MxMIndia

Category: Top Stories

  • Into Dharana, a luxury retreat

    Landor creates new identity for Hilton Shillim resort

    Landor, the brand specialist, has re-imagined a new brand identity for Dharana, a luxury retreat nestled in the serene surroundings of Shillim. Formerly known as Hilton Shillim Resort & Spa, Dharana is a premium resort not very far from Pune.

    Commending Landor for crafting the new brand identity for Dharana, Gavin de Souza, Managing Director, Writer Realty said: “We are incredibly proud of the exceptional work done by the team at Landor in shaping the new brand identity for Dharana. The design perfectly encapsulates our vision for Dharana as facilitating holistic well-being, where guests can immerse themselves in nature and experience personal growth and rejuvenation. The intricate details in the design reflect our commitment to providing a tailored wellness experience for each guest, nurturing a deep connection with the ecosystem and the true essence of nature. We believe this new brand identity truly reflects Dharana’s prestige as a luxury wellness brand, offering our guests a perfect blend of peace, tranquillity, and interconnectedness.”

    Speaking further on Dharana’s new brand identity, Ronita Mukerjee, Executive Director – Client Services, Landor India said: “Our objective with the new brand identity for Dharana was to explore the concept of well-being through a vibrant, engaging, and unique visual representation that embodies a transformative journey, harmonizing the body, mind, and spirit. The narrative of the brand centres on the theme of ‘The Journey to Conscious Being,’ which highlights wellness as a continuous evolution, offering various pathways at Dharana.”

  • To amplify its digital footprint and enhance its e-commerce initiatives

    Spicetree Design Agency wins mandate for Jass Perfumes

    Spicetree Design Agency (SDA) has been appointed as the digital and e-commerce partner for Jass Perfumes. In this alliance, SDA will amplify Jass Perfumes’ digital footprint and enhance its e-commerce initiatives through a comprehensive suite of services.

    Said Shiraz Khan, Founder of Spicetree Design Agency, on the partnership: “Jass Perfumes resonates with a contemporary audience that values social connections and believes in positively impacting the world. We are excited to collaborate with Jass Perfumes to create a digital experience that captures the essence of their brand and connects with their target audience.”

  • This is in honour of the late Anant Rangaswami, the advertising/media professional and journalist who passed away in May 2022

    Miami Ad School announces The Anant Rangaswami Scholarship

    The Miami Ad School has announces the Anant Rangaswami Scholarship, a two-year programme worth Rs 50 lakh. This is in honour of the late Anant Rangaswami, the advertising/media professional and journalist who passed away in May 2022.

    This prestigious scholarship offers an unparalleled opportunity for aspiring creative talents to join Miami Ad School’s portfolio course in copywriting and art direction, starting 15 October 2024.

    The programme includes a one-year international internship with over 100 global companies and agencies, allowing students to gain hands-on experience with organiations such as Google, Meta, Apple, Coca-Cola, Spotify, Disney, and Netflix. Additionally, agencies like Leo Burnett, Ogilvy, Saatchi & Saatchi, Gut, Wieden+Kennedy, McCann, and BBDO, will also be participating in this initiative.

    Miami Ad School, known for being the world’s most awarded school according to the Gunn Report, is celebrated for excellence in advertising across disciplines such as design, writing, brand strategy, and digital innovation. In 2022, the school also claimed the Future Lions School of the Year title at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

    Speaking about the scholarship, Prabhakar Mundkur, Advisory Director, Miami Ad School, said: “Anant Rangaswami, veteran journalist and darling of the advertising industry has left an indelible mark on all of us.  His career was a blazing trail of meeting all the advertising giants. He could place a call as easily to Sir Martin Sorrell as he could to Piyush Pandey and he was equally comfortable with both of them. In his memory, The Miami Ad School is offering a INR 50 lakh scholarship for their next portfolio course in copywriting and art direction starting October 15, 2024. Only incidentally Anant was also on the Advisory Board of Miami Ad School and therefore it is appropriate that the school acknowledges his contribution. The Miami Ad School is at the heart of advertising and marketing in 15 countries around the world.”

    Applications for the scholarship will close on September 30, 2024.

  • To elevate brand presence

    House of Communication awarded PR Mandate for Surya Roshni

    House of Communication, an integrated marketing communications firm, has been appointed as the public relations partner for Surya Roshni Ltd, brands in lighting, fans, home appliances, steel pipes, and PVC pipes.

    Said Jitendra Agrawal, CEO – Lighting and Consumer Durables at Surya Roshni Ltd: “We look forward to working with House of Communication to amplify our brand message and reach our audience more effectively. Their expertise will be instrumental in amplifying our vision and achievements across key media channels.”

    Added Shivam Trivedi, Director, House of Communication: “We are pleased to have the opportunity to work with Surya Roshni. Our focus will be on crafting and executing PR strategies that resonate with their brand ethos and support their business objectives. We look forward to crafting impactful communication strategies that will showcase Surya Roshni’s leadership in the market.”

  • To strengthen its presence across South India

    Way2News raises funds led by WestBridge Capital

    Way2News, a hyperlocal news platform, has raised $14 million in a Series B funding round led by WestBridge Capital, with participation from venture capitalist Sashi Reddi.

    Said Raju Vanapala, Founder and CEO of Way2News: “Way2News is dedicated to delivering news that truly matters to language communities. We are thrilled to have a partner like WestBridge Capital, whose continued belief in our vision has been instrumental in supporting our growth. This investment is a step towards expanding our footprint into every household in South India, ensuring that all citizens can access timely and relevant news in their language. We focus on building an inclusive, dynamic, and engaging news experience for every Indian. With this funding, we aim to scale our platform further, bringing more communities into the fold.”

    Added Rishit Desai, Partner at WestBrigde: “Over the last few years, Way2News has made remarkable strides in democratising access to local news across South India, effectively addressing a crucial gap in the market. Their rapid growth in the Telugu and Tamil markets is a testament to their vision and the strength of their model. We are excited to support their expansion across South India. We look forward to continuing our support for their vision to become the go-to platform for news, and we believe their unique approach will enable them to make significant inroads down south.”

  • Designed to elevate the culture of creativity

    FCB announces Creative Council for India

    FCB Group has launches its Creative Council in India. According to a communique, the Council is designed to elevate the culture of creativity, embrace new-age problem-solving, and set global benchmarks for exceptional work across the group by leveraging new-age tools using technology and data.

    Said Dheeraj Sinha, Group CEO of FCB Group India & South Asia: “At FCB Group India, we believe that creativity is the heart of everything we do. The launch of the Creative Council is a testament to our commitment to ‘Creativity is an economic multiplier’, fostering an innovative, creative culture and continually pushing the boundaries of what’s new. This council will work together to solve real client problems, enabling us to deliver work that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of our clients and the industry at large.”

  • In collaboration with Northern Illinois University

    BrandMusiq presents research study on Sonic Brand Personality

    BrandMusiq, a sonic branding firm, in collaboration with Northern Illinois University, has unveiled a study at the AMA Summer 2024 Academic Conference in Boston. The research, titled “Flute is Sophisticated, Piano is Competent – Designing a Sonic Brand Personality,” explores how instrumental timbre and musical tempo work together to shape brand personality and consumer preference. This study represents a significant advancement in understanding the nuanced interplay of auditory cues in branding.

    Said Rajeev Raja, Founder and Soundsmith, BrandMusiq: “It was an honour to present our research once again in Boston, a city renowned for its academic rigor and innovation. Our study offers invaluable insights into the strategic use of sonic elements in branding, helping marketers craft auditory identities that truly resonate with their audiences.”

    Added Professor Vijaykumar Krishnan, Chair of the Department of Marketing at Northern Illinois University: “Presenting our work at the AMA Summer Conference was a remarkable experience. This research underscores the importance of carefully aligning instrumental timbre and tempo to convey a brand’s personality. This understanding is crucial for marketers aiming to create memorable and effective sonic identities.”

  • For DP World ILT20 Season 3

    Zee to air DP World ILT20 across 15 channels

    Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL), the official broadcasting partner of the global cricket league, DP World International League T20 (ILT20), has announced the list of channels that will broadcast the much awaited tournament for Indian audiences’ starting January 11, 2025.

    The matches will take place at three UAE locations – Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah – starting from January 11 to February 9, 2025.The matches will be on: &Pictures SD, &Pictures HD, Zee Cinema HD, Zee Anmol Cinema 2, Zee Action, Zee Biskope, Zee Zest SD, Zee Cinemalu HD, Zee Telugu HD, Zee Thirai, Zee Tamil HD, Zee Kannada HD, Zee Zest HD, &Flix SD, &Flix HD and also free to view on OTT platform Zee5.

    Highlighting the launch, Ashish Sehgal, Chief Growth Officer – Digital & Broadcast Revenue – Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, said: “Zee is delighted to present third season of DP World ILT20 to cricket fans in India and across the globe, offering an electrifying experience across our 15 linear TV channels and OTT platform, Zee5. With some of the finest players, iconic stadiums and top sporting franchises, we aim to elevate the cricket carnival experience, building on last year’s success and cementing the league’s status as the second most watched T20 cricket league globally.”

  • To target the young generation

    Vicky Kaushal is new face of Campus Activewear

    Campus Activewear Ltd has got Vicky Kaushal as its new brand ambassador.

    Speaking on the collaboration, Nikhil Aggarwal, CEO of Campus Activewear Ltd said: “We are excited to announce Vicky Kaushal as the new face of Campus Activewear. His effortless blend of style, confidence, and authenticity makes him the perfect ambassador for our brand, which is all about empowering the youth to embrace their individuality. Vicky’s stand-out sense of fashion and his bold personality align impeccably with Campus’s ethos of self-expression and innovation. As we continue redefining casual yet trendy footwear, we aim to inspire young people to make fearless choices, express themselves with confidence, and walk their own path in style.”

  • Brand ambassador by Akshay Kumar

    New campaign for Welspun

    Welspun, home textiles, has launched a campaign featuring its brand ambassador Akshay Kumar.

    Said Pradnya Popade – Head of Marketing at Welspun Global Brands: “At Welspun, we believe a home should be as fun as it is functional, and what better way to spotlight our innovative, solution-driven products than with Akshay Kumar’s unmatched entertainment flair? This campaign highlights Welspun’s diverse offerings while blending comfort, practicality, and humour to make every home a perfect retreat.”

  • And OMG India Secures #2 Spot amongst Agency Groups

    PHD India tops COMvergence H1 2024 New Business Barometer Report

    Omnicom Media Group (OMG) India’s agency, PHD India, is the top-ranked media agency for new business results according to the just-released New Business Barometer H1 2024 India report from the COMvergence. The rankings establish a benchmark for excellence and growth and a means to evaluate the highest performers in the industry.

    At the group level, coming out top, parent company Omnicom Media Group India ranks #2 on new business rankings amongst competition Agency Groups.

    Said Monaz Todywalla, CEO of PHD India: “PHD’s razor-sharp focus on media creativity – guided by our agency’s ethos of Intelligence. Connected and the strategic lens we have built over the past few years has been instrumental in this success. It is a significant milestone for us, reflecting our deep commitment to the growth of our business, people and our clients. It is what drives us to push our creative boundaries with human ingenuity and keep us agile to Outthink, Outpace, and Outgrow so we can go beyond the obvious to deliver business impact for our clients. I’m truly grateful to our incredible teams, colleagues, clients and partners for their constant support that inspires us to make great things happen every day.”

    Added Kartik Sharma, Group CEO of OMG India: “These results are a reflection of the strong momentum we continue to build upon – validated by consistent performance, new client partnerships and retention of long-standing relationships. As increasing market complexities demand an agile and expanding ecosystem of talent, tools and technology, the trifecta of OMG’s Agency as a Platform proposition, Omni’s orchestration capabilities and best-in-class talent are leading our agencies and the Group forward to outperform in the market and deliver business growth for our clients.”

  • Also to elevate newsroom production capabilities, and lay foundation for AI adoption

    NDTV Profit selects Nutanix to run core news applications

    NDTV Profit has selected Nutanix, a hybrid multicloud computing firm, to run core News Applications and prepare for AI. It will also turn its data centre into a private cloud that is being used to run 95 percent of its operations, including core applications for newsroom editing and production, stock data, asset management, and archiving.

    Said Harmit Singh Malhotra, Chief Technology Officer, NDTV Profit: “Imagine a world where every moment counts, where millions of eyes are watching, and where perfection is not just a goal, but a necessity. This is our reality, and we’ve embraced it with open arms. Thanks to Nutanix, we’ve not only accelerated our workflow, but we’ve also revolutionized it. We’ve broken through barriers we once thought impenetrable, and we’re handling massive amounts of data with the snap of a finger. In addition, our team can now collaborate in real time, breathing life into creativity and innovation like never before. And through it all, we can broadcast non-stop, 24/7, and be a beacon of reliability for our viewers in an ever-changing world. This isn’t just about technology; it’s about pushing boundaries, defying limits, and showing the world what’s possible when we dare to dream big. Together, we’re not just adapting to the future – we’re creating it.”

    Added Prasanna Ranade, Senior Director – Sales, Nutanix India & SAARC: “By using Nutanix, NDTV Profit is setting a new benchmark in operational agility and performance and is well-positioned to leverage advancements like AI. Our partnership underscores our commitment to driving innovation and resilience in the media industry, and we are excited to support NDTV Profit in their ongoing journey towards a more dynamic and future-ready media environment.”