MxMIndia

Tag: Arun Iyer

  • To promote this new-age activity tracker, Lowe Lintas Bangalore has conceived a quirky campaign film

    Don’t be a loser, says Fastrack campaign for Reflex 2.0

    By A Correspondent

     

    Fastrack has recently launched the latest version of its wearable activity tracker ‘Fastrack Reflex 2.0’. To promote this new-age activity tracker, Lowe Lintas Bangalore has conceived a campaign film.

     

    Said Suparna Mitra, Chief Marketing Officer, Titan: “The mere thought of losing our phone sends all of us into a panic frenzy. And the perfect solution to this is Reflex 2.0’s phone finder feature. While the smart band has other new features, we thought this would be an interesting take to appeal to the growing number of smart wearable users of today.”

     

    Commenting on the campaign, Arun Iyer, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer, Lowe Lintas added: “The idea came from a very simple insight, our world seems to fall apart in the moments just after we realise we’ve lost our phone. We are inconsolable and feel like a ‘loser’ in every sense of the word.  We decided to have a bit of fun and showcase how with the Fastrack Reflex 2.0 you never have to feel like a loser again.”

  • Iyer to take on a consulting role with the group, will transition out of the agency over the next year

    Amer Jaleel & Virat Tandon to head MullenLowe Lintas Group. Arun iyer to exit

     

    By A Correspondent

    The winds of change are blowing. And given that the headquarters are near the near-seafront end of Mumbai’s Nariman Point, these winds have been blowing hard and fast.

     

    So we woke this morning to the Brand Equity story on the development at MullenLowe Lintas Group. That Amer Jaleel has been named Group Chairman and Chief Creative Officer. Partnering him, on business, will be Virat Tandon who’s being named Group CEO. In their new roles, the duo will lead the group mandate in India overseeing its three agencies; Lowe Lintas, Mullen Lintas and PointNine Lintas. And, most importantly, Arun Iyer – Chairman and CCO of Lowe, the older agency, has decided to move on.

     

    Given the Economic Times supplement’s deadlines, this was a carefully planned exclusive given by the agency network. And we rest our case whether the exclusive lolly was really worth it.

     

    Speaking of the new group leadership, Alex Leikikh – global CEO MullenLowe Group said: “A few years ago, we had asked Amer and Virat to start our second agency in India, Mullen Lintas, and they have built it into a top 10 agency in the country in just two years. Amer has been a creative leader of our group in India for a very long time now, and Virat embodies the entrepreneurial spirit of the MullenLowe Group, and as such I am delighted to have them steer our overall business in India to even greater success.”

     

    Interestingly, the communique received from the agency network is silent on the roles of Raj Gupta, CEO, Lowe Lintas, the flagship agency and Vikas Mehta, CEO, PointNine Lintas. Gupta was elevated in March 2017 along with Iyer and Mehta was appointed CEO in mid-2017 along with the agency’s formation. Mehta was also essaying the role of CMO of the group. While the appointments have the blessings of the global guard, it needs to be seen how the appointment of Tandon impacts that of Gupta and Mehta.

     

    Meanwhile, speaking of their new roles, Jaleel and Tandon said this in a communique: “We have a lot of strong assets in the group. Two top ten agencies, Lowe Lintas and Mullen Lintas; a very promising incubation, the Omni-channel agency PointNine Lintas; some of the industry’s best and brightest creative, strategy and business leaders; and last but not the least a culture that makes us stick together and tick. The future is looking different and exciting. There could be no better time for the group to embark on this journey. To stay at the top of its game, MullenLowe Lintas Group realizes the importance of investing in building a strong talent pool with new skills that are relevant in the digital and hyper-connected world. It’s becoming more challenging for brands to win in the marketplace as the consumer is evolving and most categories are being disrupted and transformed due to technology. Clients are looking for all the help they can get from their agencies to win in this new reality. We want to continue to be our clients’ biggest strength.”

     

    Iyer, who plans to start a venture of his own and will transition out of the agency over the next year, has along with the agency planned a twelve-month transition period, during which he will continue to work for some key clients and help with succession planning. This is what he has said:  “I have had the privilege of being part of an institution. I have spent a little over 15 years here. And it is home. Over the last few years, I have been passionate about start-ups and have played a role in developing some strong brands such as Byju’s, Freecharge and Grofers. Going forward, I am planning to work more closely within the start-up ecosystem.” Added Jaleel: “Arun and I have been brothers-in-arms for over eight years now. We’ve been shouldering the equity and reputation of Lintas together and that gives you a sort of a feeling of being in the same womb! Arun has, over the last three years, taken the spirit that Balki infused in Lowe Lintas to a different zone and moulded the agency in his own way. A large part of my job for MullenLowe Lintas Group will be to take that imprint forward.”

     

    The last bit in the communique is critical: “Jaleel and Tandon’s appointments take place with immediate effect. They are working on plans to transform MullenLowe Lintas Group in a few critical areas to remain the key agency partner for clients.”

     

    Ah. Sorry, we aren’t Brand Equity, but this last line can be interpreted variously. Or perhaps not. We are journalists. We don’t have to necessarily do creative thinking. Tandon is a great guy, and so are Gupta and Mehta. But then there can be just one leader.

  • The woman of today is constantly on the move and versatile in her approach to life, whether at home, at work, or at social gatherings

    Mia’s new campaign #MeInAction celebrates the women of today

    By A Correspondent

     

    Tanishq’s new campaign #MeInAction for Mia, attemps to applaud the women of today for being dynamic, confident and absolutely unapologetic. The woman of today is constantly on the move and versatile in her approach to life, whether at home, at work, or at social gatherings. Not to mention, she does this with immeasurable élan and panache.

     

    Speaking about the campaign, Sandeep Kulhalli, Senior Vice President, Retail and Marketing, Tanishq said: “Mia by Tanishq has always offered the very best of fashion fine jewellery for women, and has always complimented her as she carries herself in total confidence. With the #MeInAction campaign, we aim to celebrate the crusader in a woman, at every step of her life, with complete style and elegance, and combined with her unstoppable actions; she is a force to be reckoned with. Everyone’s eyes are on her as she captures the world entirely.”

     

    Added Arun Iyer, Chairman, Lowe Lintas: “Women today are achieving whatever they set their minds to. They are unhinged and fearless in their approach. But instead of putting their accomplishments on a pedestal, we wanted to show the work they put into it. Our desire was to bring to life the fact that whatever women do, they do it in their own unique way. Their strengths and personalities are what they bring to the table. To sum it all up, all we wanted to highlight women in action. That’s where the idea of ‘Me In Action’ came from.”

     

     

  • The new tyres are specially designed to offer superior grip and optimized cushioned ride

    Lowe Lintas unveils new campaign for MRF

    By A Correspondent

     

    Tyre manufacturer MRF has launched a new campaign that promotes its MRF ZLX brand.  Said Koshy K Varghese, Executive Vice-President Marketing, MRF Ltd: “MRF ZLX tyres are engineered to deliver a comfortable drive, on Indian roads. This new campaign is meant to consolidate the proposition of ‘Comfort Made More Comfortable’

     

    Added Arun Iyer, Chairman & CCO, Lowe Lintas: “It’s always a challenging task to come up with a sequel. By using the game Jenga as a visual mnemonic, we have tried to dramatise the benefit of comfort, delivered by MRF ZLX. The contrast between the road conditions and the game that goes on unaffected inside is punctuated by music that heightens the tension.

     

     

  • The brand has released an ad campaign that has been conceptualized and created by Lowe Lintas

    Fastrack continues ‘Move On’ credo for new sunglasses

    By A Correspondent

     

    Fastrack has launched a new sunglasses collection – Unilens that specifically centres on having a single lens across the front frame. To promote the launch, the brand has released an ad campaign that has been conceptualised and created by Lowe Lintas.

     

    Speaking about this film, Suparna Mitra, Chief Marketing Officer- watches and accessories division – ‎Titan Company Limited said: “Fastrack being a young brand has always been the candid voice for the millennial generation. Often tagged as commitment phobic, this generation believes in living in the moment- keeping it clutter free. The Unilens collection sports single lens across front frame and is made for the youth who stays unruffled with the hassle of break-up and moves on with single frame of mind.”

     

    Added Ayushman Chiranewala, Head – Marketing, Fastrack: “The new ad campaign seamlessly represents the fast- paced dating culture youngsters prefer nowadays, highlighting the benefits of singlehood with the new Unilens collection. The campaign is a testament to the unapologetic nature of the brand and celebrates the unflinching mindset of the millennials.”

     

    Speaking on the agency’s work on the brand, Arun Iyer, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer, Lowe Lintas remarked: “When Fastrack decided to launch their new range of Unilens sunglasses, we realized it was ripe ground for us to play on the unique product design – Singles framed glasses for a single frame of mind. The youth today wears their singlehood as a badge of honor and our campaign shows exactly that.”

     

     

  • The new short films are south versions of the successful 2017 national campaign by the brand

    Lowe Lintas unveils second phase of Rivaah campaign

    By A Correspondent

     

    Keeping the central theme around the bond between a father and a daughter, Lowe Lintas has unveiled new films for Tanishq that capture the same appeal as the previous Rivaah campaign. By catering to the distinct needs of each community, Tanishq eyes a larger pie of the South Indian wedding market through its Rivaah collection.

     

    Said Deepika Tiwari, Associate Vice President – Marketing, Tanishq: “Every father in the world wants the best for his daughter. The new films on Rivaah are our endeavour to show the same. These three films are an extension to our earlier Rivaah TVC. We have captured the sensibilities of the cultures and present a wedding range that embodies the promise of Rivaah – to give the bride the best in terms of design, value and purity at competitive pricing.

     

    From Kasu Malai, Vanki and Oddiyanam for the Tamil bride to Saunta da Dabu ,Kasina Sara for Kannadiga bride and Palaka Mala and Pulinakha Mala for the Kerala bride – Tanishq offers a wide range of traditional designs re-interpreted to current sensibilities.” The communique doesn’t specify whether a Telugu version is also on the anvil.

     

    Added Arun Iyer, Chairman & Chief Creative Officer, Lowe Lintas: “As easy as it is to know that a father and daughter bond is always unique and strong, depicting it is equally difficult. We are happy that we found such a beautiful way of showcasing a father’s love for his daughter with just his thoughts rather than his conversations.”

     

     

  • The campaignÂ’s communication is crafted in line with the BankÂ’s priorities and communication strategy of depicting “Progressive Mindsets”

    Axis Bank encourages cashless foreign travel

    By A Correspondent

     

    Axis Bank launched a digital campaign to create awareness about the convenience and safety of using Axis Bank Forex Cards over cash on foreign trips, enabling travelers to make the most of their experiences.

     

    Speaking on the launch of the campaign, Asha Kharga, Chief Marketing Officer, Axis Bank said: “We know that the predominant consumer behaviour is to carry cash, but doing so is inconvenient. One has to keep it safe, one has to look for money changers, the currency is unfamiliar and hence all these hassles come in the way of the holiday experience. Our Forex Cards addresses these functional barriers and we have showcased the same while being true to Axis Bank’s brand ethos of “Progressive Mindsets”. An elderly father who always toiled hard and was comfortable with cash and rarely took a holiday from work. It’s endearing to see a conventional man savoring his first international holiday while his young son manages the show back at home. The Axis Forex Card is a true enabler, helping the elderly father make the most of his holiday, far away from the worries of managing cash.”

     

    Added Arun Iyer, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer – Lowe Lintas said: “The idea was to show how holidays are more fun filled when you don’t have to worry about forex in cash. This was brought alive through a modern story of father-son, where the son gets his father to take a break from work and cash, two long ingrained habits he had. And to make it appeal to all kind of travelers, we decided to keep it real and warm.”

     

     

  • The campaign was launched by film actress Kajol Devgan, the newly appointed advocacy ambassador for the initiative

    HUL’s take 2 on ‘SwachhAadatSwachh Bharat’ seeks to create a nation of Playing Billion

    By A Correspondent

     

    Hindustan Unilever Limited, as part of their SwachhAadat, Swachh Bharat initiative has launched a new campaign – A ‘Playing Billion’ to promote three simple hygiene habits among children. The campaign was launched by actor Kajol, the newly appointed advocacy ambassador for the initiative.

     

    Talking about the campaign, Sanjiv Mehta, CEO and Managing Director, Hindustan Unilever Limited said: “We believe that it is through our ‘SwachhAadatSwachh Bharat’ campaign that HUL can support the Government’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Through the ‘Playing Billion Campaign’, we aim to reinforce the need to adopt three simple hygiene habit and promote good health and hygiene practices among children.”

     

    Commenting on the campaign, Arun Iyer, Chairman & CCO, Lowe Lintas said: “As a nation, the biggest victims of poor sanitation and unhygienic habits are children, and these often rob children off small and simple joys of childhood. In this campaign, with kids at the centre of our communication, we made an attempt to not only tap into the collective consciousness of the society but to also directly encourage children to adopt these life-saving habits. The narrative is further accentuated by weaving it around Cricket. The SwachhAadat initiative is close to our hearts, and I’m happy that it gave the brands (Lifebuoy, Domex and Pureit) an opportunity to be agents of behavioural change.”

     

     

  • Campaign conceived by Lowe Lintas promises to curb rising prices

    Flipkart back with campaign for Big Billion Days 2017

    By A Correspondent

     

    It’s time yet again for Flipkart’s The Big Billion Days (BBD) which will be a five-day shopping festival.

     

    Conceptualised and executed by Lowe Lintas Bangalore, the campaign is a series of eight films, set in eight relatable, humorous situations that will be visible on and offline.

     

    Highlighting the creative thought process Arun Iyer, Chairman and CCO, Lowe Lintas said: “At a time when rising prices are on everyone’s minds, I think it’s quite cool that Flipkart is making it possible for people to afford the things they’ve always wanted. That’s where the line “Ab mehengaai giregi” comes in. Our intention was to make BBD more than just a mere sale event. Which is why we tackled the cultural problem of ‘mehengaai’ as a whole. We had a blast shooting these different situations, especially with Abhinay, who brings his own magic to everything he does.”

     

    Added Shoumyan Biswas, CMO, Flipkart:“Over the years Flipkart Big Billion Days has grown from the largest shopping carnival in India to being synonymous to #1 festive sale in the country. All of India will see prices drop on things they desire the most and exclusive deals and products unlike anywhere else. Our campaign ‘Ab Mehengaai Giregi’ puts out the biggest offers that are not just worth the claim but also address the daily life woes of every Indian about ‘Mehengaai’. Nothing is ordinary about the Big Billion Days for us, and we are well prepared to reach out to our consumers with highly engaging communication and epic offers”.

     

  • Through this campaign Lowe Lintas has portrayed an Indian mother as the change-maker, by putting her in the drivers seat

    Axis Bank portrays the Indian mother as a changemaker

    By A Correspondent

     

    Axis Bank has launched a new home loan campaign with a product differentiator – Home Loans with 12 EMIs off. The film, created by Lowe Lintas, has put the woman in the centre of the campaign as key influencer and the decision-maker.

     

    Speaking on the launch of the campaign, Asha Kharga, CMO, Axis Bank said:

    “The dominant language in the Home Loans category is around interest rates & percentages. Hence the new campaign aims to differentiate Axis with a simple proposition of 12 EMIs off. Consumer work revealed that home buying discussions usually start during important life events like marriage. With that context, the insight that we honed on was that typical Indian moms dont want to let go of their sons. If the ad encourages mothers to introspect and have authentic, honest conversations, it would have truly struck a chord and made Axis relevant and memorable.”

     

    The campaign is conceptualised by Lowe Lintas Mumbai and directed by Gauri Shinde with actress Revathi and actor Vikrant Massey in conversation with each other while shopping for his wedding.

     

    Added Arun Iyer, Chairman & Chief Creative Officer – Lowe Lintas:“The brief was to differentiate ourselves within the category  wherein the conversations are always about interests & percentages. The product had a clear differentiator and the communication required to reflect that. Therefore we decided that the communication should challenge conventional thinking just like the product proposition does. We chose to depict a warm and cheerful conversation between a mother and son, where the change maker is the mother which is not what is expected in our culture. We deliberately chose Revathi, adorned her as conventional as expected but she’s ingrained with progressive thinking. She advises her son who is about to get married to move into a home of his own. This helped us entrench the central idea which is Ghar ki kushi bani rahe, EMIs nahi.”

     

  • The campaign has been created and conceptualised by Lowe Lintas

    ICICI Prudential says ‘Prepare today, to win tomorrow’ in latest campaign

     

     

    ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has unveiled a multimedia brand campaign to promote its health insurance product – ICICI Pru Heart/Cancer Protect. The brand launched the first phase of the campaign – ‘Agar taiyaari sahi ho, toh jeet pakki hai’ in June 2017. The campaign has been created and conceptualised by Lowe Lintas.

     

    Speaking about the campaign, Puneet Nanda, Executive Director, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance said: “The consumer is always at the centre of all our efforts. Amongst Indian consumers today, lifestyle-related illnesses like cancer and heart disease have become increasingly common due to fast-paced lives. Each one of us has seen someone around us who has faced these illnesses. In most cases, urgent medical attention is required – leading to a need for a large sum of money, in a matter of days. At such a serious time, the family should be focused on recovery and not worry about finances. This is the key insight behind our new health plan – ICICI Pru Heart/Cancer Protect. The plan pays the claim amount on detection itself, giving money in hand to make the best treatment possible. It also provides a large cover of Rs.50 lakhs for cancer and Rs.25 lakhs for heart at just Rs.407 p.m. The new film aptly brings across the vital role of the product in helping the coach fight a tough challenge like cancer.”

     

    Adding more perspective on the campaign, Arun Iyer, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer, Lowe Lintas said: “Through this campaign, we are speaking to our audience and highlighting the role of ICICI Pru Heart/Cancer Protect, an innovative health insurance product that helps individuals focus on their treatment for heart and cancer ailments without worrying about any expenses. Our creative strategy through this film is to talk to our target audiences in a language and tone that they would understand best. We’re confident that the relevant and relatable story of the coach and his team’s battle against cancer will appeal to our target audiences and create a strong affinity for ICICI Prudential Life Insurance.”

     

  • The bank has the second highest CAGR (48 per cent) in the industry over last four years and the highest growth amongst the top industry players

    Axis Bank invites customers to experience its card offerings

    By A Correspondent

     

    Axis Bank has launched a new campaign ‘Experience Axis’ featuring its brand ambassador Deepika Padukone. The bank showcases a range of offers on their credit and debit card bouquet, through the twenty-second video series.

     

    Speaking on the launch of the campaign, Asha Kharga, CMO, Axis Bank said, “Experience Axis” is a single unified idea that ties all the value offerings on cards across shopping, dining and travel. It elevates the brand imagery by focusing on experiences rather than just deals. It aims to differentiate us in a category where discounts and cashbacks are the reigning language and build usage and preference for Axis Bank Cards. The monochromatic treatment coupled with Deepika’s playful charm also makes the films a clutter-breaking visual delight.”

     

    The campaign, conceptualised by Lowe Lintas Mumbai, showcases Deepika Padukone, the brand ambassador of Axis Bank in candid moments. She is seen experiencing shopping and dining privileges that Axis Bank cards uniquely have to offer.

     

    Said Arun Iyer, Chairman & Chief Creative Officer – Lowe Lintas: “The brief was to differentiate ourselves within the category. Our starting point was based on an observation that young working Indians, are more open to spending on what they desire than what they need. While cards are the enablers of this behavior, when we delved deeper to understand their point-of-view we realized that they don’t see this as ‘spending money’ but more as ‘gathering experiences’ – something they value much more than ‘material possessions’ Hence our approach was to position the range of Axis Credit n Debit Cards as the window to the world of experiences called ‘Experience Axis’ We felt Deepika would be ideal to bring this alive given that she is also a young working professional and therefore the connect would be seamless.”