MxMIndia

Tag: Grey Group

  • Autumn Worldwide is a leading Bengaluru-based independent social media and digital marketing agency

    Grey acquires majority stake in Autumn Worldwide

    By A Correspondent

     

    So we thought that WPP’s Grey Group is struggling to retain its place as a leading creative agency in the country. Perhaps it is. But we now have news it has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Autumn Worldwide, a leading independent social media and digital marketing agency headquartered in Bengaluru.

    Autumn Worldwide was founded in 2005 by Anusha Shetty and Abhay Rajankar as a brand consulting and advertising company. Shetty soon saw the opportunity and proceeded to expand Autumn into a 360-degree social media and digital agency which provides a multitude of services, including digital and social media campaigns, influencer and blogger marketing, online reputation management, content marketing, marketing big data and insights and Command Center Management Services (CCMS).

    Said Michael Houston, Worldwide CEO of Grey Group: “We are delighted to welcome Autumn Worldwide to Grey.  This acquisition represents another step forward in building our borderless creativity and providing seamless solutions for our clients across platforms. Shetty will continue to head the Autumn operations while working closely with Nirvik Singh, Chairman & CEO for Grey Group Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa, to set the overall strategic digital growth plan for the region.

    Added Singh: “Grey has a strategic plan to increase its digital footprint in the region. Having Autumn as our partner ensures we have a digital and social media agency with expertise across the digital landscape. They are a forward-thinking company who share our common vision of a world-class digital eco-system that will deliver only the very best to our clients. Combining creative, digital, data and technology will strengthen our presence not only in India, but also throughout the region.”

    Autum has over 165 employees across their offices. Its client roster includes clients such as PepsiCo (all 26 brands such as Mountain Dew, Quaker Oats and others), Reckitt Benckiser (Mortein, Durex, Dettol, Moov and more), Samsonite, PVR Cinemas, Exide Life Insurance, Tata Salt, Raymond, Luminous and Freecharge, to name just a few.

    “The convergence of consumers and mediums has already happened, and agencies need to not just reflect this thinking, but be a part of that journey. Grey’s famously effective 100-year history in creative thinking combined with Autumn’s 13-year ‘young’ fervour to constantly unlearn and learn across data, creativity, and mediums creates a potent agency of the future,” said Shetty.

    The communique received from Grey doesn’t detail out how Shetty and Autumn will work with the team at Grey Group, India, but then it’s early days still.

  • Raymond reimagines the versatility of black with the most unlikely spokesperson

    Raymond launches new film to introduce its All-Black Collection

    By A Correspondent

     

    Raymond Limited has introduced a new film titled ‘It All Begins with Black’ to showcase its ‘All Black Collection’. The new TVC stars Indo-Canadian singer and writer Jugpreet Singh Bajwa, who is visually impaired since the age of six months.

     

    Speaking about the campaign Madhu S. Dutta, Head Marketing, Raymond Ltd., said: “Over ages, black has been a classic fashion favourite. A staple fabric and a part of every discerning gentleman’s wardrobe. Black beautifully complements every persona depicting elegance, a sense of sophistication. At Raymond through our new Black campaign, our endeavour has been to engage with the consumers through an authentic and honest narrative – weaving a special connect through the versatile collection which is more than just a colour and more than how the world perceives the colour black.”.”

     

    Added Sandipan Bhattacharyya, Chief Creative Officer, Grey group:, “It is this realisation that the film is a visually impaired person’s interpretation of black – that makes it go beyond the domain of fictitious, glorified fashion and into a real journey inside the narrator’s mind. Only a brand like Raymond can bravely embrace authenticity and seamlessly mash it up with fashion.”

     

    A complete 360-degree marketing campaign which includes digital, in-store visual merchandising, outdoor, television and cinema promotion is being executed for the Raymond All Black campaign.

     

     

  • #BerokZindagi is a campaign which positions the inhaler as not a sign of weakness, but echoes the patients’ undeniable resolve and spirit

    Cipla’s #BerokZindagi helps patients to manage obstructive airway diseases

    By A Correspondent

     

    Cipla is launching a nationwide mass media campaign that will educate and encourage patients suffering from Obstructive Airway Diseases (OAD) to smartly manage and control the disease. The campaign will be launched tomorrow (November 1) and will be on air for a period of 16 weeks across television, print and social media platforms.

     

    While the creative mandate will be with Grey Group India, Impact Public Relations will drive the stakeholder outreach programmes and WatConsult will be responsible for the digital and social media platforms.

     

    Said a Cipla spokesperson: “Myth-busting around inhalers and benefit education will be the prime focus of the campaign. We aim to normalise inhalers and debunk the misconceptions around it. Our storytelling follows an approach which will help demonstrate the fact that patients have a smarter and effective way to to treat asthma. I am glad that GREY Group and Impact Public Relations have come on board to support us with their core expertise in driving this behavioral and attitudinal shift.”

     

     

  • MÃ¥nsTesch comes on board in the newly created role of Chief Strategy Officer for Grey Group Asia Pacific

    Grey Group strengthens its Singapore and APAC leadership teams with new hires

    By A Correspondent

     

    Grey Group has unveiled a set of triple hires in a move to bolster its leadership core in Asia, with a special focus on Grey Group Singapore. The trio will play an instrumental role in deepening Grey Group Singapore’s creative offerings and creative processes, as well as drive the ongoing digital transformation of the company, across the region. The senior appointments demonstrate Grey’s commitment to design a path for repositioning and expanding its services, in order to focus on growth as well as meet clients’ needs.

     

    MånsTesch comes on board in the newly created role of Chief Strategy Officer for Grey Group Asia Pacific in order to lead the strategy teams and set the strategic direction across the region and to oversee Grey’s continued immersion into the areas of innovation, mobile and social.

     

    MarthinusStrydom has been appointed to the role of Global Creative Leader, Team GSK, Grey Group Singapore.  He will work closely with Ali Shabaz (Chief Creative Officer, Grey Group, South East Asia) to set the overall creative direction for Grey’s GSK operations. In line with the agency’s reputation for creative excellence, he will be responsible for fostering an even-deeper culture of creativity and accelerate Team GSK’s digital transformation. Over the span of his much-lauded career, Marthinus’ work has been recognized at the D&AD, Webby, Cannes, One Show, Effies, and has been featured on the Gunn Report and other prominent industry publications.

     

    The two appointments follow that of key senior hire, Neil Cotton, who has joined in the dual role ofGlobal Strategy Director for GSK and Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) for Grey Group Singapore.His career has seen him collaborate with many exciting brands such as Coca Cola, Johnson & Johnson, Heineken, Audi, IBM, and Nokia, amongst others.

     

    On the hiring for Grey Group Singapore, Nirvik Singh, Chairman & CEO, Grey Group Asia Pacific, Middle East, & Africa said: “In order to enhance Grey’s core leadership team, we continue to hire world-class talents in Neil Cotton and MarthinusStrydom. They have deep knowledge and proven track records in their specific areas of expertise and their roles are directed towards delivering our very best for our clients.”

     

  • He will oversee Grey Middle East and Africa in addition to current Asia Pacific role

    Nirvik Singh takes on expanded role of overseeing Middle East & Africa

     

     

    Nirvik Singh, Chairman and CEO of Grey Asia Pacific since 2009, will take on the additional role of Chairman and CEO for Grey ‘s Middle East and Africa region.  A 27-year industry veteran of the New York City-headquartered Grey Group, Singh has played a key role in the growth and development of the network’s offerings across Asia.

     

    Said Jim Heekin, Chairman and CEO, Grey Group (Global): “Nirvik has been a prime mover in our dynamic growth and development in Asia.  He has been relentless in building our geographic footprint with premier acquisitions, accelerating our offerings in a host of disciplines including digital and shopper and raising the creative bar. He has won every major professional award in Asia.  I know he will bring the same single-minded dedication and achievement to his added responsibilities”

     

    In his newly elevated role, Singh will continue to work closely with Jim Heekin, Chairman and CEO, Grey Group, and Michael Houston, Global President of Grey.

     

  • The TVC will enable Samrat to effectively reach out to diversified consumers across the country

    Grey unveils new campaign for Samrat Atta

    By A Correspondent

     

    Samrat Atta has unveiled its new campaign that amplifies how the ritual of breaking bread together can tide over several differences in our society. Whether it’s the difference between different social classes, between bosses and subordinates or between English medium colleagues and those from Hindi medium.

     

    Elaborating the insight and the strategy, Dheeraj Sinha, Chief Strategy Officer, GREY South & South East Asia said, “Culturally, food is the greatest binder of people. The ritual of breaking bread together is prominent in all faiths. Muslims have the ritual of breaking fast together during Ramadaan. Similarly, in northern India we have the concept of Sanjha Chulha, which means community cooking. These rituals of breaking bread together have been designed to keep communities intact. With growing fractions in our society today, it’s only pertinent that we remind ourselves of the importance of communities living together. It just so happens that bread and atta (flour) sits at the heart of this. This is an attempt by the brand to rekindle and celebrate the symbolic act of breaking bread and building connections.”

     

    Suresh Parakh, Managing Director, Parakh Agro, said “Food brings people together not only at home but also at our schools, colleges, workplaces and most public areas one can think of in India. Communicating this broad yet unique thought was a challenge as it had never been done in this category. However, the script presented to us by GREY, instantly helped us gain confidence in this thought. Furthermore the TVC artistically directed by Manoj Tapadia made us believe this campaign will help Samrat touch hearts around the country just as it touched ours. We have increased our distribution network across various states in northern and southern India and this TVC will enable us to effectively reach out to our diversified consumers across the country.”

     

  • With more than 15 years of experience, Soi has worked with agencies including The Grey Group (Mumbai), Ambience Publicis, Metal Communications and most recently Havas Worldwide

    Dentsu Webchutney appoints Gaurav Soi as EVP

    By A Correspondent

     

    Dentsu Webchutney has roped in Gaurav Soi to head its new business operations, nationally. Soi joins as Executive Vice President and will report to Sidharth Rao – CEO, Dentsu Webchutney.

     

    As part of his new mandate, Soi will identify and channelize new opportunities for the agency across its offices in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru. Prior to this, Soi was Senior Vice President – Havas Worldwide, Mumbai.

     

    Commenting on his appointment, Soi said, “The most commonly used word in conversations today is digital. It is no longer the future. It is here and now! Denstu Webchutney has a proven track record and is associated with very prestigious brands. Known for its quality product and forward thinking, I am extremely proud to be a part of this team.”

     

    “The company is aggressively focusing on growth; and yet, we will need to retain the quality of our product across client offerings. It is this balance that will make the road ahead a very exciting one,” he added.

     

    Commenting on the appointment, Sidharth said, “Dentsu Webchutney has now entered its next phase of growth and it’s absolutely essential for us that we use the right kind of experiences to steer this growth forward. Gaurav comes in with immense experience and exposure across clients and categories. And his appointment will only further catalyse the strength that already holds the Dentsu Webchutney fort so strong. I am extremely happy to welcome him on board.”

     

    With more than 15 years of experience, Soi has worked with agencies including The Grey Group (Mumbai), Ambience Publicis, Metal Communications and most recently Havas Worldwide. He has also been part of the events and activations industry through Line Communications.

     

  • This festive season, Dell's television commercial inspires the sentiment of goodness which prevails through festivities, seeing Indians reach out and share the joy of celebration in order to spread the festive cheer

    Dell unveils #ShareTheJoy campaign for the festive season

    By A Correspondent

     

    Dell India has launched its new TVC conceptualized especially for the Indian customer’s festive spirit. With its digital premier going online on September 20th, the TVC will be airing in 5 different languages from October 10, 2015 across leading English, Hindi and other regional entertainment, movie and music channels. This festive season, Dell’s television commercial inspires the sentiment of goodness which prevails through festivities, seeing Indians reach out and share the joy of celebration in order to spread the festive cheer.

     

    Conceptualized and executed by GREY group, the Dell festive TVC brings alive Dell’s message to “#Share the Joy” using the power of technology, because “Baantne se hi khushiyaan badhti hain” when it comes to the togetherness which is central to the Indian festive season. It brings alive the viral nature of festive cheer, and how technology can play an active role in multiplying the effect of a good deed by inspiring others to follow, both in reality and in the virtual world.

     

    The TVC begins with a young man who is unable to go home for the festival of Diwali, and he shares his disappointment on his social network using his Dell laptop. His friends respond by showing up at his home to include him in the festivities and make the celebration extra special. A woman witnesses this small act of goodness on social media, and decides to book tickets for her household help using her Dell desktop in order to reunite him with his family during the festivities.  A brother-sister duo gain inspiration from this gesture, and include children playing on the street in the festivity. They project a life-sized live stream of the celebration of Dussehra onto a wall nearby so the children can enjoy the celebration.

     

    Dell powers the technology which facilitates the social nature of happiness and showcases how its range of devices – desktops, 2-in-1s, All-in-ones, Laptops and Projectors – act as enablers which can aid customers to #sharethejoy.

     

    The Dell “Share the Joy” festive campaign will have a 360 degree impact – across all media with television, radio, print, OOH, Cinema and digital activations. The TVC campaign will be ably supported by social engagement especially on Twitter and Facebook. The aim is to encourage more users to share their stories of how they #Sharethejoy and inspire others to follow suit.

     

    Ritu Gupta, Director, Marketing – Consumer & Small Business, Dell India said: “We believe in empowering our customers to stay connected with their loved ones and share their special moments, using the power of our versatile technology solutions, and aim to be present on occasions that matter to them. The festive season in India not only entails coming together with family and friends to celebrate, but there is joy and contentment when you share that joy with others. What better season than festive to demonstrate how technology is at the core to enabling this feeling. It could be spreading happiness through good deeds or thoughtful gestures, and it further encourages others to share the joy of festivity and goodness. The concept of #ShareTheJoy recreates the sentimental value of festivity, as we seek to celebrate with our customers and watch the happiness grow.”

     

    “Festivals are all about festive spirit, which brings out our best selves and creates a stage for us to spread cheer among others. Any act of niceness is inspiring and has a cascading effect. And with technology, we can share the joy like never before,” said Ram Jayaraman, Senior Executive Director, GREY Bangalore.

     

  • The account will be handled by the agency's Delhi office, under the leadership of Samir Datar

    Usha Fans hands over creative mandate to GREY

    By A Correspondent

     

    Usha International, a consumer durable brand, has assigned GREY group India to handle the creative duties of Usha Fans. The account was won in a multi-agency pitch process and will be handled by the agency’s Delhi office, under the leadership of Samir Datar, Vice President and Branch Head, Grey Delhi.

     

    Commenting on the development, Bharat Kharbanda, Marketing Head – Usha Fans said “We are very excited about this association and are confident to grow our business to new heights.”

     

    “What excited us is the fact that for consumers, Fan as a category has become low involvement and consumers don’t realise the technology advancements that have been made to not just make the fans more stylish but also far superior at the benefit they are supposed to deliver.  The brief was to enhance the focus on the category and we expect the communication to take that challenge head on” said Datar.

     

    Dheeraj Sinha

    Dheeraj Sinha, Chief Strategy Officer, South & South East Asia, GREY group, said, “From how it used to be, say two decades ago, things have changed dramatically in our lives – the way we connect to each either, the way we listen to our music, the way we cook our food and so on. The category of fans however, hasn’t seen much innovation during the last few decades. Usha has some remarkable technology and design in their lineup, that fits in our modern day living. We are looking forward to be a part of the journey where we redefine how India looks at fans”

     

  • The TVC is a reiteration of Dell's belief that a school student's education can be made more engaging by leveraging the potential of technology

    Dell questions conventional with ‘Learning Meets Doing’

    By A Correspondent

     

    Dell India kicked off the Back to School season with a new TVC that has been conceptualized and crafted in sync with the theme for 2015 – to transform the process of learning with intuitive technology. The TVC is a reiteration of Dell’s belief that a school student’s education can be made more engaging and interesting by leveraging the potential of technology.

     

    Learning by rote is a common practice among young students, faced with the challenge of remembering large amounts of content to do well in examinations. The new Back to School campaign stems from the thought that learning should not be a task, but something young minds should look forward to with interest. With the launch of the new TVC, Dell kicks off its flagship Back to School season with the aim to evolve conventional methods of learning by including technology in education to aid a better understanding and application of learning content.

     

    Conceptualized and executed by GREY group, the TVC conveys Dell’s overall campaign message of ‘Learning Meets Doing’, empowering children to learn and understand better through the use of technology. Taking Dell’s Back to School campaign into the lives of school going students and their parents across the country, the TVC lays emphasis on how in an Indian household, a child studies by rote. Depicted through the “Ratta Raga”, a mother watches her son struggling to learn something he cannot understand, which builds concern around her child’s method of learning. His “Learning Meets Doing” moment is realised when she introduces him to the path of comprehension using the Dell Inspiron All-in-One PC.

     

    Ritu Gupta

    Ritu Gupta, Director – Marketing – Consumer & Small Business, Dell India said: “This TVC is an abstraction of the challenges faced by young students in the country. The demands of education today means more youngsters are taking to “ratta-fying” with the single minded aim of reproducing this learning in their exams. The concept of ‘Learning meets Doing’ is aimed at challenging today’s method of education. We believe that an intuitive and engaging education which underlines real life application can result in the creation of a generation of well-rounded, ambitious individuals. Dell takes pride in enabling young children by providing them with the right technology for their educational needs. We wish for both, existing and prospective users to understand how technology can fuel creative thinking, and holds the potential to open up a world of knowledge for ambitious minds.”

     

    Ram Jayaraman, Executive Creative Director, GREY Bangalore said: “There’s a difference between studying and learning, just as there’s a difference between getting marks and getting an education. Learning happens when we understand something, and understanding happens easiest when things are engaging and fun. Technology can spark imagination, making the mundane come alive and simplify what’s complicated. While growing up, we had no choice but to learn by hook, crook or rote –children today luckily have a much better option.”

     

  • Cricket icon & Gillette India Brand Ambassador Rahul Dravid seen with a cricket fan in a unique avatar

    Gillette salutes fans’ passion for cricket in new TVC

    By A Correspondent

     

    With the Cricket World Cup underway, and as a tribute to the Indian cricket fans, GREY group India has launched a special video that salutes all cricket lovers who showcase their incredible passion and relentless support towards Indian cricket and cricketers.

     

    The Indian fans’ sentiments and passion flows into the performance of the players thereby reinstituting their joy and this video is Gillette’s ode to the Indian cricket fans. Rajeev Sathyesh, Country Marketing Manager, Gillette India said, “Gillette, globally has been associated with sports for many years now. As part of Gillette’s endeavor to salute the spirit of all Indian cricket fans, we have launched Special Edition India razors. The new razors have the word India engraved on the handle and proudly displays the country’s name and colours.”

     

    Gillette’s recently launched special edition razors that have the word India engraved on the handle and displays the country’s name and colours, to encourage cricket fans to continue extending their relentless support to the team.

     

    Malvika Mehra

    Malvika Mehra, National Creative Director and Executive Vice President, Grey Group India, said, “They say fans make the game. No fans, no game. This short film is Gillette’s salute to the passion of every cricket loving Indian fan. Told through a story of a blind fan whose spirit and love of the game clearly overtakes his disability. In today’s overly crowded (and yet ironically isolated) social ecosystem, any sensible brand needs to have larger conversations with its consumers, they need to evoke ‘real feelings’. The age of mere transactional communication is over. We are lucky to have a client like Gillette, who sees that. With this film we hope to touch a much richer space of a ‘real connection’ with the consumer. Leading to a far more satisfying pay off for a brand in the long run.”

     

    Yashaswini Samat, Executive Vice President, P&G, Grey Group APAC said, “Gillette has historically leveraged sports and sports celebrities, globally. The focus here has been on the common man, the fans and their unequivocal passion for the sport.”

     

  • The campaigns titled 'Confessions' and 'Pehle Aap' stars Bollywood personalities Neena Gupta and Konkana Sen

    Grey India unveils new campaigns for Britannia Rusk

    By A Correspondent

     

    GREY group INDIA has rolled out the new Britannia Rusk TV commercials for its line of Rusk Biscuits. The campaigns will go on air from 5th December, 2014 and will seen across all popular GEC’s with a strong regional presence. The campaigns titled ‘Confessions’ and ‘Pehle Aap’ stars Bollywood personalities Neena Gupta and Konkana Sen.

     

    The consumer insight was that every healthy relationship needs a dose of fun. Enter Britannia Maska Rusk – the healthy goodness of double-baked wheat with the fun of herbs and butter. The amalgamation of this insight with the product allowed us to shift the traditional reverential relationship of saas-bahu to an everyday masti-wala-interaction, forming a mutual give and take relationship. It is the first time the saas-bahu relationship has been portrayed in this healthy avatar of a fun relationship – just like Britannia Maska Rusk. In both the tvcs, the typical tu-tu-mein-mein between the mother and the daughter-in-law during teatime, is shown in a fun, progressive way.

     

    Malvika Mehra

    GREY group India’s National Creative Director and Executive Vice President, Malvika Mehra said,” I think the beauty of this script was we managed to play out a charming, likeable story with the product dead in the centre of the film! Starting from the first frame itself, and remaining right through till the end. And yet keep it elegant. How often do you see that? Of course, Soojit’s touch along with effortless acting by both Konkana and Neena Gupta added magic to our story”

     

    Manjunath Desai – VP & Category Head, Britannia Industries said, “We are the leaders in Rusk category and it’s our responsibility to make the category more exciting for the consumers. That’s exactly what we are doing by introducing Maska Rusk – it’s got the right set of ingredients that makes the tea time a lot more exciting and the advertising is just the right means of communication that brings out the product and the right camaraderie and ensures we will see success with this.”