MxMIndia

Tag: Ashish Bhasin

  • In an effort to empower underprivileged children across the country, #ToolsForSchool centred its focus on education this year as well

    Dentsu employees dedicate a day for societal change

    By A Correspondent

     

    Dentsu Aegis Network (DAN) held its annual volunteer initiative, One Day for Change (ODFC), for the fifth consecutive year, on May 11. Keeping in line with last year’s theme #ToolsForSchool, DAN Indadedicated this day towards building a better environment for the young and underprivileged children including those with special needs.

     

    Over 1,800 employees across offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kochi participated in this annual initiative giving over 5,000 hours of their time to local communities. Commenting on the initiative, Ashish Bhasin, Chairman and CEO- South Asia, Dentsu Aegis Network said, “A significant number of children in the primary years drop out of school and the chief reasons for this are poverty and accessibility to basic equipment. Meanwhile, when it comes to children with special needs who require far more attention from their environment, often schools are unable to focus on them. This, again, leads to these kids dropping out of school.  Therefore, this year for our One Day For Change, we decided to continue our focus on education.”

     

     

  • Clients on board include Tata Unistore, Noon.com, Rajasthan Patrika amongst others

    DAN Consult wins multiple accounts in India

    By A Correspondent

     

    DAN Consult, the consulting arm of Dentsu Aegis Network, reports winning large growth consulting assignments with corporates like Tata Unistore (Tata Group’s ecommerce venture), UAE’s leading ecommerce platform Noon.com, leading regional newspaper group Rajasthan Patrika, Rajasthan’s luxury hotel group Suryagarh Hotels along with a few other clients who wish confidentiality.

     

    Lalit Bhagia

    Lalit Bhagia has taken over as CEO of DAN Consult. It will be the fourth entity under the DAN Performance Group, headed by Vivek Bhargava, along with the existing three companies under it – iProspect India, SVG Columbus and Merkle Sokrati. Bhagia and Bhargavewill collaborate to build and scale the DAN Consult business.

     

     

    Ashish Bhasin

    Commenting on the new division, Ashish Bhasin, Chairman & CEO, Dentsu Aegis Network – South Asia said: “The launch of DAN Consult enables our business to achieve the completion of the triumvirate of branding, media and consulting. We believe the market currently leaves scope for an offering of this nature and we are glad to introduce the consulting business under the DAN Performance Group, providing further value to our clients and working with CEOs and promoters to push the envelope through digital. Moreover, this is aligned with our One-DAN vision.”

     

    Vivek-Bhargava

    Added Vivek Bhargava, CEO, DAN Performance Group: “With 1800 digital experts and the diverse talent that the network possess, we believe we enjoy a niche to cater to the unmet demand of clients beyond what tech companies and traditional consultancies are equipped to provide. The strength, dynamism, culture, flexibility, consumer understanding and risk-taking that a network like ours possesses along with some of the best minds in the business works as a huge added advantage. With Lalit at the helm, I’m positive we will be able to deliver great value to clients through our consulting efforts.”

     

    Said Bhagia: “With DAN Consult, we aim to deliver on business objectives and not the marketing objectives. Our business model rests on this very premise and thus we work with companies based on revenue growth using digital. In the long run, we will take a cut from the results, instead of charging  fixed fees for time. This is a shift from what traditional consultants currently do and with this we hope to redefine the space. I am glad to have been chosen to create and build this business for DAN. This indeed is the next level of how agencies would evolve in the future.”

     

     

  • The plan is the brainchild of IAA Vice President Megha Tata

    IAA announces mentorship scheme for women

    By A Correspondent

     

    The India Chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA) will be rolling out a mentorship programme for women in the marketing, media and advertising space. The plan is the brainchild of IAA Vice President Megha Tata (Chief Operating Officer BTVI- Business Television India) who will also be driving the initiative.

     

    Said IAA India President Ramesh Narayan: “I am delighted that we are getting involved in this meaningful initiative. It is the first time that something like this is being planned in the marcom industry and needs the complete support of our colleagues. Since IAA has always been at the forefront of such initiatives, it is a very logical extension for us. The immediate endorsement of senior people like Ashish Bhasin (CEO Dentsu Aegis network), Nandini Dais (CEO Lodestar Media), Shalini Kamath (Shalini Kamath & Associates), Neena Dasgupta CEO Zirca Digital Solutions) to name a few, as mentors, has been a great source of satisfaction for us. I believe industry associations owe it to their constituents to plan and implement such initiatives.”

     

    Added Tata: “Our plan is to complete the mentorship of what we call as Phase 1 in a period of six months with 4 meetings between mentors and mentees in this time span. 20 mentees would be short-listed in Phase 1 which will be restricted to Mumbai only and the learnings would be invaluable as we roll out Phase 2 after six months. I am hoping this wold be an on-going effort and we would be contributing to the development of a fine crop of women leaders over a period in time.”

     

     

     

  • Early Man Film ends Grand Prix drought & Prasoon Joshi felicitated for outstanding contribution to media

    Social Street stars at Abby Awards

     

    By A Special Correspondent

     

    It was a special Day 3 at Goafest 2018 with The Social Street emerging at the top of its game with a total of 17 metals in the Creative Abbys. The agency has bagged many metals across virtually all categories at the Abby Awards 2018. The agency’s captains – Pratap Bose and Mandeep Malhotra and the entire contingent wearing red turbans – had ensured they made a significant impact at the Awards for the second consecutive year. Last year, they were second to Taproot Dentsu in the awards tally. Branded Content and Entertainment Abbys saw Medulla WYP Network winning the most with four metals including two golds. DentsuWebchutney took home eight metals in the Digital and Mobile Abby category. But the biggest applause of the evening went to none other than Early Man Film Pvt. Ltd. for its outstanding work in the category of Audio Visual Long Form for Reforest India – The Story of Kaveri.

     

    Earlier McCann Worldgroup India CEO and Chairman, McCann Eriksson APAC Prasoon Joshiwas felicitated with a special award. Recognizing his unparalleled contribution to the world of Indian media, the special award is a reaffirmation of the advertising fraternity’s confidence that he will take the power of creativity further and make it a part of the things that matter in a new and resurgent India.

     

    On Day 2 of the Abby Awards, the Broadcaster, Public Relations, Still Craft, Video Craft, Design and Direct Abby were awards. The awards celebrate the best-in-class creative geniuses and works of stellar significance in creativity. While Sony Pictures Networks led the tally for the Broadcaster Abbys with six metals, it was ZEEL that took home the gold for the night. While Design Abbys showed favour to Open Strategy and Design with six metals including 1 gold; Pi Communications took home 4 metals where Direct Specialist Abbys were concerned. While a total of 13 golds were handed out to top honours in Public Relations amongst other metals, it was Value 360 Communications that ate into the pie with a total of 8 metals. Still Craft Abbys saw dominance by The Social Street who grabbed 4 metals including 2 gold. Early Man Film Pvt. Ltd., took home a whopping 16 metals in the Video Craft Specialist category which included 5 golds, 4 silvers and 7 bronzes!

     

    Speaking about Goafest 2018, Nakul Chopra, President – Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) said: “When we started planning for Goafest 2018, our aim was to create a festival filled with knowledge, wisdom, entertainment, fun and which was also a great networking opportunity. The quality of the speakers, the valuable knowledge shared during the seminars, the networking opportunities across the three days and presentation of Abbys that celebrate excellence in creativity is what make Goafest such a unique experience. Goafest is a confluence of creative minds who gather here year on year to connect, communicate and celebrate the amount of hard work that each one of them is putting in to make media, marketing and advertising industries successful. I would like to thank everyone who has been a part of Goafest 2018 for their unrelenting support. And many congratulations to all our winners. You all deserve every bit of all the recognition that has been bestowed upon you by the industry.”

     

    Discussing the Abby Awards to be handed out at Goafest 2018, VikramSakhuja, President – The Advertising Club said: “Goafest is a phenomenon that is close to the hearts of the entire media andcreative fraternity. Months of hard work by the AAAI and The Advertising Club teams, the Abbys Master Jury, and encouragement from all of you present here has perspired into yet another stellar festival this year. In this 50th year of Abby Awards, we made crucial changes and rationalized categories which just made the Abbys even more coveted. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and also thank the jury for their meticulous and fair evaluation that makes Abby Awards the numerouno recognition of creative mastery in India.”

     

    Added Ashish Bhasin, Chairman of Goafest 2018 & Vice President of Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI): “After witnessing the event over the three days, I can proudly say we have achieved everything that we had set out to. Not only did we have best of the speakers coming forward to impart learnings to young ones, we also saw ideas being exchanged and people truly enjoying themselves. Over the last three days, Goa has seen some of the most creative minds in India together at one place – meeting, interacting, engaging and celebrating ABBY wins with each other. This is what the true spirit of Goafest is all about. Everyone who is going home with a metal from Goafest 2018 is truly deserving of victory and I congratulate each and every one of them for their incredible wins. It is definitely truly deserved.”

     

    Said Ajay Kakar, Vice President of The Advertising Club and Chairman – Awards Governing Council:“I would love to take this opportunity to thank the industry stalwarts and youngsters who helped us co-create Abby Awards 2018, courtesy their inputs. A very big thank you also to the industry for sending in entries and their wholehearted participation in the fest this year. I would also like to salute Prasoon Joshi for his contribution to the world of advertising, communications and films and for being a convergence point for mass India through his craft.”

     

     

  • With less than a month to go for Goafest 2018, the organising committee chairperson speaks on why this year’s edition may be the best held thus far…

    Bigger, brighter Goafest 2018: Ashish Bhasin

     

    With less than a month to go for Goafest 2018, organising committee chairperson Ashish Bhasin speaks on the line-up of speakers, sponsorships and how this year edition may be the best held thus far…

     

     

    Day 1

    1. Yog Guru – Baba RamdevJi

    2. Rana Kapoor -  Managing Director & CEO, Yes Bank

     

    Day 2

    1. Rosie Yakob – Co Founder , Genius Steals

    2. Sparsh Shah – Child Artist, Singer, TedX speaker

    3. Cameron Worth – Founder, SharpEnd

    4. Tim Castree - Global Chief Executive Officer, Wavemaker

    5. Dean Donaldson & Jonathan Tavss – Transformation Strategist & Digital Futurologist, Kaleidoko

    6. Jonty Rhodes – Cricketer, South Africa

    7. Siddharth Malhotra – Actor

     

    Day 3

    1. Samuel Akesson - Art Director, Forsman & Bodenfors

    2. Sania Mirza – Indian Tennis player

    3. Wain Choi – Former VP & Global Executive Creative Director, Cheil Worldwide

    4. Amelia Conway ( Director) & Ramaa Mosley (Creative Director) – Adolescent

    5. Nawazuddin Siddiqui in conversation with Annu Kapoor

     

    We have less than a month to go for Goafest 2018. What would you say to those who have still not registered to attend? How’s it going to be different from the previous years?

    If you have seen over the last two-three years, Goafest has been getting bigger and better every year. For instance, the quality of speakers has increased significantly.Like we have got Sania Mirza, Sania Mirza, Jonty Rhodes, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Annu Kapoor. So the quality of speakers is very high by every standard. Second, I think the whole scale and quality presentation is whether it’s the stage, the screen, the ambience had undergone a sea change. Every year we have added something and I think this year it will be one notch higher. Third, it is going to be a lot more digitally interactive. So there will be an app and of course a website. All question now will be routed digitally. There will be contests. So it’s going to be fairly interactive and people are going to be able to book things via the app. So let’s say if there is a workshop you want to attend… you can now book it online. We wanted to become one of the leading advertising festivals in terms of quality by global standards not bench marking it by what happens in India.

     

    The line-up of speakers is interesting, but do you think this is good enough to attract young A&M professionals. After all, some of these – Baba Ramdev, Sania Mirza, Jonty Rhodes, Nawazuddin Siddiqui etc – are also present in Conclaves like those organised by India Today and Hindustan Times. And also seen several times on television.

    We are calling world-level speakers. I think what was happening earlier was that the advertising guys were listening to advertising people. So we have gradually moved it away to a mixed which is roughly 50-50 so 50% of the people are directly connected with our industry directly creative directors or media heads or CEO like Tim Castree, Global CEO, Wave maker etc. The other 50% of speakers are from allied fields of creativity — it could be films or from leadership positions because that’s what our young people need. As for them being also present at the India Today and HT conclaves, well, you and I may have access to these events, but how many of the others have access? From our perspective, these speakers are of global standards so while it’s not that it’s the first time ever anybody in India may be hearing them, bu people don’t get to hear people of this caliber. It’s important for advertising folk to toalso see what other industry leaders are doing. There’s a lot happening there.

     

    Do you think crunched budgets and non-participation in the Abby will impact the number of delegates.

    No, I don’t think so. Infact keeping a check on the number of delegates is the problem. In fact as an industry we need to decide to shut registrations at a certain point. We have a physical constraint constraint as the hall can’t accommodate more than a certain numbe of people.

     

    In terms of the mix of people who will attend Goafest 2018, do you expect more people from media owners (publishers, broadcasters etc) and the rest of the media ecosystem coming in and the number of people from A&M reducing steadily?

    Well, we do see a trend but it’s not in large numbers. We have seen a growth in the number of agencies – small and big – participating. While some larger ones are not participating, new and younger agencies, digital agencies, are coming in. Some coming in for the awards and some only as delegates. They may not have work but still are coming in.  Last year, we had delegates from something like 189 -190 companies. Goafest is no longer the privilege of Top 5 or 10 agencies who send 80% of the people. Also, early it was dominated with people from Mumbai and a smattering of people from Delhi perhaps. Now we are getting more and more people coming in from Bangalore and Chennai and from different parts of the country. I see that as a good trend and of course besides advertising people now that broadcasters and publishers are also coming in. Then there are students and even who aren’t directly involved in the industry.

     

    We have heard of an attempt of Goafest going green in association with Natural Geographic. Talk us through this concept Green Goafest?

    I think we owe it to the environment and we must be a little more conscious in any which way we can. Last year, we made a small start. And this year we are furthering it and and are happy that National Geographic has partnered us again. For examplesome 2-3000 people take a few sips from a bottle of water and then leave it because a session is due to start. it’s a criminal waste of water. So we brought tanks where you can pour in that water and we will give to the hotel to water the parks and gardens that they have over there. Then we have many people heading to the same venue coming by the same flight. Sowe are encouraging car pooling. There will also be planting of trees and the entire effort is to have a better environment.

     

    How are you doing in the all-important sponsorship department?We see Times Network continuining as presenting sponsor…

    That has been our area of strength. Luckily some of our key partners have been very strongly associated with Goafest for years. The Times Now group continues to be the key sponsor for the last several years. Discovery has been doing the conclaves for many years and they continue to be. Then there others Sakshi,Mathrubhoomi, Star, Zee and many more. I don’t want to name them as I might miss some of them. But I can tell you that the support from the industry is over whelming This will be a record year.

     

    This is your second term as Goafest organizing committee chairman. Any lessons from last year that you’ve corrected this year.

    Definitely. There were a few constrains we got and a few areas of development we got. We try to get feedback from as many people as possible every Goafest. One clear feedback was that the award show was becoming too long and by having too many awards in the sense are we devaluing the value of the Abby. So I think that has already been announced. We have taken steps to significantly reduce the number of categories by clubbing some and changing some etc.

    The second was that there were questions around the quality of the jury process and the members of the jury. So that also has been addressed as probably you know the jury was very eminent that we have put together including those agencies who may not be participating. In the past, if your agency was not participating you weren’t allowed to judge.I think the thinking this year was that look if you are the best person to judge the work then it doesn’t matter whether you are participating. We actually announced the jury even before knowing that the agency they belong to is participating or now. On the speaker side, the general feedback was we want a good balance of non-industry and industry speakers. So we have addressed that. And then the workshops which have been a big hit. Last year, the sundowners were very popular so were have continued with them. Goa has a problem with wifi especially near the beaches, so we will have free wi-fi…

     

     

  • The channel is the Green Partner for the 13th edition of the festival

    Goafest 2018 announces the National Geographic Green Award

    By A Correspondent

     

    For the second year running, National Geographic has collaborated with Goafest as its Green Partner to help make the confluence of nation’s best creative minds conscious about their campaigns, actions and impact on the environment. For the festival’s 13th edition, the channel this year has introduced a new award – The National Geographic Green Award, which recognizes creative work and campaigns on planet conservation.

     

    In line with National Geographic’s commitment towards inspiring people to care about the planet, the award will honour communication campaigns that highlight the efforts to save, reduce or re-use energy, water, plastic, wildlife and the environment in general.

     

    Speaking on this new initiative, Swati Mohan, Business Head, Fox Networks Group India, said: “This is the second year of our partnership with Goafest and we are delighted to introduce The National Geographic Green Award. National Geographic has been educating and inspiring people to care for the planet since 1888 through impactful storytelling. The festival has provided us with a perfect platform to recognize the creative work of agencies who are working in the same direction. This is another step towards our endeavour to inspire people to protect our planet. We are looking forward to see country’s best creative minds, spreading this important message through their work.”

     

    Speaking on the partnership, Ashish Bhasin, Chairman, Goafest, said: “We are delighted that National Geographic is continuing their association with Goafest as ‘Green Partners’ for Goafest 2018. This year keeping in mind the need for growing environmental awareness, a special award category- ‘National Geographic Green Award’ will be launched for the first time by National Geographic at Goafest. Several initiatives, including carpooling, calculating the environmental footprint, effective waste management and many others are planned to ensure that the festival goes green. We request our industry to participate and support this cause. Together, we can at least make a small difference by making Goafest Green”.

     

     

  • The IRS 2017 Report covered a full year sample of 320,000 households – the highest ever in the history of any readership study in the world

    Rejoice! IRS2017 is out!

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    There has been much sense of anticipation about IRS2017 since a few months when the finishing touches and validations were being conducted. And when the toplines were unveiled finally in the presence of around 250+ media professionals and over 10,000 others over a live webcast facilitated by MxMIndia and 24FramesDigital, there was a deep sense of relief.

     

    There were some who were dismay as they didn’t do very well in the basic data that was revealed, there were some others who were wondering why the MRUC and RSCI weren’t rolling out the bubbly.

     

    So first let’s read the official press release that we were given post the unveiling:

    The Readership Studies Council of India (RSCI) and Media Research Users Council (MRUC) are pleased to announce that the Indian Readership Survey (IRS) 2017 Report has now been released.

     

    For the record, the IRS 2017 Report covered a full year sample of 320,000 households – the highest ever in the history of any readership study in the world. The large sample size was backed by a meticulously designed methodology, which saw the use of 100% Dual Screen CAPI followed by a tighter scrutiny process via continuous backchecks, accompaniments, use of audio recordings, and third-party field audits. These enhanced levels of Quality Control deployed by the IRS TechCom has ensured veracity of data capture for all quarters. The robustness of capture of media consumption across all media has been significantly enhanced due to the increased sample size and better representation across all pop strata.

     

    All key stakeholders had been actively engaged by RSCI and MRUC all through the fieldwork period to keep them updated and aligned on the progress.

     

    Some exciting new features have been included in this round of the IRS.

     

    Reach analysis across all media types has now been brought to a common platform with the introduction of 1-month penetration numbers for all media types. This will now enable an apples to apples comparison across media types.

     

    The IRS 2017 Report also offers new readership metrics. Apart from the standard and well-established Average Issue Readership metric, one can now look at data from the perspective of Total Readership (TR), and Readership of publications by time frames of Last 7 days and Last 3 days.  These new metrics have been introduced to provide a true representation of the changing consumption habits among Newspaper readers.

     

    Another interesting development has been the capture and reporting of readership for the Main issue of Newspapers versus their Variants. Each of them are now reported separately in IRS 2017.

     

    Commenting on the release of IRS 2017 Report, Ashish Bhasin, Chairman, MRUC and Chairman and CEO – South Asia, Dentsu Aegis Networks, said: “According to the findings of the Report, 39% of Indians (12+ years) read newspapers, and 20% of all newspaper readers in 50 Lakh plus population towns read newspapers online. These numbers most definitely tell us that there is a bright future waiting for the Print industry. I’m also hoping that we will now begin to see advertisers and media agencies taking Print more seriously. Increased readership numbers for newspapers and magazines will pave the way for publishers to increase their revenues, which would in turn help increase the size of Print as a medium.”

     

    Bhasin further said: “The support we have received from across constituencies for bringing out this Report was phenomenal and it was very pleasing to see the key stakeholders contributing in many ways to improve the study that has been in existence since more than two decades.”

     

    Noted Shashi Sinha, RSCI Managing Committee Chairman, and CEO, IPG Mediabrands: “I’m delighted to share that the findings of the IRS 2017 Report mirrors the market reality in terms of media reach and the performance of individual media channels be it newspapers, magazines and broadcasters.  The methodology deployed to capture data quarter-on-quarter was the very best for a study of this scale and kind, and the sheer focus on Quality Control makes this Report a reliable one and a real stand out.”

     

    Said NP Sathyamurthy, Chairman – RSCI Technical Committee and Executive Director, DDB Mudra Group: “The IRS 2017 Report is the outcome of great minds from different streams working together toward a common and shared goal to come out with a research that sets the highest standards globally. Absence of readership data for four years meant that we had to work that much harder and smarter to bring the study back in action and in line with the market truths and expectations.”

     

    Sathyamurthy further noted: “From 2016, when we began the fieldwork, up till last month when we completed the validations for all four quarters, the journey wasn’t easy, and had its own special twists and turns. Furthermore, we have strengthened the Report with additions such as TR, readership numbers for 7 days and 3 days and the separate reporting of newspaper variants. IRS 2017 marks a new innings for this trusted Industry study.”

     

    There were murmurs against the return of Total Readership (TR) as a currency. At least two publishers and a former member of the thinktank rubbished the decision of using TR and alleged that it has been done at the behest of some powerful newspapers who want to project a healthy picture for the industry. When a senior functionary associated with IRS2017, he/she retorted that it was the Board’s decision to use TR, and not the whim of an individual.

     

    Another senior media agency professional told MxMIndia, that there is a crying need for an apples-to-apples comparison being thrown by audience measurement studies.The professional told us about how in the case of television audience measurement too, the metric deployed in public is impressions. Similarly, he/she told us that there is merit in a metric that will help planners make more informed decisions will help the agency fraternity considerably. Meanwhile, an advertiser who MxMIndia spoke with, underscored the need for a realisation that there is need for a good, solid currency for all media. “It’s time media owners realise that we will only put money, when we can be sure of performance… We are not in the business of charity.”

     

    Indeed.

     

    Meanwhile, the data is set to roll from the second half of today. However, it will be downloadable only if users agree to a Code of Conduct/Usage. What this Code contains, the heads of RSCI and MRUC didn’t tell us at the launch on Wednesday, but there are indicators that the Code could make it difficult for publishers to fool around much with the way they slice and showcase data.

     

    IRS 2017 Launch toplines

  • IRS 2017 will be released on Jan 18 in Mumbai

    IRS 2017 to release on Jan 18

    By A Correspondent [updated with time and venue]

     

    So the verdict on how the various newspapers and magazines are doing will be known in a few days from now. On Thursday, January 18, from 3 to 5pm at the Jade Garden, Nehru Centre, Worli.

     

    Ashish Bhasin

    Confirming the date, Ashish Bhasin, Chairman, MRUC and Chairman and CEO – South Asia, Dentsu Aegis Networks, said in a statement: “IRS has played a vital role in shaping media research in India for the past two decades, and I’m confident that the 2017 report will further enhance its role and credibility of being an industry study. I would like to thank all the MRUC and RSCI Members for their contributions in making the study robust.”

     

    The IRS 2017 Report records the highest ever sample size of over 3 lakh individuals across the country. Apart from being the currency for print planning, it is the most authentic and widely used source of media and consumer insights for advertisers, publishers, agencies, and broadcasters, notes a communique.

     

  • Ashish Bhasin, Vice President of Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI)to chair the apex media and entertainment industry event while Ajay Kakar to head the Awards Governing Council

    Goafest 2018 on April 5-7

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Advertising Agencies Association of India and The Advertising Club have announced the dates for the 2018 edition of Goafest. It is scheduled for April 5 to 7 to be held in Goa.

     

    The event will be helmed by Ashish Bhasin, Chairman & CEO South Asia Dentsu Aegis Network and Vice President of Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI), who has been elected as the Chairman of Goafest 2018. Ajay Kakar, CMO Aditya Birla Capital and Vice President of The Advertising Club will be Chairman of the Awards Governing Council.

     

    Speaking about the focus of the 2018 edition of Goafest, Vikram Sakhuja: President, The Advertising Club said: Goafest is a landmark event that is marked in every brand and media professional’s calendar. The festival is the definitive platform for industry to engage, network and celebrate the pioneering creative work done through the year. At Goafest 2018 we will continue to up the ante on lifting the standard of creative brilliance. Watch this space.”

     

    Speaking on Bhasin’s appointment as Chairman of Goafest 2018, Nakul Chopra President AAAI said: “Ashish is an industry veteran with indepth understanding of the global media and entertainment industry dynamic. He played a decisive role in ensuring that Goafest 2017 was a grand affair that saw many pioneering initiatives. Goafest 2017 under his aegis is sure so see many more interesting and groundbreaking initiatives that will further up the bar on engagement.”

     

    Added Bhasin who had also chaired the organising committee at Goafest 2017: “Goafest has been at the center of celebrating transformational brand stories and fostering the media and entertainment industry’s growth agenda.  Our endeavour continues to be create a festival experience that is inclusive, inspiring and delivers an immersive ideas exchange platform to all festival goers.  Goafest, 2018 is sure to provide learning enrichment and facilitate synergies, thereby providing significant value to all festival goers.”

     

    And this is what Ajay Kakar, Chair of the all-important Awards Governing Council said: “The Abbys have,historically, been both aspirational and inspirational beacons for the advertising, media and marketing industries. This year we intend to bring about exciting changes that will remind people why they have always loved the Abbys. And also remind them why the Abbys have always been regarded and recognised as the gold standard in creativity.”

     

    Other members of the Awards Governing Council include:

    • VikramSakhuja: President, The Advertising Club & Group CEO – Madison Media & OOH – ‎Madison World
    • Nakul Chopra; President AAAI and Senior Advisor, Publicis Communications
    • Ashish Bhasin: Chairman & CEO South Asia Dentsu Aegis Network – ‎Aegis Group plc
    • CVL Srinivas, Country Head – India, WPP & CEO, GroupM South Asia
    • M G Parameswaran: Founder, Brand-Building.com
    • PunithaArumugam: Entrepreneur and Digital Evangelist
    • Ramesh Narayan: Founder – ‎Canco Advertising Pvt. Ltd.
    • Partha Sinha: Vice Chairman and Managing Director, McCann Worldgroup
    • Shashi Sinha: CEO, IPG MediabrandsIndia.
    • Nagesh Alai: Founder, Independent Business Advisory

     

     

  • The knowledge sharing session on ‘Overview & Insights of OTT’ touched upon the future of technology enhancing streamlining of content and the growth of content consumption

    IAA Conversations discusses future of OTT

    By A Correspondent

     

    The India Chapter of International Advertising Association (IAA) organiseda new edition of ‘IAA Conversations’ with Ajit Mohan, CEO, Hotstar and Ashish Bhasin, Chairman  & CEO South Asia – Dentsu Aegis Network in Mumbai last week. The session was moderated by Megha Tata, COO, BTVI.

     

    Underscoring the people’s appetite for video consumption is on a rise and smartphones accelerate this possibility, Mohan said: “The myth that small screen may not be good for long content viewing is slowly breaking. The power of accessible, curated real stories online is strengthened through technology. OTT has lent us the ability to leverage stories and transform experience. OTT has helped to marry the engagement ability of a television with the consumer understanding of OTT. Cricket has helped people to come to this platform.”

     

    Bhasin said that tectonic shifts are happening online, stating: “Where there are eyeballs there go the numbers. 13-14 per cent market is digital. Video consumption will increase with smart phones. As of now there is a 22-24 per cent penetration. In India every medium holds the potential to grow. The big problem in the ecosystem for the medium to grow is the standardisation of currency to measure multimedia reach.”

     

    Said Ramesh Narayan, President, IAA India Chapter the event:“As a responsible industry association, the India chapter of the IAA has found this a great way of engaging the youth and at the same time amplifying the message on a national basis.”

     

     

  • Ropes in Jay Gala and Bodhisatwa Dasgupta to lead

    Happy mcgarrybowen launches its Delhi-Gurgaon operations

    By A Correspondent

     

    Happy mcgarrybowen, the creative agency from Dentsu Aegis Network, has expanded its footprint into the Delhi-Gurgaon region in an attempt to serve its existing clients better and to partner with more clients in the future.

     

    The Gurgaon-based operation will have Jay Gala and Bodhisatwa Dasgupta in leadership roles. Gala, who comes armed with over ten years of experience with Creativeland Asia and production thereafter, will be handling the agency’s business operations. Dasgupta, who has previously worked with JWT, Wieden+Kennedy (W&K) and Ogilvy, will be leading the creative efforts for Happy mcgarry bowen.

     

    “I am super excited to be a part of the Happy mcgarrybowen family. It has created exceptional work in the last decade. I look forward to partnering with the very talented team to deliver the agency’s vision and invigorate growth. I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves, get into the thick of things and get ready for Happy times ahead,” said Gala.

     

    Added Dasgupta: “There’s something about the word ‘Happy’. Something bright, friendly, cheerful, ridiculous, sunshiny. Here is an agency that at the heart of it, wants to create happy ideas. Joining Happy was a no-brainer. I’m excited and scared. Excited to create a unique kind of work, for a unique set of clients. And scared that I may have bitten off more than I can chew. Thankfully, there’s the infectious energy of the entire agency to get me by.”

     

    Said Ashish Bhasin, Chairman and CEO – South Asia, Dentu Aegis Network: “Happy mcgarrybowen has been expanding rapidly and it is brilliant to see them enter the Delhi NCR market, which today has some of the largest clients. And what an entry! A big bang entry with the Suzuki two wheelers win and several more in the pipeline. I think this is a great step in Happy mcgarrybowen’s success path and in many ways, will transform the Delhi creative agency scenario as there are relatively few future-looking, new age creative agencies in that market.”

     

     

  • Offers the winning team an opportunity to visit Cannes Lions in 2018

    WatConsult launches Wat’s Your Big Idea​ 2.0

    By A Correspondent

     

    Collaborates with more than 20 educational institutes, leading brands and brings on board eight jury members

     

    WatConsult has launched the second season of Wat’s Your Big Idea (WYBI).Besides the cash prize, endorsed certificate and an assured job offer, the winning team will also get an opportunity to visit Cannes Lions in 2018.

     

    WYBI is one of its kind digital ideation competition for colleges across the country where students get an opportunity to work on live projects, understand the nuances of creating digital campaigns for brands and showcase their creative skills to leading brand marketers.

     

    The agency has partnered with institutes like MICA, SIMC, XIC, IIMB, IIM (Indore), SP Jain, Jamnalal Bajaj, NMIMS, MET and Jai Hind along with brands like Swarovski, Madame Tussauds, HE Face Wash, Savlon (ITC Group), Jack and Jones and Naturolax (Piramal Healthcare).

     

    Spread over this month, a creative brief will be shared by the allocated brand and the students have to come back with a creative concept. Selected concepts will be detailed, and a Wat panel will shortlist them.

     

    Shortlisted teams will then present their idea, at an off-ground event, to a jury which includes Rajiv Dingra – Founder and CEO, WATConsult; Jaikishan Chhaproo – Head Media and PR, ITC; Praveen Das – Co-Founder and Managing Director, Happy Mcgarrybowen; Vineet Gautam – CEO, Bestseller Group; Sukanya Dutta Roy – MD, Consumer Goods Division, Swarovski; Sabia Gulati – Head, Sales & Marketing, Madam Tussauds; Rajesh Kamat – VP, Strategy & Operations, Piramal Enterprises; and Anoop Agarwal – DGM Marketing, Emami Group, before announcing the winners.

     

    Speaking on the event, Rajiv Dingra, Founder and CEO, WatConsult said: “After the grand success of our first season, we’re glad to announce the second season of WAT’s Your Big Idea. Considering the overwhelming responses from students last year, we decided to offer them an international platform to meet, be inspired and interact with the advertising stalwarts of the world. The winning team will have the opportunity to win an all-expenses trip to Cannes Lions 2018.”

     

    Added  Ashish Bhasin, Chairman and CEO – South Asia, Dentsu Aegis Network: “Last year was a benchmark setter. The students came up with some exciting and innovative ideas and I’m looking forward to the entries this year. WATConsult’s initiative has helped us find some really good talent and we at Dentsu Aegis Network would continue supporting their efforts.”