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Tag: DDB Mudra Group

  • Conceptualised by DDB Mudra Group

    Volkswagen rolls out new campaign

    By Our Staff

     

    German automotive maker, Volkswagen, has announced a new campaign – #SafeLikeAVolkswagen – to remind the road why the brand is the safest on it. The campaign leverages the brand’s affinity for simplicity and human storytelling.

     

    Conceptualised by the DDB Mudra Group, the clutter-breaking campaign is launched on the back of Volkswagen Taigun recently scoring a perfect five-star rating in Global NCAP’s crash tests. Taigun has become one of the first ever car models in India to achieve five stars, for both adult and child occupants’ protection.

     

    Abbey Thomas, Head of Marketing and PR, Volkswagen India said: “Safety is at the core of Brand Volkswagen. We build our cars with lots of emotion and passion, the same goes for our communication; emotional and light hearted. Together with our creative team, we hope to deliver this very important messaging on safety in an interesting and engaging manner to our consumers”

     

    Added Rahul Mathew, Chief Creative Officer, DDB Mudra Group: “As a brand, Volkswagen has been built around human stories. It’s in the name of the brand itself. Therefore, we thought the best way to illustrate our safety features would be through examples of how we navigate our every day.”

     

  • Appoints new National Strategy Head and Creative Head – South

    DDB Mudra Group bolsters its India leadership

    By Our Staff

     

    Strengthening its senior leadership in creative and planning, DDB Mudra Group onboards Menaka Menon (National Strategy Head) and Nitin Pradhan (Creative Head – South). Cumulatively, they bring over 40 years of experience in creative thinking and strategic planning across brands and categories.

     

    Rahul Mathew
    Rahul Mathew

    Talking about the senior appointments Rahul Mathew, Chief Creative Officer, DDB Mudra Group said: “Bernbach had said that creativity is the most powerful force in business. And those words form the core of what we’re trying to build at the DDB Mudra Group. But how strong the force of creativity is, depends on the talent that wields it and leads it. In Menaka and Nitin, we found strong leaders and wielders of this force. I look forward to working with them and creating some really exciting work on some of our biggest brands.”

     

    Menaka Menon
    Menaka Menon

    Commenting on her new role, Menon added: “DDB Mudra Group is at an exciting juncture, having created beautiful and impactful work, with a clear focus on building on the same. I look forward to being part of a stellar team working towards a shared mission and bringing in a fresh perspective to work.”

     

    Pradhan said: “The vision of making DDB Mudra, the integrated agency of choice in the industry is something that inspired me to take up the South creative mandate. The Bengaluru office has recently proven its intent to push creative boundaries with mainline campaigns on BGMI and Indeed. And given the vast portfolio of brands that it has across categories, I’m quite excited to partner the team in its new phase of growth, where creativity will have a more central role to play.”

     

  • The film 'Yeh Kaun Sa Fest Hai Bhai' celebrates the power of social media

    DDB Mudra joins Shoojit Sircar for digital film

    By Our Staff

     

    Directed by filmmaker Shoojit Sircar and conceptualised by DDB Mudra Group, the digital film ‘Yeh Kaun Sa Fest Hai Bhai’ highlights how Meta’s (formerly Facebook) apps – Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram help people and communities progress. It is part of Meta’s ongoing ‘Where can’t we go together’ campaign that started earlier this year.

     

    Speaking on the launch of the campaign, Director Shoojit Sircar said: “Certain moments of one’s youth remain as memories across a lifetime. Organizing a college festival with friends is one such experience and that is what resonated with me when I first read the script. Pallavi Chakravarti and Neeraj Kanitkar; the creatives and I jammed on how we can capture that unfettered spirit of youth – an almost child-like belief in the ability to achieve anything, together – through this film. While filming, my constant brief to the bunch of young and enthusiastic actors was to keep alive a strong, serious desire to make the festival a success despite all the ups and downs, and it is that youthful innocence that we have tried to encapsulate through this film. I am thankful that the team  has decided to play the long version, which I believe captures in entirety the essence of the film.”

     

    Elaborating on the concept, Pallavi Chakravarti, Creative Head – West, DDB Mudra Group said: “For the team working on this project it was above all, a trip down memory lane. We thought back to how organising college festivals and participating in them had been integral to our formative years – how it made us network, connect with people (sometimes for life), made leaders out of the most reticent among us and brought our talents to the fore. Imagine if we had been powered by social media back then…imagine what the same passion, the same ambition and the same curiosity could have led to, had Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp been the wind beneath our wings. The result of this nostalgic journey is a classic underdog story that we hope will make you as happy as it did us.”

     

  • For Season 2 of the rap/hip-hop reality show

    DDB Mudra joins MTV Hustle to launch first AI-powered rapper

    By Our Staff

     

    DDB Mudra Group has partnered with MTV Hustle 2.0, a rap/hip-hop reality show, to launch ‘BotHard’ – an AI-powered rapper. The campaign offers a unique tech innovation and consumer engagement experience. It is conceptualised by the DDB Mudra Group.

     

    Speaking on the initiative, Anshul Ailawadi, Head – Youth, Music and English Entertainment cluster, Viacom18, said: “MTV has always been about bold visions and big moves. ‘BotHard’ is an example of disruptive, transmedia storytelling that complements the raison d’être for Realme MTV Hustle 2.0. With this initiative, we hope to redefine the consumer experience for our Gen-Z and millennial fans.”

     

    Added Utsav Chaudhuri, Marketing Head – Youth, Music, and English Entertainment, Viacom18: “At MTV, we focus on strategic and innovative experiences across multiple youth touch-points. We are at the cusp of exciting possibilities with AI to drive narratives, recall value and immersive consumer engagement. With the confluence of avant-garde technology and a multi-platform approach we developed ‘BotHard’, a first-of-its-kind AI-powered rapper, to further put the spotlight on real, unmatched talent curated by Realme MTV Hustle 2.0.”

     

    Speaking on the campaign, Rahul Mathew, Chief Creative Officer, DDB Mudra Group said: “While this idea is built on cutting-edge technology, the most exciting part for us was how true it had to stay to hip-hop culture for it to be accepted by the audience. It lives at the right intersection of culture, creativity, and technology.”

     

  • He will report to Pallavi Chakravarti, Creative Head – West, DDB Mudra

    DDB Mudra appoints Manish Darji as Head of Art – West

    By Our Staff

     

    Manish Darji
    Manish Darji

    DDB Mudra Group has announced the appointment of Manish Darji as Head of Art – West. In his new role, Darji will lead the design mandate for the agency’s west office and will report to Pallavi Chakravarti, Creative Head – West, DDB Mudra.

     

    Pallavi Chakravarti

    Speaking on his appointment, Chakravarti said: “It is impossible to look at a piece Manish has worked on and not be wowed. His passion for craft and grasp of distinctive visual languages are skills sorely needed in this day and age. We’re delighted to have him on board to further the creative vision for DDB Mudra West.”

     

    Added Darji: “Bill Bernbach was the first to put Art and Copy on the same floor, back in the 60s, and that’s been the model for all agencies ever since. With it comes the opportunity to let craft shine as we pursue our promise of Unexpected Works. I am truly excited to be on this ride,” A celebrated name in the creative sphere, Darji’s work has been recognised at some of the biggest creative forums including Cannes Lions, Spikes Asia, One Show, D&AD, LIA, and Kyoorius.

     

  • To lead creative at the agency

    22feet Tribal Worldwide appoints Vishnu Srivatsav as NCD

    By Our Staff

     

    22feet Tribal Worldwide has announced the appointment of Vishnu Srivatsav as National Creative Director. Prior to this, he was Creative Head of DDB Mudra’s South office. Srivatsav will take over from Debashish Ghosh, the former NCD at 22feet Tribal Worldwide, and will continue to report to Rahul Mathew, Chief Creative Officer, DDB Mudra Group.

     

    Rahul Mathew
    Rahul Mathew

    Said Mathew: “Vishnu has been a great partner to the organisation in our pursuit of creative excellence. He recently led our South office to one of our best years creatively. I look forward to him taking this momentum and his infectious energy into the exciting opportunity at 22feet.”

     

    Preetham Venkky

    Added Preetham Venkky, President, 22feet Tribal Worldwide: “Vishnu has always been a huge source of inspiration for the creative team at 22feet. His grasp on culture, specifically internet culture, is arguably the best in the country, and established through his work over the years. We are super excited to have him come aboard, to inspire, shape and establish the culture of excellent creative work for our clients.”

     

  • DDB Mudra Group has announced the elevation of Vanaja Pillai as the company’s Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Impact

    Vanaja Pillai to head diversity, inclusion & impact at DDB Mudra

     

     

    Vanaja Pillai
    Vanaja Pillai

    In her expanded role, Pillai will work closely with CEO and MD Aditya Kanthy and HR head Rita Verma on initiatives to grow a diverse and inclusive workplace, including talent acquisition, retention, training and outreach to talent in underrepresented communities.

     

    Said Kanthy: “If we don’t change, we’re done. To compete in our times, we need to take a critical view of every aspect of our business. Our approach to talent and culture included. There is much to do in this area, and Vanaja is just the right person to lead us to success. Besides being a stellar leader, having run operating roles in the agency business with flair and distinction, Vanaja has over the last two years built one of the industry’s best run diversity programs – the Phyllis India Project. This work with the Group’s effort as a global network to bring in diverse voices to help shape workplace culture and brand communication of the future.”

     

    On the appointment Nikki Lamba, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, DDB Worldwide said: “Vanaja’s work on the Phyllis India program has been applauded across DDB’s borders and is a brilliant example of senior leadership driving actionable change in advancing DEI within the DDB family. We are excited about her taking on this larger mandate and bringing DEI to the heart of our business, people and product strategies in India. There is a lot of good work happening already in parts of the DDB network that India will surely build off and gain from.”

     

    Speaking on her deeper role, Pillai added: “It has been an exhilarating journey, from the intent of creating an India chapter for the Phyllis Project, to having the first batch graduate last week. The bar has been set high for every challenge we pick up from hereon. Over the next year we will focus on a select set of DEI goals and approach them with the same rigour and passion that made the Phyllis India Project what it is today. From an overall talent perspective, the pandemic made us even more aware of the need for constantly focusing on people and their growth. We hope to make some of our talent programs world-class this year.”

     

  • To lead cohesive view across advertising, digital marketing and media

    DDB Mudra Group names Anand Murty and Mehak Jaini as Strategy Chiefs

    By Our Staff

     

    DDB Mudra Group has announced Anand Murty and Mehak Jaini as the Strategy Chiefs of DDB Mudra and 22feet Tribal Worldwide respectively. They will lead the group’s promise of a cohesive view across advertising, digital marketing and media. The company’s unique structure offers strategists an opportunity to shape and track the entire consumer journey. Their teams will marry the fundamentals of brand planning – a deep understanding of culture and consumers – with the demands of digital transformation for some of India’s most respected and fastest growing brands.

     

    Speaking of this change of guard, Aditya Kanthy, CEO & MD, DDB Mudra Group said: “We’re so excited about Anand and Mehak taking charge of the strategy department at the Group. They are the key to the kind of success we want to create for our people and clients. From brilliant creative work and beautiful, seamless experiences through to measured and disproportionate brand and business growth – the strategists are at the heart of the action here.  While one part of the task is to bring changes to the ways of traditional marketers, equally, they will help bring the basics of brand building and consumer thinking to help set a foundation for long-term sustainable growth for digitally forward companies.”

     

     

  • Bags 2 Grand Prixs, 3 Golds, 5 Silvers and 5 Bronzes

    DDB Mudra wins ‘Asia Pacific Agency of the Year’ title at Spikes Asia 2022

    By Our Staff

     

    DDB Mudra Group announces its win as ‘Asia Pacific Agency of the Year’ title at Spikes Asia 2022. It is the first Indian agency to win this award. With its spectacular performance at Spikes Asia 2022, DDB Mudra Group has been named ‘Spikes Asia Agency of the Year’ along with ‘India’s Agency of the Year’.

     

    The recognition comes on the back of the Group’s ‘Unexpected Works’ positioning, which reflected in its work on McDonald’s ‘EatQual’ (1 Grand Prix, 1 Gold, 3 Silvers, 1 Bronze) Battlegrounds Mobile India’s ‘Machine Gun Mouth’ (1 Gold, 1 Silver, 3 Bronzes), ‘Daughter’s Day’ for Stayfree (1 Silver) and ‘Red Notice Shop’ for Netflix (1 Bronze).

     

    The group shared a Grand Prix and a Gold with its production partner Early Man Film for BGMI’s ‘Machine Gun Mouth’ in the Film Craft category. With this, Early Man Film has also become the first Indian Production House to win the coveted Spikes Palm Award.

     

    Talking about the performance, Rahul Mathew, Chief Creative Officer, DDB Mudra Group said: “When Aditya (CEO & MD) and I took on our roles, we had a very simple goal – to build a creative company that’s respected in every forum; be it clients, talent, platforms such as Spikes Asia and the industry at large. Over the last four years, we’ve worked towards it by building creativity into our core. To become the first agency from India to win Agency of the Year at Spikes showcases this belief.”

     

  • To help women, non-binary individuals back into the workforce

    DDB Mudra joins hands with Creative Equals

    By Our Staff

     

    Creative Equals, a UK-based non-profit global inclusion consultancy, has launched #CreativeComeback in India. With successful editions in London and New York, the programme starts with Mumbai to help women, non-binary and gender non-conforming individuals, who’ve taken a career break come back into the workforce. This two-week bootcamp aims to destigmatize career gaps and turn them into an advantage by retraining this creative talent. In association with D&AD as training partners and Diageo, a brand committed to gender equality, the mission is to #BreakTheBias in advertising creative departments of art, copy and design. DDB Mudra Group will provide mentoring support and potential job opportunities to participants at the end of the program.

     

    Said Deepika Warrier, CMO Diageo India: “At Diageo, inclusion and diversity is central to our purpose of celebrating life, every day, everywhere and we’re committed to creating a working culture in which our people feel like they belong and can bring their authentic selves to work. Today for example, 22% of Diageo India’s overall workforce (as against 7.5% in 2015), 4 of 8 executives in the Excom are women. In our brand & creative side, over 45% of our content work has been led, directed or portrayed by women creators, and over 10% of our work by creators on the gender identity spectrum. We will continue this focus on gender equality and equity throughout the globe, specifically at the creative table, as we know gender equality makes for better, more representative advertising. We know women ‘are 11 times more likely to not work after COVID job loss,’ (The Times Of India, 2021) & also step out during certain life stages and then find it difficult to hit their stride when they return. This is particularly true of the creative industry sector. Creative Comeback helps the industry #BreakTheBias by changing the view on CV gaps to being ‘gifts’. We know when women take a career break, their life experiences bring them back with a deeper perspective.”

     

    Speaking about how Creative Equals’ mission and actions resonate with their own, Aditya Kanthy, CEO & MD, DDB Mudra Group added: “A lot of the work we have been doing at the DDB Mudra Group aligns perfectly with Creative Equals’ mission. Through the Phyllis India Project we are training women to take on leadership roles and lead creative mandates for the company and the industry. Over 20 women, some of whom are our most talented creative voices, have been through this project. Similarly, the Open Pride initiative is directed at promoting a fair representation of the LGBTQIA+ community at DDB, and also in the creative work we produce. DDB Transit is India’s first internship program for trans individuals, that we have been supporting since last year.”

     

  • To drive the creative output from the North office

    DDB Mudra elevates Iraj Fraz Batla to Creative Head- North

    By Our Staff

     

    Iraj Fraz Batla
    Iraj Fraz Batla

    In order to strengthen its creative leadership structure, DDB Mudra has elevated Iraj Fraz Batla to the position of Creative Head – North. In his new role, Fraz will drive the creative output from the North office under the leadership of Rahul Mathew, Chief Creative Officer, DDB Mudra Group.

     

    Rahul Mathew
    Rahul Mathew

    Speaking on Fraz’s new role, Rahul Mathew said, “As we grow our creative ambition and reputation, it’s critical for us to have leaders who possess the same vision and standards across the Group. Having worked with us at our hugely celebrated West office for 3 years, Fraz is just the person to carry forward our torch for creative excellence. His blend of creativity and resilience will surely help us reach our creative potential in North and touch even greater heights as a Group.”

     

    Talking about his new mandate, Fraz said, “DDB Mudra’s North office is producing strong advertising and is headed in the direction to be the agency of the future. And I’m lucky to be part of this exciting phase. From here on, may the best work win.”

     

     

  • To nurture and empower a community of women leaders in the company

    DDB Mudra launches gender equity in leadership project

    By Our Staff

     

    In a bid to create a more gender-balanced company, the DDB Mudra Group has launched ‘The Phyllis India Project’, a year-long mentorship programmed to enable and encourage women to thrive in leadership roles and drive professional growth.

     

    Said Aditya Kanthy, CEO & MD, DDB Mudra Group: “Gender gaps influence the society, culture, economy and the way in which we shape our world for the next generation. Supporting the advancement of women and non-binary individuals by addressing the challenges they face is a global priority for the Group, and we in India have taken it very seriously. It’s inspiring to watch the participants of the Phyllis program grow personally and professionally, take on new roles, and steer the company towards a future with unbound potential. Leaders like Mehak Jaini who now heads Strategy at 22feet Tribal WW, and Sharon Misra who is now leading Exxon Mobil’s business, are great examples of how the program enables and empowers women to lead the biggest businesses in the market. Our notable alumni from this global programme include Shagun Seda, Marketing Director at Netflix, and Sonal Jhuj who leads Global Brand Strategy at Lego Global.”

     

    Added Rita Verma, Executive Vice President and Head-HR, DDB Mudra Group. “At DDB, we know that better product and cultures emerge from diverse and inclusive teams. That’s why initiatives like The Phyllis Project are at the heart of our people strategy. We hope to learn and strengthen our current efforts from the UNWEP network, which is yet another step in making a deeper, meaningful impact. This impact drives culture, company policies, business, and gender parity at work and at home.”