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Tag: direct marketing association

  • Over 70 brands and their agencies from India competed to get to the coveted International Echo. Eight of 90 Indian entries won awards: OgilvyOne with five wins, M&C Saatchi with two and Netcore with one win

    Big news for Datawallahs as India wins 8 Echo awards

    By A Correspondent

     

    Eight Indian entries came back with honours at the 2013 International Echo Awards organised by the Direct Marketing Association in Chicago on Wednesday (Oct 16). There were 90 entries from India competing for the awards.

     

    The DMA International Echo Awards Competition honours the world’s best response marketing campaigns – campaigns that have raised the bar in terms of strategy, creativity and results. No other awards competition looks at the response marketing discipline in such totality.

     

    Speaking on the occasion from the awards gala night, Vatsal Asher, CEO, DMAi, the Indian affiliate of the DMA, said, “We at DMAi are proud to have provided an international recognition platform and extremely excited to host our winning teams from India. Industry experts from across the world are sharing their thoughts and acknowledging the skills and the expertise being brought forward by the Indian Teams. Today’s wins should motivate more Indian agencies to step forward.”

     

    On this recognition, Ajay Chandwani, Director Percept Ltd and Chair of the DMAi India Echo Awards said, “Echo is a fitting recognition to the cause of  result-oriented creativity in direct marketing. With the world increasingly measuring ROI and effectiveness in every campaign, Echo rewards those direct marketing campaigns that delivered maximum impact in one to one communication in creativity and results. DMAi Awards with Echo are proud to have laid the platform for result driven marketing campaigns to be celebrated at the domestic level. We are grateful to all those who participated and congratulations to the winning agencies. Creativity in direct marketing has truly come of age in India”, said Mr Chandwani.

     

    Speaking on the occasion, Rakhshin Patel, Partner M&C Saatchi whose agency brought two International Echos home said, “Over the years, I have judged some stunningly creative, yet effective, work in India and I have always believed that India has the talent to not just match up to the world’s best direct marketing standards, but in certain cases actually set the benchmark. This year, with India winning eight metals at the DMA Echos, it validates my belief that our industry has the talent to produce world beating creative work in the data driven marketing field. This recognition is a huge step forward for Direct Marketing in India and I congratulate the winning creative teams and their marketing partners for helping to propel India forward on the global direct marketing stage.”

     

    Commenting on this remarkable achievement, said Vikram Menon, President and Country Head (India) of OgilvyOne Worldwide that bagged five wins, said “Eight metals at one of the toughest effectiveness shows in the world is terrific for India and the entire direct marketing community should be immensely proud. What makes this tally so much more rewarding is that it puts us right on top with the very best in the world. Considering the parameters for judging, these wins belong as much to marketing teams as they do to the communication teams and my heartiest congratulations to everyone involved. This is just the sort of impetus we need to further the cause of creatively driven data inspired marketing and DMA India.”

     

    Winners have been selected from 12 business categories: automotive; business and consumer services; communications and utilities; financial products and services; information technologies; insurance; nonprofits; pharmaceutical and healthcare; product manufacturing and distribution; publishing and entertainment; retail and direct sales; and travel and hospitality/transportation.

     

  • Direct Marketing Association: India has appointed Mr Vatsal Asher as its Chief Executive Officer.

    Vatsal Asher is DMA chief

    By A Correspondent

    Direct Marketing Association: India has appointed Mr Vatsal Asher as its Chief Executive Officer. In his new role at DMA: India, Mr Asher will be responsible for strengthening DMA: India’s presence as an apex body for advocacy of direct marketing practices.

    On his new role, Mr Asher said, “With multitude of choices, Indian consumers are becoming more discerning about their brand preferences and where they spend money. Considering this consumer behavior and the increasing media clutter, it is imperative for marketers to create data driven customer centric campaigns. From traditionally being defined as ‘response generating’ domain, direct marketing is now used for ongoing customer engagement. By emphasizing on global best practices for marketing services providers and marketers, I aim to carry forward DMA: India’s vision of establishing industry standards and promote the direct marketing community.”

    Mr Sanjiv Swarup, Member of DMA: India Board of Directors, said, “In 2010 spends on direct marketing accounted for more than 50 percent of overall ad spends in the United States. Similar trend is also witnessed in India where marketers using data, backed with analytics are focusing on creating campaigns that generate interest, measure customer response and continuously engage with their customers. Considering this trend, onus is on us at DMA: India to increase member interaction and provide them with access to the latest information in domain of direct marketing. Vatsal’s depth of experience will help drive our agenda to advocate direct marketing and provide networking opportunities that will help the marketing industry to reach the customers more effectively.”

    Direct marketing has gained immense popularity in past few years with emphasis not just being laid on measuring the returns on marketing spends but also campaigns being created to initiate a dialogue with the customer. With advent of new media and innovative usage of technology to engage with customers, spends on direct marketing have also increased significantly.

    Mr Asher was associated with Deepak Fertilisers’ consumer facing VARE division as Vice President before joining DMA: India. Prior to Deepak Fertilisers, Vatsal has worked with Reliance Retail, Tata Teleservices and RPG group.

    He brings with him more than 15 years of rich and varied experience in domain of marketing communications across brand management, sales and promotions, loyalty and customer experience.

    Direct Marketing Association: India (DMA: India) is registered as a public limited company and has been adjudged as a non-profit organization. DMA: India is an active member of the International Federation of Direct Marketing Association (IFDMA). DMA: India’s members include national and international firms engaged in various activities of Direct Marketing. DMA: India connects businesses using and supporting all forms of direct marketing.