MxMIndia

Category: Top Stories

  • Other names: Niraj Ruparel, Chandani Samdaria, Chandni Shah and P G Aditya

    Senthil Kumar, others also Jury Chairs for Abby 2024

    Niraj Ruparel, Emerging Tech Lead for WPP and Head of Mobile at GroupM, Chandani Samdaria, Executive Creative Director at L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, Chandni Shah, COO of FCB Kinnect, Senthil Kumar, CCO, VML and P G Aditya, CCO and Co-founder of Talented, join as Jury Chair for Technology category, Red Abby category, Mobile category, Integrated category and Digital category respectively, at The Abby Awards 2024 powered by One Show.

    The Abby Awards are scheduled to happen from May 29 to 31 in Mumbai as part of Goafest 2024.

  • To target the younger workforce

    Lowe Lintas, Naukri collaborate for campaign

    Lowe Lintas has joined forces with Naukri.com to launch a campaign tailored specifically for the ambitious Gen Z workforce. The campaign aims to reinforce Naukri’s position as the preferred destination for young professionals, by showcasing and legitimising their ambitious behavior.

    Said Sumeet Singh, CMO, Info Edge (India) Limited: “Naukri has always championed the cause of India’s professionals. With this campaign, we are siding with the ambitious Gen-Z, who now make up most of the country’s workforce, and we’re teaming up with them for their career building.”

    Added Vasudha Mishra, Regional Creative Officer, Lowe Lintas: “When it comes to jobs, the young are not reticent. They know what they want, and they cannot be gaslighted into settling for less. Especially when they have as their ally, Naukri, one of the most iconic modern brands of India. Two spots, done with the signature irreverent style of the brand, done by our fabulously talented team at Lowe Lintas.”

  • To oversee a full-funnel media solutions for the brand

    Carat India bags integrated mandate for Meesho

    Carat India has bagged the integrated media mandate for Meesho, the e-commerce marketplace. The account will be serviced from the agency’s Bengaluru office.

    As per the mandate, Carat will oversee a comprehensive suite of integrated and full-funnel media solutions for the brand.

    Commenting on the win, Sanchayeeta Verma, CEO, Carat India said: “Partnering with Meesho is a game-changer, a chance to rewrite the e-commerce playbook for Bharat. Our strategy? A finely tuned team structure meticulously crafted to fuel Meesho’s ascent & growth. Moreover, our industry-leading tools will act as an added advantage to strategize, plan, implement, and measure across the full funnel. It is this unique combination that has enabled us to secure this remarkable and prestigious opportunity.”

    Added Anita Kotwani, CEO, Media, South Asia, Dentsu: “Welcoming Meesho aboard is a thrilling milestone, as we eagerly anticipate steering the company’s mission of democratizing internet commerce in India. Our proposal was more than just compelling; it was a holistic journey, spanning from branding and performance to data-driven analytics and an inventive media & content strategy. We’re confident that our collaboration will not only fuel Meesho’s long-term strategic growth but also drive our own evolution!”

  • Tata Motors, Tree Design, White River Media win

    Indian entries shine at Montreux

    Indian companies won four Golds and nine Finalists at the 35th Golden Award of Montreux Switzerland Festival held recently..

    The Tata Motors in-house agency won teo Golds, “Ramadan 2024” in the Category Creative Use of Media and “ Hero Stories from Bangladesh” won Gold in the Category Digital/ InteractiveTree Design won Gold for “Tata Tea Premium Independence Day Packs” in the Category of Design.White Rivers Media won Gold for “Daughters of Piplantri” in Corporate Film“ category.

    Indian companies won nine Finalist Certificates which is notable as Montreux does not award Silvers and Bronzes only Finalists. Tata Motors won three Finalist Certificates for “Tata Ultra FE+ South Africa Launch Campaign” in the Categories Creative Use of Media, Design and in Digital /Interactive. “Tata Motors Ramadan 2023” won a Finalist Certificate in the Category Digital / Interactive.

    Tree Design won finalists for Toblerone Tiny’s Special Edition Range” and “Tata Tea Premium  Independence Day Tea Table Book” in Design category while“ “The Greatest Entertainers” won a Finalist in Direct Marketing. White Rivers Media won a Finalist in Digita/Interactive.

    Musemakers won a Finalist for “Singapore Tourism Board AR Postcards” in Digital /Interactive BETC Paris was crowned Agency of the Year for 2024, and Havas won theemerging Network of the Year.

    Said veteran advertising professional and part of the fest’s internal jury Ajay Chandwani “Montreux Festival has now become one of India’s more sought after award festival along with Cannes, One Show and D&AD as we are seeing more participation and recognition for Indian work. The last few years has witnessed some great Indian work winning at Montreux Festival.”

  • To support the hospitality group through strategic communications

    Minor Hotels appoints BrandsWeLove for PR

    Global hospitality group Minor Hotels has selected BrandsWeLove (BWL) as its public relations agency ahead of the debut of its modern luxury brand Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas in Jaipur, later this year.

    Said Marion Walsh-Hédouin, Global Head of Public Relations & Communications for Minor Hotels, said: “India is becoming an outbound travel superpower as more Indian travellers broaden their horizons by heading overseas. India is one of Minor Hotels’ fastest-growing international source markets, and the country is an essential piece of our global expansion plan to capture a portion of the expanding domestic travel market, too, with the target of 50 new openings in India within the next decade. BrandsWeLove joins our team at a significant time for Minor Hotels as we gear up for the opening of the Anantara Jaipur Hotel, the first of many of our flagship brand in India. We are excited to tap into the agency’s luxury hospitality experience and the team’s strategic and creative thinking to tell authentic stories that build upon strong recognition of our brands among Indian travellers.”

    Added Deepa Harris, Founder of BrandsWeLove: “Our focus will be to build on their already strong and differentiated positioning with brand narratives that command deeper affinity and desire.”

  • To drive future growth

    Havas India elevates key leaders across creative network

    Havas India has announced a leadership transition across three key agencies under the Havas Creative Network India umbrella, including Havas Worldwide India (creative), Conran Design Mumbai (brand design), and Havas CX India (customer experience).

    Kundan Joshee, Managing Partner, Havas Worldwide India, has been promoted as Managing Director of the India operations. Anupama Ramaswamy, Chief Creative Officer, Havas Worldwide India, will also mantle the additional responsibility of Joint Managing Director along with the CCO profile.  Geet Nazir, Managing Partner of Conran Design Mumbai, has been elevated to Managing Director of the agency. Prashant Tekwani, Managing Partner, Havas CX India, has been elevated to Managing Director of both Havas CX India and Ekino (technology) India.

    While Joshee, Nazir and Tekwani will be based out of Mumbai, Ramaswamy will continue to be based out of Gurugram. All four along with others in the leadership team will continue to report to Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas India, South East Asia & North Asia (Japan & South Korea).

    Said Barua: “Over the past few years, our focus has been on enhancing our expertise and solidifying our position as the most progressive communications network in India. While our Media Network, under the leadership of Mohit Joshi, Uday Mohan, R Venkat, and Shibu Shivanandan, has thrived, Havas Creative Network India has grown exponentially both organically and inorganically and has built the creative repertoire of Havas India.”

  • To manage digital, creative, and performance marketing for the engine oil brand

    Experience Commerce bags mandate for Savsol

    Experience Commerce (EC), a digital agency within the Cheil Network, has won the digital mandate for Savsol, the engine oil brand of Savita Oil Technologies

    Said Sibasish Guha, Head of Digital Marketing at Savsol: “We’re thrilled to join forces with Experience Commerce to elevate our brand presence and engage our audience effectively. With a legacy spanning over five decades, preserving and advancing our heritage is paramount. Recognizing the rapid growth of the digital landscape, we’re committed to fortifying our online footprint across social media and e-commerce platforms. EC’s alignment with our values positions them as the ideal partner to help us achieve this goal and foster business growth.”

    Added Meera Ghare, Vice President and Business Head at Experience Commerce: “We are pleased to welcome Savsol to our brand portfolio. As our agency expands, we seek partnerships with brands that share our values and methodologies. Our extensive industry experience enables us to curate content and creative strategies tailored to resonate with the client’s target audience, ultimately aiding Savsol in building a robust digital community. We are grateful for Savsol’s trust in entrusting Experience Commerce with their digital responsibilities. With our team’s expertise, we are confident in surpassing client expectations.”

  • Fostering informed voting via Educational Comic Strips

    ABP News rolls out ‘Adarsh Voter’ campaign

    ABP News has unveiled the ‘Adarsh Voter’ campaign, a series of educational comic strips designed to promote informed voting and active citizenship. This initiative follows the network’s successful ‘Jeetna Aapka Zaroori Hai’ campaign, which urged Indians to exercise their constitutional right and make their voices heard in the ongoing 18th Lok Sabha Elections.

    Notes a communique: “The ‘Adarsh Voter’ comic strips aim to further empower citizens by highlighting the significance of voting, resisting misinformation, and seeking clarity amidst the chaos of electoral campaigns. Through engaging visuals and compelling narratives, these comics will guide viewers in navigating past sensationalism, promoting transparency, and grounding their voting decisions in factual realities.”

  • These include media strategy and planning & media investment

    Wavemaker retains mandate for Luminous

    Wavemaker India has successfully retained the integrated mandate for Luminous Power Technologies. Wavemaker has been entrusted with the brand’s traditional and digital media responsibilities since 2021. These include media strategy and planning, media investment, media activation, and content creation. Wavemaker’s Delhi office will continue to oversee the execution of all services for Luminuous Power Technologies.

    Said Neelima Burra, Chief Transformation Strategy and Marketing officer, Luminous Power Technologies: “Our association with Wavemaker has been since 2021 and it is an exciting time to extend this partnership. As a brand that gains massive consumer appeal and recall value in consumers’ minds, we need an agency partner that would further strengthen Luminous’ presence in offline and online mediums at all stages. Our partnership has helped us create that relevant engagement value and we look forward to further building the brand’s growth in the future as well.”

    Talking on the retention Ajay Gupte, CEO – South Asia, Wavemaker added: “Our partnership with Luminous has flourished over the past two years, and our continued collaboration is a testament to the remarkable results we have achieved together. We have successfully demonstrated exceptional capabilities in enhancing the brand’s image, and our joint efforts have yielded innovative media strategies and campaigns.”

  • To co-produce two films – an action comedy and romcom

    Lionsgate, Abundantia & Efar Films join forces

    Lionsgate, Efar Films and Abundantia Entertainment have come together to bring two movies. The first is an action – comedy motion picture, the other film is a romantic comedy. Scripting is underway for both projects.

    Said Rohit Jain, President of Lionsgate Play Asia: “We are delighted to collaborate with Abundantia Entertainment and EFAR Films on two exciting upcoming projects. The projects underscore our commitment to delivering innovative and culturally resonant films to audience world over, and we are thrilled to bring this to life for our audiences in India. This is a testament to the power of gripping storytelling and the creative vision of our partners.”

    Added Vikram Malhotra, Founder & CEO of Abundantia Entertainment: “At Abundantia Entertainment, we are committed to producing high-quality and engaging content that is uniquely Indian and resonates with audiences globally. The two upcoming films perfectly align with this vision. We are delighted to collaborate with Global Major Studio Lionsgate and with EFAR Films to bring these stories to life in India.”

    Said Kavita Sharma Gandhi, Founder & CEO of Efar Films: “We are delighted to be part of this exciting development alongside Lionsgate and Abundantia Entertainment. Our aim is to tell stories that are rooted in Indian ethos and culture with a universal appeal. We look forward to working together to create a memorable cinematic experience through these creative projects and this unique partnership.”

  • For their latest technology ventures Ziki and Sirrus.ai

    The Chatterjee Group (TCG) appoints key leaders

    First Livingspaces Private Limited (FLS), an enterprise of The Chatterjee Group (TCG), has onboarded Kashyap Mehta and Prashant Gagneja as key leaders of its new technology ventures — Ziki and Sirrus.ai. FLS has positioned its new businesses in two core domains. Ziki focuses on crafting technology-enabled communities, both online and offline. Sirrus.ai is an experience ecosystem with AI-first principles, catering to the real estate industry.

    Mehta, an e-commerce specialist with over 25 years of expertise in multiple industries, has joined FLS as the Chief Product Officer (CPO), while Gagneja, a seasoned strategist in Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) and Fintech industries, has assumed the role of the Chief Growth & Revenue Officer (CGRO).

    Welcoming the two leaders, FLS spokesperson Sovon Manna said: “We are delighted to have the two visionary achievers joining us. Their experience, exuberance and unique approaches will be instrumental in propelling our businesses towards greater heights of success.”

  • Interestingly, the communique was emailed to us by Value360, and not the Omnicom group’s PR arms in India

    Omnicom announces 4 Centres of Excellence in India

    Omnicom, the global marketing services conglomerate, has announced the expansion of its Global Solutions Centres of Excellence with the opening of three new campus locations in Bengaluru, Chennai, and Gurugram. A fourth location will be opened in Hyderabad in October.

    Notes a communique: “Designed to accommodate Omnicom’s expanding footprint and global client solutions capabilities, these centers of excellence will house a diverse talent pool of over 5,500 colleagues. The newly built, state-of-the-art offices will provide best-in-class collaborative environments for Omnicom’s talent in India. Through their expertise in media, data and analytics, creative, digital commerce, marketing technology, and AI, Omnicom’s Global Solutions Centres will support our agencies around the world, driving more value and efficiencies for our clients.”

    Said John Wren, Chairman and CEO, Omnicom: “India is a country of creativity and technology with diverse, dynamic and talented people… Our India operations are helping us transform from within, improving our client offerings and providing operating efficiencies. We are rapidly scaling and will continue to increase the number of colleagues in Omnicom’s Global Solutions Centres over the next few years, making them a key component of Omnicom’s growth.”

    Interestingly, the communique was emailed to us by Value360, an independent communications agency which has been rising in business and stature in recent years. Note: not FleishmanHillard or the soon-rumoured-to-shutter (but yet in existence) KetchumSampark that are part of Omnicom’s Communications Consultancy Network that in turn runs the Omnicom Public Relations Group. And not even some of the others in the group who frequently disseminate news and info to the media.

    We don’t whether we should read more into this engagement of Value360 for an Omnicom release, but we’ll leave that to speculation and announcements, if at all.