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Tag: Hari Krishnan

  • Last week, print majors made hay with ecomm sales. ZenithOptimedia group MD Hari Krishnan on why print (still) works

    Print still rules for advertisers (including internet start-ups)

     

    By Hari Krishnan

     

    India counters the rest of the world’s media-evolution-pattern of traditional media de-growth. And this is evident from the mushrooming of daily newspapers in the country, including regional ones. The Hindi and other vernacular print media markets performed exceedingly well on the back of low media penetration, high population growth and rising income and literacy levels. FMCG, retail and real estate want to reach these new audiences. In urban India, e-commerce and internet businesses are driving the growth. No wonder the forecast for ad spends in dailies is a growing 13 per cent (next only to digital), and in magazines it is a positive projection of five per cent growth.

     

    Let’s look at some of the key reasons that makes press still a dependable vehicle that advertisers are betting on, especially the new-age, internet, smartphone and app- enabled ecosystem players. Of course the generic advantages of newspaper ads being more informative in a credible environment, carrying content with greater shelf life than a TVC and the audience being a bit more involved, still apply, as they did ever since the medium was invented. However the altered market landscape offers a few new answers.

     

    Over 2000 first-time advertisers in 2015

    The total number of first-time advertisers on mass media, is a staggering 2,250 in 2015 alone, implying the need for creating basic brand awareness for over 2,000 new brands in the market. The press offers the advantage of quick and high reach to create mass awareness levels on Day One, because it’s the best ‘announcement medium’.

     

    E-commerce action is date-specific

    As the e-commerce war heats up, brands are betting on specific ‘sale days’ to drive a huge surge of traffic and transactions. While TV, too, is used to build up the stress and anticipation, the print media does the job best on specific dates earmarked for the shopping event, additionally offering the benefits of a ‘catalogue effect’ of individual products and pricing. The same applies to major brick-and-mortar retail players too.

     

    TV time inventory has shrunk

    The year-and-a-half-old cap on TV ads (10+2 rule) has resulted in a shortage of supply of TV advertising time, the added number of new advertisers and growing budgets of existing players have created an excess demand that has been diverted to the next high-reach, high-impact medium: Print. E-commerce player spends have doubled in 2015 (over last year), standing at a staggering Rs 1,600 crore. The online category will overtake cars to become the third-biggest spender in 2015.

     

    Hari Krishnan is Managing Director, ZenithOptimedia Group, India

     

  • Ajit has over 18 years of work experience in the fields of media, brand management and marketing

    Ajit Gurnani appointed Managing Partner at ZenithOptimedia

    By A Correspondent

     

    Ajit Gurnani

    ZenithOptimedia India has announced the appointment of Ajit Gurnani as Managing Partner and Branch Head, ZO West.

     

    Commenting on the appointment, Hari Krishnan, Managing Director, ZenithOptimedia India, says “We are delighted to announce this appointment. ZenithOptimedia is making rapid progress in Mumbai especially with its expanding new-age client list such as Faaso’s, Ziffy, TImesaverz and many others yet to be announced. We needed somebody with rich experience and robust background spanning both agency and client side experience. Ajit, with his experience across markets, clients and verticals was best suited for the role. It helps us to strengthen our offer to all our businesses and prospective clients.”

     

    Ajit has over 18 years of work experience in the fields of media, brand management and marketing. His media exposure has been with advertising agencies like HTA (now Mindshare / JWT), Rediffusion DY&R (TME), Mindshare and MEC on clients like Unilever, Colgate Palmolive, Aditya Birla Group (including Idea Cellular, Birla Sun Life, Ultratech etc), Mercedes Benz, Nivea, Zee TV & CarTrade. His client side exposure includes Marico Ltd as Media Manager, handling the company’s brands’ media strategy and investment as well as Head of Marketing (Beverages) for IFFCO in UAE where the role entailed demand generation, consumer and trade marketing and new product development acrosss the markets of UAE, GCC, Africa, Levant and other Middle East geographies and the ethnic Indian population in Canada and USA.

     

  • Truecaller is transforming the phonebook to make it more intelligent and useful

    ZenithOptimedia wins media mandate of Truecaller

    By A Correspondent

     

    ZenithOptimedia has won the media mandate for Truecaller after a selection process that involved multiple agencies. This mandate covers all aspects of the company’s media planning & buying, and will include Digital and OOH duties as well.

     

    Truecaller is transforming the phonebook to make it more intelligent and useful. The app allows users to know who is calling them even if the person has not been listed in their contacts. Truecaller has grown phenomenally in India. Currently, at 80 million users in the country, the Indian user base comprises more than half the total global users.

     

    Kari Krishnamurthy, Vice President, Growth and Partnerships, Asia & Country Manager, India, said, “Truecaller has witnessed an accelerated growth in India, especially in the tier I markets. We were looking for media partners who have a deep understanding of the Consumer Internet space to help us establish strong media touchpoints in the tier II and III markets. ZenithOptimedia impressed us with their strategic framework and ability to execute with speed and accuracy.”

     

    Commenting on the win Hari Krishnan, Managing Director, ZenithOptimedia, said “This is a significant win for ZO in a sector that is fast growing and future facing. It is indeed a matter of pride for us to be partnering with Truecaller.”

     

  • He would be reporting to Joseph George, CEO of Lowe Lintas + Partners, India

    Hari Krishnan appointed CEO of Lowe LDB Sri Lanka

    By A Correspondent

     

    Lowe and Partners Worldwide has announced the appointment of a new CEO for Sri Lanka. Hari Krishnan, a former protégé of Lowe Lintas has been appointed the CEO of Lowe LDB Sri Lanka. He would be reporting to Joseph George, CEO of Lowe Lintas + Partners, India.

     

    Hari Krishnan

    Hari Krishnan joins the agency from GREY where he was the Sr. Vice President & Business Head for South. His new mandate would be to drive Lowe LDB Sri Lanka into being a leading creative powerhouse in the country. The only “Superbrand” in the Advertising category in Sri Lanka, Lowe LDB manages a diverse portfolio of brands across various categories from Detergents to Insurance to Telecom. The agency was also the most awarded agency at the Effies in 2013 and together with Unilever is the most awarded partnership in the history of Effies in Sri Lanka.

     

    Commenting on the appointment, Joseph George, CEO of Lowe Lintas + Partners, India said, “It’s good to have Hari back into our fold after all these years. Having learned the nitty-gritty of the business since his formative days at Lowe coupled with his vast exposure across other agencies in senior roles, Hari Krishnan is perfectly placed to lead the agency in Sri Lanka. Over the last five years, Sri Lanka has seen high GDP growths and the country is at an exciting inflection point now.”

     

    Sharing his views on making a return to his alma mater, Hari Krishnan said, “I started my career with Lintas in India in ’96-97 and learnt my fundamentals from the great University of knowledge that is Lowe Lintas. So I’m extremely happy and thrilled to be back. It’s a homecoming of sorts in that sense. It’s an honour and a challenge to lead such an operation and I’m really looking forward to partnering the young, talented team there in driving the philosophy of ‘Populist Creativity’ and taking Lowe LDB to greater heights.”

     

    Hari Krishnan has almost two decades of work experience; nearly all of it in advertising besides a stint as Vice President, Marketing with Star TV. He has experience across multiple categories/consumer segments, in leading large multi-functional teams and in leading a P&L operation to success. In his last job at GREY India as Sr. Vice President & Business Head, Hari spearheaded the transformation of the agency operations in South including leading the agency to a spree of new biz acquisitions including DELL India, ITC Foods, Stovekraft, Fortis Healthcare amongst others.

     

  • The mandate covers all aspects of the brand's media planning, advisory and buying across print, TV, Digital and Outdoor

    ZenithOptimedia wins media duties of Jungleegames.com

    By A Correspondent

     

    ZenithOptimedia has bagged the media duties for Junglee Games in a multi-agency pitch conducted recently. The mandate covers all aspects of the brand’s media planning, advisory and buying across print, TV, Digital and Outdoor.

     

    Hari Krishnan, Managing Director ZenithOptimedia said, “This is a significant win for ZO with the tech and mobile sector gaining momentum in the overall advertising space. It is indeed a matter of pride for us to be partnering with Junglee Games.”

     

    Satya Mahapatra, CMO, Junglee Games said, “We are glad to partner with ZenithOptimedia who have demonstrated excellent understanding of the Internet & Mobile audiences. I am sure this will go long-way in the success of our brands.”

     

    The high-intensity multimedia campaign will break in February 2015.

     

  • ZenithOptimedia has bagged the media mandate for Foodpanda.in

    ZenithOptimedia wins media mandate for Foodpanda

    By A Correspondent

     

    ZenithOptimedia has won the media mandate for Foodpanda.in after a selection process that involved a multi-agency pitch. This mandate covers all aspects of the company’s media planning & buying, and will include digital duties as well. Foodpanda.in is an online food ordering platform has launched a new TV ad campaign. The two TVCs, created by Cheil India, highlight the core value proposition of foodpanda, that of ensuring customer delight at every point in the food delivery process. The key message, “If foodpanda likes it, you will love it!” spells out the fact that anything one orders through the portal has already been screened through stringent yardsticks of quality to ensure maximum satisfaction.

     

    Hari Krishnan
    Anupriya Acharya

    Commenting on the win Hari Krishnan, MD, ZenithOptimedia said, “We are happy to bring on board a client like Foodpanda and look forward to doing some really exciting work with them.”   Rohit Chadda, MD and Co- Founder of Foodpanda.in added, “We needed a partner who has a deep understanding of consumers and their ever-evolving relationship with media. ZenithOptimedia impressed us with their strategic framework and ability to execute with speed and accuracy.”

     

    Anupriya Acharya, Group CEO, ZenithOptimedia says, “Over time we have expanded our presence in this sector where the ROI can be tracked 24X7. Also, this further consolidates our relationship with Rocket Internet, beyond Jabong and FabFurnish.”

  • Nanda will lead the growth and expansion of the agency’s integrated media offering as well as enhance its internal digital capabilities

    Cheil appoints Rahul Nanda as SVP – New Business, Digital

    By a correspondent

     

    Rahul Nanda

    Cheil Worldwide SW Asia (Cheil India) has appointed digital domain specialist, Rahul Nanda as Senior Vice President – New Business, Digital. Nanda, moves from Web Chutney where he was Partner & President, until its sale to Denstu India.

     

    A digital domain specialist, he comes with 19+ years of experience and expertise across various sectors including Digital Marketing, Application Development, Mobile Communications, DTH including an ISP.

     

    Reporting to Rajesh Bhatia, Nanda will lead the growth and expansion of the agency’s integrated media offering as well as enhance its internal digital capabilities.

     

    Hari Krishnan
    Rajesh Bhatia

    Confirming the appointment, Hari Krishnan, COO, Cheil Worldwide, SW Asia said, “Cheil India is growing exponentially and with digital being a key quotient for new business acquisition, Rahul’s coming on board reflects this momentum. I am positive that his entrepreneurial genius will work in furthering our digitally-integrated vision.”

     

    “With the scale and skill of our digital offering today, I believe, we are rightly positioned to aggressively take our proposition to a much wider audience base. And we needed someone of the stature and pedigree of Rahul to fulfill that agenda. Am delighted with his coming on board,” said Rajesh Bhatia, SVP & Head Digital, Cheil Worldwide, SW Asia.

     

  • Arun Sharma appointed Vice President- Integrated Strategy Planning

    Cheil Worldwide SW Asia appoints Arun Sharma as VP

    By A Correspondent

     

    Arun Sharma

    Cheil Worldwide SW Asia has announced the appointment of Arun Sharma as Vice President, Integrated Strategic Planning. Sharma will work closely with Atishi Pradhan, Chief Strategy Officer, Cheil Worldwide, SW Asia in creating brand opportunities to drive brand growth and experiences.

     

    Sharma comes with over a decade and half years of experience that cuts across categories and businesses that include aviation, automobiles, banking & finance, confectionery, FMCG, technology and telecom.

     

     

    Hari Krishnan

    Confirming the appointment, Hari Krishnan, COO, Cheil Worldwide, SW Asia said, “Delivering integrated communications for clients is a norm today and this makes for planning to be extremely multidimensional. Arun’s skill sets and passion for ideas are a perfect fit to deliver on these complexities and are in sync with both client demands and Cheil India’s growth story.”

     

    “In today’s complex media world, planning has increasingly become critical to craft a consistence voice for the brand which is both lucid and articulates the brand story. I am delighted about Arun’s coming on board. We have worked together before and he brings a great combination of left & right brain thinking. His passion for his work and his innate curiosity make him valued by clients and colleagues alike,” said Atishi Pradhan, Chief Strategy Officer, Cheil Worldwide, SW Asia.

     

    Sharma moves from DDBMudra Delhi were he was Vice President and Head Strategic Planning. Prior to DDBMudra he has worked with Contract Advertising, ABN Amro, Rediffusion Y&R and Lowe Lintas. He has worked for clients like Airtel, Cisco, Dabur, Danone, Huawei, Marico, Maruti, Muthoot, NIIT, SpiceJet Airlines, Spice Telecom, Whirlpool, Wrigley’s, Yamaha to name a few.

     

    Sharma is a Bachelor in Business Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia, and also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Business Administration under the aegis of the AIMA-AMU joint program.

     

  • Joshi is an accomplished digital marketing expert with over 15 years of experience in leveraging social insights and trends in emerging technology

    Cheil Worldwide appoints Avinash Joshi as Head of Social Media

    By a correspondent

     

    Cheil Worldwide SW Asia has announced the appointment of Avinash Joshi as Media Director, where he will be responsible for the agency’s social media practice.

     

    Joshi is an accomplished digital marketing expert with over 15 years of experience in leveraging social insights, trends in emerging technology and human interaction to understand, explain, predict and influence consumer behaviour in digital, social and emerging channels.

     

    Hari Krishnan

    Confirming the appointment, Hari Krishnan, COO, Cheil Worldwide, SW Asia said, “Avinash is an incredibly passionate yet methodical advocate of social media. His multi-faceted experience across project management, creative, technology and media will be immensely valuable for our clients at Cheil India.”

     

    “While most of the digital verticals are headed by seasoned skill leaders at Cheil India, social media leadership had remained a gap area for us. With Avinash coming onboard, am sure, we will not just offer best in class social solutions but strengthen our overall digital offering to clients,” said Rajesh Bhatia, Senior VP & Head Digital, Cheil Worldwide, SW Asia.

     

    Joshi joins from SapientNitro were he was serving as Digital Account Director and Social Media Lead-India, growing the practice through relationships in North America, Europe and APAC.

     

    Over the years he has managed brands including Coca Cola – Burn, Sprite & Thums Up, Citibank India, Citibank US, Unilever – Lifebuoy & Lipton, Pernod Ricard – Chivas Regal & Blenders Pride, Yum – Taco Bell India, Fiat Chrysler – Fiat and Jeep India, Abbott, MetLife, Carlton and United Breweries, Lava International – Xolo, United Nations, UNICEF, United Nations Statistics Division, United Nations Development Programme, etc.

     

  • Ballabh will be leading the agency's efforts in digital media planning and strategy for all clients

    Cheil appoints Vivek Ballabh as AVP – Digital Media

    By a correspondent

     

    Cheil Worldwide SW Asia announced the appointment of Vivek Ballabh as Associate Vice President – Digital Media. Ballabh will be leading the agency’s efforts in digital media planning and strategy for all clients. He will be reporting to Rajesh Bhatia, Senior VP & Head Digital, Cheil Worldwide SW Asia.

     

    Ballabh is an accomplished digital media professional with over 12 years of experience and a proven track record of planning and executing numerous integrated digital campaigns that have worked to the advantage of driving client businesses. Known for his out-of-the-box thinking, he is a strong believer in capturing consumer minds through effective deployment of new media strategies.

     

    Hari Krishnan

    Hari Krishnan, COO, Cheil Worldwide, SW Asia said, “Vivek is an accomplished digital media specialist and will add muscle to our strategic firepower in Digital.  His joining enhances our talent pool and will enable us to broaden our scope and augment our offering to a larger market.”

     

    “We are delighted to have Vivek on board. With his knowledge and experience I believe, he will be an invaluable asset to Cheil India’s Interactive team,” said Rajesh Bhatia, Senior VP & Head Digital, Cheil Worldwide, SW Asia.

     

    Ballabh joins from Razorfish [Publicis] where he was Sr. VP Digital Media. Prior to this he was with Solutions | Digitas [Publicis], where he set up the entire Digital Media practice and was responsible for  both operations and P&L. Previously he was with Webchutney as Head of Media Planning, where he led the HP business and was instrumental in launching successful campaigns for PSG. His work on the launch of a new range of notebooks by HP was awarded with a Bronze at Zenith Optimedia’s ROI Excellence Awards in 2008.

     

    Ballabh is an alumnus of The Institute of Public Enterprise (IPE), Hyderabad, from where he obtained his MBA and a Graduate in Science from Osmania University, Hyderabad.

     

  • The adspend is valued at Rs 25-30 crore and the account will be handled by Cheil India's Mumbai and Gurgaon offices

    Cheil bags Lavie by Bagzone

    By A Correspondent

     

    Cheil Worldwide SW Asia (Cheil India) has been awarded the creative mandate for Lavie, the women’s handbag and footwear brand from Bagzone Lifestyles Pvt Ltd. The brand was being handled by TBWA. The advertising spend is valued at Rs 25-30 crore and will be handled by Cheil India’s Gurgaon and Mumbai offices.

     

    Hari Krishnan
    Sandeep Goenka

    Confirming the win, Hari Krishnan, COO, Cheil Worldwide SW Asia, said: “Lavie is indeed a very prestigious win for Cheil. I am glad Bagzone gave us the opportunity to demonstrate our integrated capability. As a brand, Lavie already enjoys very good recall but needs to move the needle on brand attitude. We are very excited with this mandate – creative juices will flow and bring our ideas alive across all touch points of the consumer journey.”

     

    On Cheil’s appointment as Lavie’s creative partner, Sandeep Goenka, COO of Bagzone said: “Cheil’s integrated approach was very robust. Lavie is a young brand yet enjoys good recall. However, the need is to take it to the next level with the right partners – we are happy that Cheil’s creative combined with shopper/ retail capability brought alive the idea of a complete consumer voyage.”

     

  • Cheil Worldwide has announced the appointment of Atishi Pradhan as Chief Strategy Officer.

    Cheil appoints Atishi Pradhan as CSO

    By A Correspondent

     

    Cheil Worldwide SW Asia has announced the appointment of brand strategist Atishi Pradhan as Chief Strategy Officer. Ms Pradhan will lead the Integrated Strategy function at Cheil – encompassing traditional,digital, retail and experiential divisions. She will also spearhead the agency’s proprietary category/ consumer knowledge initiatives and guide both current and potential clients on brand marketing strategies. In addition, she will play an active role in enhancing data analytics, research, insights and new capabilities for Cheil in the region. She joins from Mogae Media where she held a similar position since February 2012.

     

    Hari Krishnan

    Confirming the appointment, Hari Krishnan, Chief Operating Officer, Cheil Worldwide SW Asia, said: “We are delighted to have Atishi on board to lead our integrated strategy function. As Cheil exponentially continues to grow business and capability, the need is to establish thought leadership. Atishi brings the much-needed mindset and experience for us to focus and succeed in this area. Her ability to create engaging, strategically-led ideas will be invaluable to Cheil.”

     

    Commenting on her joining, Ms Pradhan said: “I am really excited about working at Cheil. I believe there are many exciting opportunities ahead as it is an era where technology and new media are transforming everything around them. I am looking to bringing about transformations that drive brand solutions and create brand opportunities.”