global audience seeking quality healthcare solutions.”
Added Abhishek Garg, Co-Founder of UnFoldMart: “Our collaboration with DocTrePat goes beyond conventional marketing; it’s about leveraging digital tools and strategies to drive meaningful impact and enhance patient outcomes. We are committed to utilising our expertise to elevate DocTrePat’s brand, connect with diverse patient demographics, and facilitate seamless medical journeys on a global scale.”
BookMyShow in association with the Election Commission of India, has unveiled an ad film ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections. Titled ‘Aaj Picture Nahi, Bigger Picture Dekho’, the campaign urges citizens to focus on the larger picture of nation-building by exercising their right to vote on their respective ‘Election Day’.
Commenting on the campaign, Dolly Davda, Head – Marketing, BookMyShow, said: “With one of the world’s largest youth populations and as the largest voting pool, this election presents a monumental opportunity for every Indian to shape our collective future. At BookMyShow, our vision remains to focus on the bigger picture while moving towards a brighter and better tomorrow, together. Voting is undeniably integral to shaping our nation’s future and as a platform deeply ingrained in the entertainment ecosystem and therefore the youth, we wanted to leverage our resonance to urge young voters to exercise their right. Following a friendly yet hard-hitting tone, we’ve crafted the film to resonate with GenZs who are digital natives preferring snackable content, more socially conscious but also individualistic in their own ways. Our aim is to influence their perception of civic responsibility in a positive manner. We hope viewers understand the significant role of voting and spread awareness among fellow first-time voters.”
Added Santosh Ajmera, IIS Director, SVEEP Election Commission of India: “Partnership and collaboration form the cornerstone of our voter awareness initiatives at the Election Commission of India. I firmly believe that nurturing informed and ethical electoral engagement is a collective duty shared by all stakeholders in our democracy. It’s good to see BookMyShow launching the ‘Picture Nahi, Bigger Picture Dekho’ campaign, reminding its audience of the profound significance of every single vote. I am confident that their campaign will serve as a catalyst, particularly among the youth and first-time voters, urging them to actively participate and exercise their democratic right.”
Inox Group has appointed Puneet Gupta as Head of Communications for Inox Air Products (INOXAP) and Inox India Ltd (INOXCVA).
Notes a communique: “As Head of Communications, for INOX Group, Puneet will oversee brand communication, media engagement, reputation management, senior stakeholder management, strategic messaging, employee communications, and CSR initiatives for INOXAP and INOXCVA.”
Dentsu India has announced the departure of Sapna Arora as Chief Client Officer (CCO). Arora joined the network in January 2023.
Said Harsha Razdan, CEO, of South Asia, Dentsi “Sapna has been a valuable member of our leadership team and a key partner for our clients. Working across creative, media, and CX business, she exemplified our commitment to addressing clients’ business challenges. We extend our best wishes for her continued success.”