MxMIndia

Tag: DDB MudraMax

  • Amita was last with Samsung where she led their Media Marketing function

    DDB MudraMax appoints Amita Karwal as EVP

    By a correspondent

     

    DDB MudraMax Media has roped in Amita Karwal as Executive Vice President to head its North & East Operations. Amita was last with Samsung where she led their Media Marketing function.

     

    Amita, with over two decades of diverse experience across media marketing functions and allied areas, has worked with blue chip organizations including Reckitt Benckiser where she not only led the Media Marketing division but also represented South West Asia at Global media forums. On the agency side, Amita has worked with Lintas, Zenith Optimedia (ZO) and Ogilvy on brands such as HP, Gillette, Wrigley’s (Joyco), Modi Xerox to name a few.

     

    Sathyamurthy Namakkal

    In an allied area, she’s also had a couple of  years of experience in Media Auditing with Spatial Access and the Global agency R3 where she set up the first-of-its-kind Auditing practice in Delhi, and also launched the first Agency Image study in India.

     

    Sathyamurthy Namakkal, President, DDB MudraMax – Media, said, “In an era when the media profession requires well rounded talent, Amita fits the role perfectly. Both our clients and our teams will immensely benefit from her induction into the DDB team.”

     

     

  • The OBD team has effectively registered 40,000 first time youth voters to exercise their fundamental right

    DDB MudraMax’s OBD attracts 40,000 first time youth voters

    By a correspondent

     

    Since taking flight about six months ago, Operation Black Dot, an initiative by DDB MudraMax and Thincquisitive Foundation to help make voting easy, engaging and fun for the urban youth, has managed to successfully bring about a shift in the way youth looked at voting. By breaking down politics and making it more engaging and inclusive, the OBD team has effectively registered 40,000 first time youth voters to exercise their fundamental right.

     

    The aim was to present conventional political discourse in a format which interests below 25 age group as well as explain important political events/facts. At one level the team worked in 60 campuses across the city, helping students make their voter IDs by use of cutting edge technology to quicken the process and at another also conducting such engagements to generate awareness leading up to the 2014 General Elections.

     

    Pratap Bose

    Pratap Bose, COO, DDB Mudra Group, “The whole concept of “voting” has always been looked as an activity that is to be addressed and taken upon by the older generation. While it is the youth of our country who are going to play a significant role in building the Indian economy and tend to the future of our nation. It was hence important for us to not only change the face of voting, to make it appealing to the youth, but also provide guidance, help them understand the nature of politics and also reiterate the fact that they can make a difference.”

     

     

    Samyak Chakrabarty

    Samyak Chakrabarty, Founder of Operation Black Dot & Chief Youth Marketer, DDB Mudra Group said, “Operation Black Dot has been able to successfully convey that political discourse does not always have to be conventional and can be disseminated in a format which appeals to the younger generation. From putting Member of Parliaments on a bean bag at youth hangouts to catchy videos on complex parliamentary affairs, we are making an attempt to bridge the gap between policy makers and young citizens. Going forward, our intent is to continue this movement and find more innovative methods to keep young India engaged with political affairs.”

     

  • The conference will deal with issues concerning marketing to captive audiences in environments like malls, multiplexes, airports and live events

    Captive audience marketing ‘bootcamp’ by Eventfaqs on Feb 6

    By A Correspondent

     

    Experiential marketing specialists Eventfaqs is conducting a conference on ‘captive audience marketing’ on February 6 in Mumbai. Called the Brand Experience Bootcamp, the day-long even includes three panel discussions and an equal number of presentations and workshops (*See Disclosure).

     

    The conference strives to enhance the understanding and be a platform for knowledge-sharing in marketing to captive audiences in environments like malls, multiplexes, airports and live events, notes a communique.

     

    Presented by LIVE Viacom 18 and powered by Phoenix Market City, DDB MudraMax is knowledge partner to the conference. Speaking about the platform, and also marketing to captive audiences, Mandeep Malhotra,  President, DDB MudraMax, said: “In the absence of formal training institutes for experiential marketing, this ‘bootcamp’ will help to share experiences of expert who consume and work in the experiential marketing space. The speakers bring with them real expertise and I look forward to learn and also share my experience with the delegation. Together, we will grow better!”

     

    Commenting on captive audience marketing and Live Viacom 18’s association with the Brand Experience Bootcamp, Jaideep Singh, Senior Vice President and Business Head – INS, Viacom18, said: “As curators of live experiences, Live Viacom18 presents this opportunity and is delighted to associate with the ‘Brand Experience Bootcamp’.”

     

    Sessions at the ‘bootcamp’, will range from a keynote by veteran mediaperson Dr Bhaskar Das on ‘Dis-engage to Engage’, panel discussions on: ‘Decoding captive Space’; ‘Marketing to youth’ in such environments and a debate on ‘Sales v/s Brand Experience’. There will also be case study presentations on topics including, ‘Brand Experience Design’; ‘Digital integration in Brand Experience’ and ‘International trends in Captive Audience Marketing’.

     

    Some speakers at the conference include G Sharath Chandra, Chief Revenue Officer, Times OOHl Siddharth Roy, COO, Hungama; Rajiv Mehta, MD, Puma- South Asia; Prem Kamath, Executive VP and GM, Channel V; Akshay Mehrotra, CMO, Big Bazar; Ashish Mishra, MD, Interbrand; Nick Hill, Director of Sales, SpaceandPeople – UK; Rajendra Kalkar, Sr. Centre Director, The Phoenix Mills; Deepa Thomas, Head- Corporate Communications, eBay and Varun Duggirala, The Glitch amongst others. More updates at eventfaqs.com/brandexp

     

    The associate sponsor to the event is SpaceandPeople while the creative partner is Skarma. Design destination Kyoorius is community partner.

     

    (*Disclosure: MxMIndia is a media partner of the Brand Experience Bootcamp)

     

  • While Rohit Samarth will report to Mandeep Malhotra, President, DDB MudraMax, Alvin D'souza, Subhashish Sarkar and Amit Singh, who have been elevated to Head, Experiential – West, North and East, respectively, will be reporting to him

    Rohit Samarth to head experential at DDB MudraMax

    By A Correspondent

     

    Rohit Samarth

    Rohit Samarth has been elevated to Head – DDB MudraMax, Experiential with effect from January 1. He will report to Mandeep Malhotra, President, DDB MudraMax.

     

    Mr Samarth had joined DDB MudraMax in April 2012 as Senior Vice President, Terra, its rural marketing agency, in April 2012. In his new role, he will be incharge of the agency’s experiential campaigns, nationally.

     

    Meanwhile, Alvin D’souza, Subhashish Sarkar and Amit Singh, who have been elevated to Head, Experiential – West, North and East, respectively, will be working under the guidance of Rohit.

     

    Mandeep Malhotra

    Commenting on this new appointment, Mr Malhotra said, “Rohit has shown passion, hunger and discipline in his current role. Will be looking forward for him making all three infectious in his extended team.”

     

    Commenting on his elevation, Mr Samarth said: “It is my sincere belief that DDB Mudra Max’s experiential division, which is already a great force to reckon with in the experiential business, will grow to be one of the most competent and respected experiential communication solutions agencies over the next two years.”

     

  • DDB MudraMax bags the next OOH Campaign from South African Tourism

    South African Tourism appoints MudraMax to get people flying

    By A Correspondent

     

    South African Tourism has appointed DDB MudraMax as its outdoor advertising partner in the tourism board’s destination brand building efforts in India. The agency will be responsible for the 2013 -14 campaign which goes live in January 2014.

     

    As many as 12 leading creative and media buying agencies were part of the pitch which saw them presenting a pitch post a comprehensive campaign brief being presented to them in July.

     

    Commenting on the announcement, Hanneli Slabber, Country Manager, South African Tourism said,” Given the importance of the Indian market in our global tourism growth strategy, we were scouting for an agency that showcases the best understanding of South Africa as a holiday destination. DDB MudraMax was declared the winner as they provided the most innovative and compelling ideas in addition to showcasing their team strength and expertise that can support South African Tourism’s brand building and marketing requirements across our key markets and audiences.”

     

    Mandeep Malhotra

    Said Mandeep Malhotra, President, DDB MudraMax – OOH, Experiential and Retail: “I’m extremely happy to be partnering with South Africa Tourism to help promote their tourism plans and expand their strategy to the outdoor market, in India.”

     

  • DDB MudraMax has 17 awards at the recently concluded Outdoor Advertising Awards 2013

    DDB MudraMax sweeps OAA outdoor awards

    By A Correspondent

     

    DDB MudraMax has bagged 17 awards including the coveted ‘Campaign of the Year’ and ‘Innovation of the Year’ titles at the recently concluded Outdoor Advertising Awards 2013 held in Goa.

     

    The Campaign of the Year title was given to Volkswagen’s  campaign titled ‘Post-It’ and the campaign for Adventure 18 titled ‘Window Washers’ bagged the Innovation of the Year.

     

    Commenting on the win of 8 Gold, 5 Silver and 4 Bronze awards, Pratap Bose, COO, DDB Mudra Group, said, “It’s a great result for the brave clients that we work with and a great thumbs up for the best Out of Home team in the country.”

     

    Information not verified as MxMIndia was not invited to the awards

     

  • The objective was to popularize Red FM Delhi's evening show host RJ Raunac's character Bauaa through an OOH medium

    Red FM & DDB MudraMax brings ‘Bauaa Hawa Mein’ on ground

    By A Correspondent

     

    Take an RJ, his on-air prankster alter-ego Bauaa, a wish to connect the RJ directly with his audience, DDB Mudra Max – and you have Bauaa Hawa Mein, a series of live radio shows by 93.5 Red FM from studios fabricated on billboards.

     

    The objective was to popularize Red FM Delhi’s evening show host RJ Raunac’s character Bauaa through an OOH medium that allowed for live performance and face-to-face interaction with the audience and fans. The idea was to have Bauaa seen, and not just heard. With the DDB MudraMax innovation, the execution was literally from up in the air.

     

    To connect to the listener, live studios were set up at three different locations of the NCR. RJ Raunac along with the Bhagra Pop Singer Daler Mehendi did the entire show live from a radio booth mounted on a billboard at Rajouri Garden on January 29. Similar shows were conducted from unipoles in Noida on February 1 and Gurgaon on February 6.

     

    Nisha Narayanan
    Mandeep Malhotra

    Commenting on the campaign, Nisha Narayanan, Senior VP – Projects and Programming, 93.5 Red FM, said, “We always strive to think different and innovate to connect with our listeners. Thus, it is our constant endeavour to set higher standards of radio programming. Initiatives like Bauaa Hawa Mein help in bringing the brand and our jocks closer to the listeners.”

     

    Commenting on the campaign, Mandeep Malhotra President, DDB MudraMax, said, “It’s always a wonderful feeling to take up challenging assignments and deliver clutter-breaking work for any media brand.”

     

  • Mr Trikha was earlier AGM, Marketing Communication at Sistema Shyam Teleservices (MTS)

    DDB MudraMax appoints Deepak Trikha as VP, Experiential

    By A Correspondent

     

    DDB MudraMax has roped in Deepak Trikha as VP, Experiential. Mr Trikha will be based out of Delhi and will report to Mandeep Malhotra, President, DDB MudraMax.

     

    Mr Trikha joins DDB MudraMax’s experiential team from Sistema Shyam Teleservices (MTS), where he was AGM, Marketing Communication, responsible for strategy and execution of 360 degree marketing campaigns for MTS’s telecom products and services. He started his career with Kidstuff, DDB MudraMax’s Promotional & Events unit, and then moved to Encompass as AVP where he served for six years. With over a decade of experience in the field of marketing, he has worked with some world renowned MNCs such as Ford, Britannia, World Space, Toyota, Sony, Hewlett Packard and Nokia among others.

     

    Mandeep Malhotra

    Commenting on this new appointment, Mandeep Malhotra, President, DDB MudraMax, said, “I am really glad to welcome Deepak in my team. He comes with a lot of experience in the business. I strongly feel he will complete the dots for a constellation in our Delhi office of glittering stars. Looking forward to a great innings with DDB MudraMax. My advice to him is stay hungry, as I strongly believe Delhi has a lot to offer.”

     

    Mr Trikha said, “I am very excited to be part of the DDB Mudra Group family which is India’s largest Integrated Marketing Communications entity. Creativity and customer centricity being the driving factor to run its business. The DDB Mudra Group is well poised to take up the market leadership position in the field of brand and marketing communications. I am delighted to be a part of this passionate and highly spirited team and looking forward to play a pivotal role in achieving greater milestones in times to come.”

     

  • DDB MudraMax has been appointed as the sole media planning and buying partner for Jyothy Laboratories Limited (JLL). The consolidation will be effective from March 2013

    DDB MudraMax Media wins Jyothy Laboratories

    By A Correspondent

     

    DDB MudraMax has been appointed as the sole media planning and buying partner for Jyothy Laboratories Limited (JLL).

     

    Currently, DDB MudraMax is the planning partner and BPN (of IPG Media Brands Network) is responsible for the media buying, implementation across all brands of JLL brands.

     

    Speaking on the decision to consolidate its business with DDB MudraMax, JLL’s CEO Raghunandan said, “Our belief is that consolidation with one agency partner will enable us to maximise efficiencies and effectiveness of our marketing investments. Basis our experience with DDB MudraMax and their potential to offer end to end solutions, we have decided to put all our eggs into one basket. We are confident that they will do their job well.”

     

    Sathyamurthy NP

    Sathyamurthy NP, President, DDB MudraMax said, “It is always a delight to work with the JLL team and we are glad they have reaffirmed their confidence in DDB MudraMax, through this consolidation. JLL is poised to further fortify their brands in the next few years and we are glad to be their partners in this challenging and exciting journey. We are ready to roll and I am sure that you will see some great work from the team.”

     

    Pratap Bose, COO, DDB Mudra Group added, “My brief to the team is simple – deliver and demonstrate, once again, that we are a formidable force to reckon with. All the stake holders will benefit from this consolidation, I am confident.”

     

    Pratap Bose

    This consolidation will be effective from March 2013 and industry sources peg the JLL portfolio of business in the vicinity of Rs 100 crore.

     

  • The DDB Mudra Group firm sets up shop with a big client in the bag

    With Mahindra in tow, Interbrand begins India ops on a high

    By A Correspondent

     

    This February-end will mark the completion of a year since the unveiling of a new structure and brand identity by creative hotshop DDB Mudra Group in India. As part of the slew of changes that were planned for the network in India, the management had announced that the network would comprise of eight key agencies as under: DDB Mudra, DDB MudraMax, Mudra, DDB Health & Lifestyle, RAPP, Tribal DDB India, Water and Maatra.

     

    While plenty was reported and written about the performance of the creative, out-of-home, experiential and other units within the group in the past one year, one unit that preferred to stay away from the limelight was Water, the brand consultancy specialist that was rebranded Interbrand India at the time of restructuring. But that is until now. Interbrand India seems to have finally found its footing in the country as it announced the take-off of its operations in India.

     

    Formed by the transition of Water, the brand strategy and design consultancy of DDB Mudra Group, to Interbrand, Interbrand India will offer Interbrand’s complete suite of brand consulting services including brand strategy, audit/evaluation, design, brand management and verbal identity. The operation will continue to be located in Mumbai.

     

    A communique issued to media stated the following: “Joining a client roster that includes Tata and Godrej, Interbrand India is pleased to announce that it has begun consulting for the Mahindra Group. Mahindra, one of the more progressive Indian brands, is looking to establish itself as one of the world’s most valuable brands and as part of the journey has engaged Interbrand on an extensive brand valuation project. The Interbrand offices in Mumbai & London will carry out the assignment.”

     

    “India is one of the most exciting markets in the world for brands today, said Jez Frampton, Global CEO of Interbrand. “We are extremely pleased to have Ashish Mishra and his team join the Interbrand family and to mark the occasion with the start of a relationship with Mahindra, one of India’s most prestigious brands.”

     

    Commenting on joining Interbrand, Ashish Mishra, Managing Director, Interbrand India said, “We want Indian companies to realize that brands are not mere logos or slogans but rank among the most important assets a business owns. Mr. Mishra continued, “As the world’s leading brand consulting firm, our task, quite simply, is to help the Best Indian Brands graduate to Best Global Brands.”

     

    Interbrand’s brand valuation methodology – the first of its kind to be ISO certified – analyzes the many ways a brand touches and benefits an organization, from driving bottom-line business results to delivering on customer expectations. The methodology has been leveraged to build value, inform strategic brand management, restructure and create business cases for investments for some of the best global brands.

     

  • Will the India-Pakistan cricket series live up to expectations? Or will advertisers and punters be disappointed? MxMIndia asks industrywallahs

    Indo-Pak series: Another historic thrash-a-thon?

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    Tensions of other sorts are usually forgotten when India and Pakistan meet on the cricket pitch. This time it is a battle of one-upmanship as the two countries are clashing after a gap of five years.

     

    While the Indo-Pak series of three ODIs and two T20s is a short tour, it is creating enough ripples among cricket-crazy fans. What makes it more enthralling is the fact that India had beaten Pakistan in both formats of the game the last time they landed here during the 2007-08 tour. Of the three Tests that the two played against each other, India won the series 1-0, having drawn the remaining two. As for the ODIs, it was a 3-2 victory in favour of India that did the country proud.

     

    While it was Saurav Ganguly who was at his superlative best in the Test series that enabled India to take the lead, it was the young Yuvraj Singh who shone with the bat in the ODI format, making him earn the prestigious man-of-the-series award.

     

    Going by speculation doing the rounds, for broadcaster ESPN-Star the tournament was a success even before it took off. According to some reports, the channel has managed to sell out maximum inventory at two to three times (totalling more than Rs 1.5 billion) the rate compared to the just concluded India-England series. This augurs well for the network given that it has to pay Rs 322.5 million per match for the five match series.

     

    Sanjay Kailash

    To a query from MxMIndia, Sanjay Kailash, EVP, ESPN Software India Pvt Ltd, said, “We are delighted with the response from advertisers to the India-Pakistan series. India-Pakistan is always extremely sought after and the series therefore was sold at a premium. We have monetised India-Pakistan ODIs at a rate which is double as compared to the historical industry average. Even rates for India-Pakistan T20 are double than the most sought after T20 tournament in the country.”

     

     

     

    Anilkumar Sathiraju

    Sharing his excitement about the series, Anilkumar Sathiraju, AVP & Head, DDB MudraMax, Media, said that on the ratings front he expects the series to be a big hit. “It will be quite good. I am expecting it to be a positive and a good series. Ratings will definitely see a spike as it is India-Pakistan at the end of the day. The fact that a few advertisers are quite gung-ho about it makes it more exciting.”

     

     

     

    Divya Gupta

    Divya Gupta, CEO, Dentsu Media, too had some words of praise for the series irrespective of the fact that India had put up a drab performance in the recent past. She said, “An India-Pakistan series is in a realm of its own; evokes emotions, fervour and fever like none else. It doesn’t matter whatever Team India has achieved /not achieved in the recent past. It is a marquee game, event, media property that viewers and marketers and broadcasters are betting on; and deliver it will.”

     

     

    Anita Nayyar

    Giving a more detailed outlook on the series, Anita Nayyar, CEO, Havas Media India & South Asia, said the fact that the series is taking place after many years is in itself a great pull. “From a viewing perspective three of the five matches are scheduled on holidays which will help the cause of viewing. Also the ODIs start at 8pm-primetime making viewers more available. In fact, most India-Pakistan matches have delivered ratings in the range of 5-6. This series should do similar numbers; however, with TAM data not being available the deliveries will be guess estimates.”

     

    Ms Nayyar’s summation of the series is probably what will matter at the end of this historical sporting tie-up. “Ratings or no ratings, the competition between India and Pakistan has always generated huge interest for both viewers and advertisers, and is considered a safe investment. It is a good way to bid adieu to a tough year and a fine beginning to a new one.”

     

    If the first T20 encounter between the India and Pakistan in Bengaluru last evening (Dec 25) was any indication, the contest on field is going to be tough. While every match going down to the wire may not be good news for weak hearts, it’s sure to see ratings soar. And advertisers and broadcasters happy.

     

    Photograph: Fotocorp

     

  • The size of the account is pegged at Rs25 crores. The client will be handled out of the DDB MudraMax office in Bangalore

    DDB MudraMax wins media mandate for Kalyan Silks

    By A Correspondent

     

    Kalyan Silks, one of Kerala’s biggest brands, has aligned its media mandate with DDB MudraMax. The coveted pitch saw multiple agencies participating. The size of the account is pegged at Rs25 crores. The client will be handled out of the DDB MudraMax office inBangalore.

     

    Commenting on aligning the media duties with DDB MudraMax, TS Pattabhiraman (aka Swami), Chairman & Managing Director, Kalyan Silks, said: “We are very happy to associate with DDB MudraMax as they are a well reputed agency and extremely trustworthy. Their client relationship is commendable. Most of the clients they are associated with have been so for a long time, which acts as a clear indication of their efficiency.  We hope to have a mutual and fruitful association.”

     

    On winning the account, Gopi Nair, AVP & Head, DDB MudraMax said: “We are immensely pleased to work with Kalyan Silks, who are one of the top players in the fast growing retail industry. Our team is committed to show the same consistency and results that has kept most of our clients delighted.”