MxMIndia

Tag: FCB Group India

  • Leo Burnett, FCB, Zee shine on Day 2

    Leo Burnett, FCB, Zee shine on Day 2

    Photograph: Bossman Dheeraj Sinha with Team FCB bagging the Grand Prix in the Technology category

     

    On the second day of the Abby Awards held at Goafest 2024, Leo Burnett India was awarded the Specialist Agency of the Year title in four categories namely Technology, Direct, Mobile and Digital. FCB was declared the Public Relations and Design Specialist Agency of the Year and Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) bagged the Broadcaster of the Year.

     

    FCB Group India won the two Grand Prix. One for the #Lulumelon campaign for HDFC Bank in the Technology category for use of AI, and the other in Direct for for social awareness or charity causes for Stir Design Magazine’s Untangling The Politics Of Hair campaign.

     

    In the Technology category, Leo Burnett India topped with won two silver and five bronze metals. While LBI got 36 points, FCB was second with 26 which included a Grand Prix. Hardcastle was third with 10 points.

     

    In Direct , Leo Burnett bagged 26 points with two silver and three bronze metals. Although FCB was awarded the Grand Prix in Direct, it was second with 20 points. Star India was in the third place with 8 points.

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    In Mobile category, Leo Burnett topped with 18 points – a gold, silver and a bronze, followed by Redbus. This was followed by Flipkart and Hardcastle – both at third place with 8 points each.

     

    In Digital category, Leo Burnett India topped the tally with 54 points – two golds, four silvers and two bronze metals. FCB Group India was second in this category at 32 points, and Redbus was third with 21 points.

     

    FCB topped in Design with two bronzes that earned them 10 points. Brave was second with 9 points and Creative Land Asia and Ebbxflo were a joint third with 6 points each.

     

    In Public Relations , as it happens internationally, more than PR agencies, it was creative agencies topping the tally. FCB Group India topped the category with one gold and three silvers at 27 points. Leo Burnett was second with 21, followed by Tribes Communication at third with 10 points.

     

    Zee Entertainment was Broadcaster of the Year with two golds, 10 silvers and six bronze metals at 100 points. Interestingly, Zee Kannada had entered separately and it grabbed the second place with 66 points. Would’ve been a tad tricky if it was on top, and ZEEL was second. TV18 secured the third place with 8.

  • Dheeraj Sinha will take charge as Group CEO India and South Asia in November

    Change of Guard @ FCB: Enter Dheeraj Sinha. Exit Rohit Ohri

     

     

    By Our Staff

     

    Over the last few days, there have been murmurs that Leo Burnett big boss Dheeraj Sinha is likely to join FCB. There have been rumours in the past as well. For instance, in December 2019, soon after Saurabh Verma’s controversial exit from the Publicis group, we had asked Sinha. He said it wasn’t untrue.

     

    So this time around, we held back. There has also been some talk about FCB’s current Group Chairman and CEO Rohit Ohri looking at a successor. It’s now been announced that he will take up a new global role as FCB Global Partner.

     

    Sinha meanwhile will join as Group CEO India & South Asia, reporting directly to FCB Global CEO Tyler Turnbull. Sinha joins the agency from Publicis Groupe, where he currently serves as CEO of Leo Burnett South Asia and Chairman of BBH India.

     

    Ohri should be exiting on a happy note. After being teased by us as being a ‘fuddy duddy’ agency, the agency has been in the news for all the right reasons. Last week, FCB Group India was Adweek magazine’s International Agency of the Year. Over the last six-odd years, the agency has won 32 Cannes Lions and over 100 creative awards globally, launched several high-profile campaigns that have transformed its creative reputation in India and beyond, won many large Indian and global multinational clients, and grown revenue by high double digits year over year. FCB Group India also acquired a majority stake in FCB Kinnect, the region’s leading digital-first creative agency, and recently launched FCB/SIX, its digital media, CX and performance offering, in the market. The last few words from the Cannes wins onwards are from an FCB communique.

     

    Turnbull has great stuff to talk about Ohri. “Since Rohit joined FCB eight years ago, FCB India has seen tremendous success under his leadership. It was time for his next challenge, and while we can’t thank him enough for all that he has done for the agency, I’m excited to have him join our global team to put his valuable experience to work for some important upcoming projects.” On Sinha: “Together, we have found his successor in Dheeraj – an amazingly talented, creatively focused and driven leader who understands the economic power of creativity.”

     

    Added Ohri: “The last eight years at FCB Group India have been truly amazing. My mandate was to transform the creative reputation of FCB in India. By nurturing culture and cultivating talent, we’ve been able to deliver creative excellence consistently since 2018. I’m enormously grateful to my fabulous India team for the creative and business success we have seen. Our partnership with our clients has been our true strength in this creative transformation journey. Further, with the acquisition of Kinnect and the launch of FCB/SIX in India, I believe we are now uniquely poised to power our creative work with data and technology. I’m delighted to now work on the strategic priorities of our global network with Susan and Tyler as FCB Global Partner.”

     

    While at Publicis, he led the business transformation across Leo Burnett, Leo Burnett Orchard, BBH, Publicis Business and Publicis Health. Leo Burnett was India’s #1 and Asia’s #2 agency at Cannes Lions 2023. He has also held several other leadership roles throughout his career, including Chief Strategy Officer of South & Southeast Asia at Grey Group, where he fostered a culture of strategy at Grey APAC.

     

    “Dheeraj is a strong advocate for the power of creativity, with a proven track record of transforming businesses. His experience driving revenue for iconic creative brands and agencies is exactly what we needed to help fuel our next chapter of success in India,” adds Turnbull.

     

    “I’m delighted to welcome Dheeraj into the FCB family. He is a dynamic leader brimming with new ideas. I believe he has the right capabilities and mindset to take FCB Group India to newer heights,” said Ohri.

     

    And this is what Sinha has to say: “I am so excited to be leading the next phase of narrative for FCB in India and the region. I believe that with data and technology at its service, creativity is the greatest force of our times. The true power of our industry is in maximizing business opportunities and solving for human problems using creativity. I love the perspective at FCB about creativity as an economic multiplier. The agency has had a great run in the country, with very strong partnerships with the best clients, and has been one of the most respected agency brands. I look forward to working with the global leadership at FCB under Susan and Tyler, to continue to build FCB in India and the region as the most creative company, helping our clients maximize the opportunities and leaving the world a better place at the same time!”

     

    And what happens at Publicis group? The vagaries of the business notwithstanding, there’s never a dull day. When the announcement happens, we’ll have another ‘big story’. Perhaps.

     

  • The first set of Creative Abby awards were presented on Day 2 of the Abby. As also the Broadcaster award

    Leo Burnett bags a Grand Prix

     

     

    By Our Staff

     

    The big news on Day 2 of Goafest was the awarding of the second Grand Prix of the festival and the first amongst the Creative Awards. Leo Burnett India was awarded a Grand Prix for Airtel’s ‘Airtel 175 Replayed’ campaign. The agency was also recognised as Digital Specialist Agency of The Year with a total of 15 metals. The category saw a total of 6 Gold, 15 Silver, and 37 Bronze Metals. There were six merits in the category.

     

    Meanwhile, COG Culture was awarded as Design Specialist Agency of The Year, with a total of 16 metals. The category saw a total of 3 Gold, 13 Silver and 16 Bronze Metals along with 17 merits.

     

    With a total of three Metals, Mindshare was recognised as Mobile Specialist Agency of The Year. The category witnessed a total of 15 metals with 2 Gold, 5 Silver, 4 Bronze and 4 merits.

     

    Mindshare was also recognised as Specialist Agency of The Year with four metals. The category had 3 Gold, 6 Silver, 7 Bronze and 4 Merits being awarded.

     

    FCB Group India was recognised as Direct Specialist Agency of The Year with 10 Metals in total. The category saw a total of 3 Gold, 12 Silver, 13 Bronze and 10 Merits being awarded.

     

    FCB Group India was recognised as Public Relations Specialist Agency of The Year with 8 Metals. The category had 6 Gold, 9 Silver, 7 Bronze, and 4 Merits in total.

     

    Meanwhile, with a total of 9 metals, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited was awarded as the Broadcaster of The Year Award. The category witnessed a total of 6 Gold, 8 Silver, 4 Bronze and 1 Merit.

     

  • FCB Group India has tied up with KL.LK

    FCB enters Sri Lanka with FCB KL.LK

    By Our Staff

     

    FCB Group India has announced the expansion of its footprint in South Asia with the launch of FCB KL.LK, being led by Chairman & CEO Santosh Menon.

     

    FCB KL.LK, a fully integrated marketing communications agency, is the newest affiliate office under the FCB Group India umbrella. The agency works with marquee clients and brands including Ceylon Biscuits Ltd, HNB credit cards, Fairfirst life Insurance, Ultratech Cement, and Godrej Consumer products.

     

    Speaking on the importance of this partnership, Rohit Ohri, Chairman & CEO, FCB Group India, said: “We’re delighted to partner with KL.LK in Sri Lanka. They are a young, future-ready agency that is growing very rapidly with many global multi-national clients. With this association, we are hoping to offer seamless service to many of our clients who look at South Asia as a contiguous market.”

     

    Added Brandon Cooke, Global Partner, Global Chief Marketing & Reputation Officer, FCB (Global): “The creative passion and business momentum made KL.LK the perfect partner for us in the Sri Lankan market. As we continue on our global mission to unleash creativity fuelled by diversity, data and technology, we’re incredibly excited about the opportunities that lie ahead as we expand our footprint across this region to a new client base.”

     

    Said Santosh Menon, Chairman/ CEO, FCB KL.LK, added, “I came to Sri Lanka first in 2003 as a team member of FCB for its clients here. Today, bringing FCB back in its latest avatar as part of KL.LK gives me special pleasure and happiness. It’s the wheel turning full circle.”

     

  • The digital creative-led agency was founded by Rohan Mehta and Chandni Shah in 2011

    Finally! FCB acquires equity in Kinnect

     

    By Our Staff

     

     

    Marketing services conglomerate Interpublic and FCB have announced the acquisition of equity stake in Kinnect, billed as India’s largest independent digital marketing agency. While the agency will partner FCB Group India, it will continue to operate under the management of its current leadership.

     

     

    We’ve prefixed the headline with a ‘Finally’ because this has been in the works for a while, and was in fact going to be announced before the pandemic or around the time. With this acquisition, the FCB group beefs up its digital media arsenal.

     

     

    Founded by Rohan Mehta and Chandni Shah in 2011, Kinnect has over 350 employees working across offices in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru. Awarded Campaign South Asia’s Independent Agency of the Year multiple times, and Digital Agency of the Year 2020, Kinnect has clients such as Amazon, Asian Paints, HDFC Bank, P&G Group (Ariel, Tide & Old Spice), Disney+Hotstar, Bytedance Group (the TikTok owners), TVS Motors, RPSG Group, and more.

     

     

    Speaking about the acquisition, Rohit Ohri, Chairman and CEO, FCB Group India, said, “We believe that today creativity needs to be fueled by technology and data. Our ideas must not only generate greater long-term brand value but also activate business in the short term. This new partnership between the FCB Group, India’s most awarded creative agency, and Kinnect, India’s largest independent digital agency, will actualize this vision and mission for all our clients.”

     

     

    In addition to creative work, the agency also has a media planning and buying arm called Media Kinnect. Although not spelt out, it’s not unlikely if it works closely with Lodestar, the media that’s part of the larger FCB network.

     

     

    Kinnect also has divisions for specific activities: for influencer amd talent outreach it’s Kinnect Outreach, for reputation management and listening – Kinnect 24/7, Kinnect Tech and Kinnect Productions for production activity.

     

     

    Discussing the partnership with FCB Group India, Rohan Mehta, CEO, Kinnect, said: “This development represents an exciting new chapter in our journey! As part of a global network, we see a huge opportunity to learn from their experiences and apply them in an Indian context. We will continue building new capabilities and evolving our services based on the needs of the markets while focusing on delivering the most effective solutions for our clients.”

     

     

    Added Chandni Shah, COO, Kinnect:  “We are thrilled to be joining forces with the FCB Group. Leveraging their expertise in building brands over decades, we hope to achieve similar legacies for our clients. Together we look forward to engineering a more transformative and holistic experience for brands and are excited about the possibilities of what we can achieve together.”

     

     

  • A hybrid agency for new era of marketing

    FCB India announces restructuring

    By Our Staff

     

    FCB Group in India had recently announced the restructuring of its creative agencies and a new three-agency structure – FCB Ulka, FCB Interface and FCB India. FCB India, the newest agency in the fold, led by Swati Bhattacharya as the Creative Chairperson. It has now announced its newly elevated C-Suite leadership team.

     

    FCB India will be led by Debarpita Banerjee as Chief Executive Officer, Surjo Dutt as Chief Creative Officer and John Thangaraj as Chief Strategy Officer. In their previous roles, Banerjee, Dutt and Thangaraj were President – North & East, National Creative Director and National Planning Director, respectively.

     

    Swati Bhattacharya
    Swati Bhattacharya

    Speaking on the occasion, Swati Bhattacharya, Creative Chairperson, FCB India, said: “When Debbie, Surjo, and John enter the room to solve a problem… you know it will be done. Very rarely do you see such chemistry and energy in the boardroom. They can afford to be terribly honest with each other, and that directly makes the idea shiny and the brand shinier!”

     

    Rohit Ohri
    Rohit Ohri

    Added Rohit Ohri, Chairman & CEO, FCB Group India: “Hybrid thinking truly begins with hybrid talent. Debbie, Surjo and John’s diverse experience across content marketing, media strategy and digital storytelling, respectively, uniquely positions them to deliver to the challenges of building and growing brands in today’s complex, ever-changing marketplace”.

     

  • To provide clients with strategic direction and creativity

    FCB Group restructures

    By Our Staff

     

    Creative agency FCB Group India has announced a reorganisation of its creative agencies in India, along with key elevations. The group will undertake restructuring with three full-service agency brands in India – FCB Ulka, FCB Interface, and FCB India. These three agencies will be a part of FCB Group India.

     

    Rohit Ohri
    Rohit Ohri

    Said Rohit Ohri, Chairman & CEO, FCB Group India: “It is imperative for us now, more than ever before, to be able to provide our clients with the strategic direction and creativity they need to navigate the new world we live in today. Our new structure allows for our best people to provide focused and dedicated partnership to our clients; to bring the disruptive creativity, agility, and fluidity that is required today to transform our clients’ businesses and create unmissable brands.”

     

    With the new three creative agency structure, agency seniors Nitin Karkare will be FCB Ulka Vice Chairman, Swati Bhattacharya will be FCB India Creative Chairperson, Robby Mathew will be FCB Interface Vice Chairman & CCO, and Joe Thaliath will be FCB Interface Vice Chairman & CEO.

     

  • The 2021 edition of Cannes Lions saw India getting three moral metals than 2019

    Dentsu Webchutney & FCB star at Cannes

     

    By Our Staff

     

    In 2019, the Indian marketing services contingent put on a very sorry figure at Cannes Lions, the annual festival of creativity in advertising. Entrants from India brought back 19 metals, just one more than what they earned the previous year. But this year, the number has grown by three, and Indian entrants bagged a total of 22 metals – in various hues – Gold, Silver and Bronze.

     

    Dentsu Webchutney bagged 50 points if one includes shortlists followed by FCB Interace with 48 points. But as a group FCB that includes FCB Ulka and FCB Interface bagged 8 metals including one Gold, three Silver and four Bronze, followed by Digital Agency Dentsu Webchutney with seven metals.

    In 2021, Webchutney beat their previous record with 20 shortlists and 7 Lions.

     

    Said Sidharth Rao, CEO, Dentsumcgarrybowen (dentsuMB) India and founder of Webchutney: “2019 showed us Webchutney was capable of creative excellence at the highest level. 2021 showed it was about doing it consistently – the wins this year have firmly planted the ‘new normal’ of what Webchutney’s north star as an agency is. The agency is home to some incredible talent and is a shining example of what the dentsuMB group of agencies and dentsu India itself wants to stand for.”

     

    Added PG Aditiya, NCD, Dentsu Webchutney added: “This year’s Cannes Lions is probably our most meaningful one yet. A huge round of applause for our teams across the country, both past and present, & gratitude to our clients who’ve shape-shifted the status-quo of Indian creativity at a global level, with us. And congratulations to the teams behind all the winning work from India.”

     

    For FCB, the metals came in for The Punishing Signal for the Mumbai Police and Times Out & Proud for The Times of India.

     

    Speaking on the win, Rohit Ohri, Chairman & CEO, FCB Group India, said: “Our pride of Lions bears testimony our commitment to putting creative excellence at the center of everything we do. Over the last three years we’ve been the best performing Indian agency at Cannes. Like they say… once is a chance, twice is a co-incidence and three times is a habit. I’m really proud of how far we’ve come on our creative transformation journey.”

     

    Added Robby Mathew, Vice Chairman & CCO, FCB Interface: “I am absolutely delighted with our performance at Cannes this year. Looking forward to many more bountiful years for my agency.”

     

    Said Swati Bhattacharya, Vice Chairman & CCO, FCB India: “When I have grandchildren I think I will skip telling them about Cinderella. I will tell them about the FCB Group India story. It’s a fairy tale without evil stepsisters. Just perfect!

     

     

    The following Special Awards were also presented: 

    Holding Company of the Festival 2020/21

    1. WPP

    2. Omnicom

    3. Interpublic Group

     

    Network of the Festival 2020/21

    1. FCB

    2. Ogilvy

    3. BBDO Worldwide

     

    Agency of the Festival 2020/21

    1. AMV BBDO, London, UK

    2. Publicis Italy, Milan, Italy

    3. FCB Chicago, USA

     

    Independent Agency of the Festival 2020/21

    1. Wieden+Kennedy, Portland, USA

    2. The Bloc, New York, USA

    3. Rethink, Toronto, Canada

     

    Palme D’Or 2020/21

    1. Chelsea Pictures, USA

    2. Pulse Films, USA

    3. Division, France

    4. Smuggler, USA

    5. Prettybird, USA

     

    Creative brand of the Festival 2020/21

    1. Burger King

    2. Bodyform/Libresse

    3. Dove

     

    Agency of the Festival by track 2020/21 – Communication

    Publicis Italy, Milan, Italy

     

    Agency of the Festival by track 2020/21 – Craft

    AMV BBDO, London, UK

     

    Agency of the Festival by track 2020/21 – Entertainment

    72andSunny, Los Angeles, USA

     

    Agency of the Festival by track 2020/21 – Experience

    McCANN, New York, USA

     

    Agency of the Festival by track 2020/21 – Good

    VMLY&R Brazil, São Paulo, Brazil

     

    Agency of the Festival by track 2020/21 – Reach

    FCB Chicago, USA

     

    Independent Agency of the Festival by track 2020/21 – Communication

    Wieden+Kennedy, Portland, USA

     

    Independent Agency of the Festival by track 2020/21 – Craft

    Work & Co, New York, USA

     

    Independent Agency of the Festival by track 2020/21 – Entertainment

    =1. Edelman, London, UK

    =1. GUT, São Paulo, Brazil

     

    Independent Agency of the Festival by track 2020/21 – Experience

    Uncommon, London, UK

     

    Independent Agency of the Festival by track 2020/21 – Good

    FARM, Stockholm, Sweden

     

    Independent Agency of the Festival by track 2020/21 – Reach

    GUT, Miami, USA