MxMIndia

Category: Top Stories

  • To lead the newly opened Mumbai office

    Cheil X hires Anurag Tandon as CGO

    Anurag Tandon
    Anurag Tandon

    Cheil X hires Anurag Tandon as Chief Growth Officer (CGO). He will lead the newly opened Mumbai office in addition to the growth charter.

    Tandon has worked in the past with DDB Mudra West, and WT, Mumbai where he was responsible for managing the P&L, key Client relationships and topline growth. His other stints include Ogilvy and Leo Burnett.  Cheil X is an independent full-service agency under the Cheil SWA group to manage the fast growing new client mandates in India.

    Added Sanjeev Jasani, COO, Cheil SWA: “We are thrilled to welcome Anurag as he takes over the reins of our Mumbai office. Anurag is a well-known name in the industry with a reputation for delivering benchmark worthy work for clients across a wide range of industries. He is a valuable asset to the organization and we look forward to working with him.”

  • The awards were for the Jindal Steel ’Steel of India’ ad

    W+K mulls legal action given no credit in Earlyman’s twin wins @ Cannes

    The Cannes Lions is said to be a celebration of creativity, but back home in India it led to much heartburn on Tuesday. Even after the dispute between Jindal Steel and Wieden + Kennedy was settled over the ‘Steel of India’ ad after a Delhi High Court intervention, Earlyman’s Films entry at Cannes Lions for the ‘Jindal Steel- The Steel of India’ film has led to a fresh dispute. Santosh ‘Paddy’ Padhi, W+K Chief Creative Officer and the prime force behind the agency, declined to comment on the issue, even as he rued the state of affairs.

    Earlyman bagged a Silver and a Bronze on Day 2 of the 2024 Cannes Lions. Which is good news. except that the credit for the idea/creator hasn’t gone to W+K. This is what Ayazppa KM, Earlyman Films co-founder has told The Economic Times: “We tried to push the boundaries of the way montage is viewed in India with experimental imagery and sound. We would like to commend Venkatesh Jindal, Kondurkar Studio and every member of the team for wholeheartedly supporting and sharing our vision.”

    It may be noted that Kyoorius Creative Awards had rejected the entry given the dispute on the credits. Said an industry senior who is familiar with the awarding process: “The entry couldn’t have gone to Cannes without the approval of Jindal Steel. Assuming that has been done, and due credit hasn’t been given to W+K, there is good reason for W+K to cry foul on this. These are the Cannes Lions after all, and the awards are meant to celebrate ideas and creativity.”

    Another industry person who is familiar with the development said that W+K must alert the Advertising Agencies Association of India and the Indian Society of Advertisers on it being the authorised apex bod of all ad agencies and advertisers respectively. “It is impossible for Cannes Lions or for that matter any awards body located elsewhere in the world to keep track of disputes on credits. It’s hence key that AAAI and ISA step in to clear the mess.”

  • An open-source repository of freely downloadable public logos and signages

    Bombay DC develops India Design System

    Bombay DC, the Mumbai-based boutique firm that uses design and technology to build digital platforms and create brand identities, has developed the India Design System, an open-source repository of freely downloadable public logos and signages.

    Said Ankur Rander, CEO of Bombay Design Centre: “We understand that signs in public spaces and government logos are a key representation of the country’s design capabilities and form a large part of any country’s aesthetic. Our vision with the India Design System is to standardize the usage and representation of these important symbols across the country in print, online and on the ground. This is a growing catalogue. The first set of identities that are available to download are common public & government program logos. As the project progresses, the plan is to launch new collections like school signages, hospital signages, road safety signages and so on.”

  • First Labs Opening in London, Amsterdam, Warsaw, Mumbai and Bengaluru

    Dentsu announces global expansion of Innovation Lab

    Dentsu has announced the global expansion of the network’s innovation proposition, Dentsu Lab. The first global labs will be opening in London, Amsterdam, Warsaw, Mumbai and Bengaluru, with further international Labs planned for 2025. With this news, Dentsu has also announced the elevation of Sven Huberts to the role of President, Global Innovation & Experience and President, Dentsu Lab. Huberts will lead Dentsu Lab in partnership with Naoki Tanaka, the lead for Dentsu Lab Tokyo, now also appointed Chief Creative Officer, Dentsu Lab.

    Said Huberts: “We are at an inflexion point of human creativity and technical sophistication where the opportunity for genuine innovation has never been so compelling. I couldn’t be more excited to be partnering with Naoki and our Lab leaders, to empower our growing global team of creators, partners and institutions with the most powerful technology and tools in the world to create experiences that truly touch hearts, impact business and, most importantly, move society forward.”

  • Also rolled out initiative to encourage individuals to curb water usage

    Big FM concludes campaign to combat water shortage

    Big FM has concluded its campaign ‘Jal Andolan – Desh Ne Thaani Not to Waste Paani’ to combat water wastage. The campaign was supported by celebrities like Manoj Bajpayee, Divya Dutta, Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik, Mini Mathur, Alka Yagnik and Anuradha Podwal, who came together to raise awareness on water conservation .

    Said Sunil Kumaran, COO of Big FM: “The need for water is perpetual for all. As demand rises and the population grows, conserving not only water but all natural resources has become crucial. Through ‘Jal Andolan,’ we aimed to further emphasise the importance of mindful water consumption and thereby the needs for its conservation. I would like to extend my gratitude towards all the dignitaries who supported this initiative; their influence is vital in fostering a healthier environment for those without access to fresh water.”

  • As GM, Sony Pictures International Productions

    Sony Pictures Entertainment appoints Nachiket Pantvaidya

    Nachiket Pantvaidya
    Nachiket Pantvaidya

    Sony Pictures Entertainment appoints Nachiket Pantvaidya as General Manager of Sony Pictures International Productions (SPIP).

    In this role, Nachiket will oversee local Indian production while working alongside Shony Panjikaran (General Manager and Head of Sony Pictures Releasing International, India).

    In his earlier assignments, Nachiket was Group CEO, Balaji Telefilms, Business Head of Sony Entertainment Television. He was also the Business Head of Star Plus and held several roles in the Star TV network, including Head of Star Pravah and Managing Director of Fox Television Studios. An IIM-Ahmedabad alumnus, he has also held key management roles in BBC and Disney.

    Shebnem Askin, EVP, Creative Production and Head of Sony Pictures International Production said: “Sanford Panitch and I are so pleased to have Nachiket join the Sony Pictures International Productions to lead our local Indian production. These are exciting times as we take a step to make and release our biggest local slate for the Indian market in the next two years. We are most excited as Nachiket brings along not only rich industry experience but also new energy and dynamic execution skills to lead SPIP to a prime position.”

  • To helm expansion strategy

    Younion appoints Ravi Shankar K as VP of Growth for ASEAN

    Ravi Shankar K
    Ravi Shankar K

    Younion, the marketing agency, has appointed Ravi Shankar K as Vice President of Growth for ASEAN market.

    Said Shajesh Menon, Founder and CEO of Younion: “We are thrilled to welcome Ravi Shankar as our Vice President of Growth (ASEAN). His extensive experience and proven success in the industry make him an invaluable addition to our team. Ravi’s appointment signifies our commitment to expanding our presence and enhancing our portfolio of brand experiences across the ASEAN region.”

  • In attendance: captains from corporates, advertising and media

    Sambad CEO Conclave 2024 ends on a high note

    Sambad Group, the largest media house in Odisha, organised the third edition of Sambad CEO Conclave 2024 in Bhubaneswar last week. The theme was ‘Sustainability Practices in Industry’. In attendance: captains from corporates, advertising and media.

    The Chief Guest was Odisha’s newly minted Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo who focused on Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) aspects and opined that the corporate sector should maintain a fine balance between these three factors for sustainable development. “Our government is committed that the people of Odisha will take their own decisions regarding issues related to the environment and natural resources. This is one aspect of the Odia Asmita (self-identity),” he said. Cabinet Minister Suresh Pujari also spoke at the event.

    Speaking on the occasion, Avinash Pandey, CEO ABP Network; President, News Broadcasters and Digital Association and President IAA (India Chapter) said:  “Television viewership is larger than internet viewership in India. If we raise issues related to environment and sustainable development in television, they can reach the common masses,” adding: “We all should focus on 5 Ps—People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership—to achieve sustainable growth.”

    Said Madison World Chairman Sam Balsara: “May people from the lower strata are now moving towards the middleclass bracket. This is the first sign of development. Now, we have better infrastructure including road and airport. More and more job avenues are opening up to our youths. Small players in various sectors are now doing well. Our country has recorded the largest digital transactions in the world. Engineers from India are now managing the day-to-day operations of many corporate giants including the Google,” he pointed out.

    Added Srinivasan K. Swamy, CMD, RK Swamy Ltd; Chairman, Asian Federation of Advertising Associations and Chairman Audit Bureau of Circulations: “We all should adhere to the principle of 3 Rs—reuse, repair and recycle—to save our planet. We should conserve water and electricity and use eco-friendly products to protect our environment. The use of plastic should be brought to the minimum level. I hope that the government will introduce chapters on climate change and sustainable growth in the curricula for our students.”

    On the occasion, Pradeep Dwivedi, Group CEO-Eros Media World, gave a presentation on ‘Emerging trends in global media business-Technology driving tectonic shifts’. “The media and entertainment sector can develop their contents, editing and marketing aspects by utilizing AI and other advanced tools like Blockchain, Web3 and Tokenization,” he said.

    Ashwin Padmanabhan, President-Investments, Trading & Partnerships, Group M India, gave a brief presentation on ‘Leveraging influencers and branded content to drive engagement and consideration’. “Around 46 crore people in India are now using social media. The volume of influencer marketing in India has already reached Rs 1,275 crore and it is likely to go up further to Rs 2,800 crore by 2026,” he stated.

    Bharat Avalani, Founder & CEO, Connecting the Dots Consultancy, Malaysia; Secretary General of Asian Federation of Advertising Associations; Global Vice-President, IAA, gave a presentation on ‘Business leaders as storytellers’“Business leaders can give proper orientation to their employees through storytelling. The practice will reduce the mental pressure of the employees and raise overall productivity,” said Avalani.

    Abhishek Karnani, President, the Free Press Journal Group; Ramesh Narayan, Director Strategy, Asian Federation of Advertising Associations and Rani Reddy of Sakshi Media Group also spoke at the conclave.

    IAA governing body members—Ramesh Narayan, Avinash Pandey, Srinivasan K. Swamy, Sam Balsara, Abhishek Karnani and Pradeep Dwivedi—were felicitated at the event. The Sambad Group felicitated five ‘best’ advertisers—Khimji Jewellers, Lalchnd Jewellers, TPCODL, Chandi Bhandar and Freedom Oil—on the occasion.

    Similarly, ‘best’ 11 advertising agencies—Fast Communication, Xpose Advertising, Display Line, Anita Advertisers, Star Advertising, Herald Advertising, Sanket Communications, Annapurna Advertising, NextGen Advertising, P&A Advertising Agency and Tarini Advertising Agency—received felicitations at the conclave.

    Earlier Sambad and Kanak News Editor Tanaya Patnaik delivered the inaugural address, and later Sambad Group Managing Director Monica Nayyar Patnaik delivered the concluding address.

    “The Sambad Group has been organising the CEO conclave for the last three years to deliberate on various issues. The first conclave in 2022 had deliberated on the post-pandemic scenario. The second conclave in 2023 delved into the emerging challenges before the corporate sector. The third conclave focused on sustainability practices in industry,” Monica Nayyar Patnaik said. Tanaya Patnaik set the context for the Conclave on by talking of climate change and its impact on our daily life. “In this summer, a few places in Odisha including Bhubaneswar and Baripada recorded maximum temperatures above 45 Degree Celsius. They were among the hottest places in the world. This is very alarming,” she said.

    FULL PAGE-Odisa Daily

  • Brings unique perspective on emerging

    WK creates campaign for new G-Shock watches

    G-Shock premium luxury watches manufactured by Casio has launched its follow-up to the Shubman Gill campaign with the new Team G-Shock “Rise Above the Shocks” campaign extension, featuring four films that highlight the world of Skateboarding, Rapping, B-boying, and Rally Racing.  The campaign is created by Wieden + Kennedy (WK).

    Said Kapil Batra, National Creative Director, Wieden+Kennedy India: “It was really exciting to dive deep into the sub-cultures and understand the journey of each artist along with the nuances of each art form. We identified instances from their lives where they demonstrated a strong resolve and rose above the shocks. Each story aligned well with G-shock, a watch so resilient it can withstand any shock. Kudos to our partners, Raylin, and his team for bringing these stories alive in such an authentic manner.”

    Talking about the campaign , Hideki Imai, Managing Director, Casio India, added: “It takes us immense pleasure to launch our follow up to ‘Rise Above the Shocks’ campaign with the Team G-Shock in India. As the brand continues to evolve, it is our steadfast endeavour to support and celebrate the young, talented individuals who fiercely embrace the ‘Never Give Up’ attitude, inspiring the Gen Z & Millennials across the country. The Team G-Shock individuals are the true flagbearers in their respective fields, representing individuality, pushing boundaries, and embracing freedom. We are confident that each individual’s unique talents and stories of resilience and triumph will deeply inspire and connect with the Indian youth, fostering a profound connection between G-Shock and its wearers. As Team G-Shock ventures forth, it embodies the spirit of a rising new India, where fearless spirit meets passion, toughness meets talent, and challenges are conquered with unyielding resolve.”

  • To revolutionise B2B Marketing with Generative AI

    WPP and IBM team up on AI

    WPP and IBM have announced the launch of a new business-to-business (B2B) solution powered by ’s AI and data platform Watsonx designed to reinvent how B2B marketers identify and engage clients and prospects across the buying journey.

    Alan Webber, Program Vice President – Digital Platform Ecosystems at analyst firm IDC believes “this product and partnership have the potential to be an exponential force multiplier for the Fortune 1000.” Said Stephan Pretorius, Chief Technology Officer at WPP: “Our clients want to get in front of the right people, at the right time, on the right channels, with the right message. However, most solutions in the market today are designed for consumer marketing, targeted at sole decision-makers at a single point of purchase. WPP Open for B2B, and our collaboration with IBM and LinkedIn, will help solve some incredibly complex challenges in the B2B marketing space, using the best of WPP and IBM technology and expertise.”

    Added Jonathan Adashek, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at IBM:“B2B marketers have been focused on creating truly personalized, relevant and consistent experiences for buying groups at scale for years. Our collaboration with WPP and LinkedIn provides real-time, actionable insights that are based on trusted data. We are excited to create and use these new, powerful and trusted AI solutions to deliver a force multiplier for B2B marketing.”

  • Worked on by The Script Room agency

    Nykaa Fashion rolls out latest campaign

    Nykaa Fashion has rolled out its latest campaign ‘Stay Stylish’ featuring actor Janhvi Kapoor and fashion editor, social media personality, and YouTuber Kusha Kapila. This campaign was worked on in collaboration with the creative agency, The Script Room.

    Commenting on the campaign, Nihir Parikh, CEO, NykaaFashion.com said: “At Nykaa Fashion, style isn’t just a choice – it’s our passion. We’re dedicated to keeping our consumers stylish, every step of the way. Our expert team understands the pulse of trends and styles that resonate with our consumers, ensuring that staying stylish is as effortless as it can be. With a curated collection from 650+ international brands and beloved homegrown favourites, we’ve got everything one needs to stay ahead in the fashion game.”

  • To bring in creative marketing solutions

    The Content Lab appoints Prateek Mehta as CD

    Digital marketing agency, production house and content studio, The Content Lab has appointed Prateek Mehta as Creative Director (CD.

    Mehta has worked in the past with the likes of Mindshare India, Mullen Lowe Lintas, L&K Saatchi and Saatchi and BBDO Vietnam. “We look forward to having Prateek along on our journey to become a fully integrated agency, with a special focus on content solutions. His extensive experience, strategic acumen, leadership and vision will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in propelling The Content Lab to new heights,” said Vaibhav Mehta, Founder and CEO of The Content Lab.