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Tag: JWT

  • The new global relationship will be run out of Apollo Tyres' Global Marketing Office in London

    Apollo Tyres appoints J. Walter Thompson as its global creative agency

    By A Correspondent

     

    Apollo Tyres, a leading tyre major, has announced the appointment of J. Walter Thompson Company as its global creative agency, which the latter won after a multi-agency pitch. J. Walter Thompson Company has replaced Apollo Tyres’ earlier agency, The Brooklyn Brothers.

     

    Apollo and Vredestein are the key brands of Apollo Tyres portfolio, and J. Walter Thompson Company will work on growing these brands globally.

     

    Marco Paracciani

    Marco Paracciani, Chief Marketing Officer, Apollo Tyres Ltd said, “We thank The Brooklyn Brothers for the work done in the last year. We are very excited to have J. Walter Thompson Company on board with us to further grow the two great brands — Apollo and Vredestein. The team has demonstrated real passion and understanding of our brands. We look forward to working with them and develop category leading communications.”

     

    Jagdip Bakshi, J. Walter Thompson Company London Global Team Leader added, “Apollo is an amazingly successful business which continues to challenge and set new benchmarks in the tyre industry. It is an exciting time to be partnering with them and we look forward to developing great work.”

     

    The new global relationship will be run out of Apollo Tyres’ Global Marketing Office in London and J. Walter Thompson Company will service from its London, Amsterdam and New Delhi offices.

     

  • It will be held on Friday, June 12 from 4 to 6pm at the Hall of Culture, Nehru Centre Mumbai

    JWT tribute to Mike Khanna on Friday, June 12

    By A Correspondent

     

    Leading advertising agency network JWT is organising an industry tribute to veteran adperson and JWT Chairman Emeritus Mike Khanna who passed away on June 7. It will be held on Friday, June 12 from 4 to 6pm at the Hall of Culture on the Ground Floor of the Nehru Centre Discovery of India Building at Worli in Mumbai.

     

  • From secretaries, studio artists and accountants to members of the executive committee, all have poignant stories to establish their personal relationship with Mike Khanna, writes the late JWT Chairmain Emeritus's long-time work mate, Ivan Arthur

    Ivan Arthur on Mike Khanna. Wizard without a wand

    By Ivan Arthur

     

    The business world will toss numbers; will talk of the magical growth he showed in the time he led Hindustan Thompson, now JWT; first as head of the Delhi office, which bobbed up from No.7 in that city to No.1 in just one year of his taking over; he did the same with the Bombay office and finally as CEO of HTA, India, he walked the agency up a steep climb to the pinnacle; success following him like a poodle.

     

    And those who do not know him will have visions of a man like some others with similar achievements, men who draw attention to their success with big flourishes of the corporate wand and the abracadabra of individual style.

     

    With Mike there were no flourishes; no conjurer’s patter, no abracadabra showmanship. He almost seemed like a novice with a pack of cards, slowly dealing them out, stopping to spit-wet his fingers when suddenly you would notice: he has dealt you an ace. And then another and another. You looked in awe. And there he was, unimpressed with his own magic, intent on just dealing you those aces.

     

    But the aces we are talking about are not those numbers; of billings, growth, profit or industry ranking; facts and figures that even then placed him on the throne of the advertising industry. Oh there is much to be said about all that and the business world can talk about it at length. What ‘Thompsonites’ will talk about are other aces, their own personal ones, for which they will remember him most. From secretaries, studio artists and accountants to members of the executive committee, all have poignant stories to establish their personal relationship with Mike: of how on a bad day, he sat them down, got to the heart of the problem and sent them away with a new spring in their step; of how they came to him with clenched fists over an issue with a colleague and how a cuppa tea with him would end in handshakes all round. A creative director will tell you how, on the occasion of the global CEO’s visit, her presentation was delayed by an hour, and how Mike went up to her, put his hand on her shoulder and said, “Relax. This is not the end of the world.” “I could have kissed him then,” she said. “But I went about getting the job done.” An office manager narrates how on his wife’s birthday, he had invited Mike home for dinner, at which he demonstrated the five-finger-and-palm bhangra clap.

     

    His manner was calming. He broke down difficult and high tension situations with his quiet, unbeatable logic to resolve both business and even creative crises. his intuitive feel for the moment, touched with humaneness, his ability to get down to the root of the matter at hand to help you with a problem and above all, his sense of fairness were among the aces up his sleeve. These were the aces he dealt around.

     

    Early this morning, on the 7th of June, the mobile phones of those who worked with Mike were clogged with messages, all of them saying that they were still holding in their hand the aces that Mike had personally dealt them: the ‘can do’ spirit. The freedom to try and fail. A strong sense of self-worth. Fairness. Integrity. Leadership. Challenge. A sense of fun. Aces that they hold close to their chest. Aces that have led them to where they are today. Many are now happily retired and a good number are CEOs, chairmen of companies and leaders in their fields. They are all of them echoing one line,”I am what I am today because of Mike.”

     

    Ivan Arthur is former national creative director of JWT India where he spent 38 years in before retiring in 2002.He blogs at Excalibu (http://arthurivannoel.blogspot.in). Republished with permission from the writer. First posted at https://www.facebook.com/MikeKhannaTribute

     

  • The veteran adperson who took HTA and then JWT to dizzying heights, passed away on the weekend

    RIP, Mike Khanna. Chairman Emeritus,JWT

     

    A Correspondent

     

    To generations of advertising, marketing and media professionals in the country, Mike Khanna, short for Mahinder K Khanna has been an institution. Like the legendrary Subhas Ghoshal from whom he took over the reins of JWT (then HTA), Khanna was among the greats of Indian advertising who built their agency and the brands it nurtured to dizzying heights.

     

    Veteran adperson and Chairman Emeritus, JWT, Mike Khanna passed away late Saturday at age 76. He took over the reins of JWT (then HTA) from the legendary Subhas Ghoshal in 1984 and spent over 38 years with the agency before assuming the role of Chairman Emeritus in January 2004 when he passed the baton of the CEO on to Colvyn Harris.

     

    Khanna, always very proper and regarded as the man who ensured that HTA, and then JWT, emerged as the #1 agency in the country. Not just in size, but also in systems and processes.

     

    Speaking on his passing, Tarun Rai, CEO, JWT said: “J Walter Thompson owes so much to Mike. And many, like me, owe their careers to him.  He was a legend in Indian advertising and a great leader and motivator. For decades, he and HTA (and later JWT) were synonymous. His legacy is extraordinary. He will be missed.” Rai worked very closely with Khanna during his earlier tenure with JWT.

     

    Khanna, notes a JWT statement, built HTA into “not just the single largest agency in India but also one that was known to build some of the leading brands of the country”. He played an active role in industry affairs, such as the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI). Khanna started his professional life in market research with SSC&B, New York. An economics honours graduate, he obtained his MBA from New York University. He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the AAAI.

     

    There are several tributes via Twitter and Facebook, and we’d like to reproduce this by by Colvyn Harris in dna. Not only did Harris succeed him, he also worked with him closely and ensured the transition was smooth.

    By Colvyn Harris

    The legacy lives on Mike, in the stories we share about you. And in the  great institution you built. Many of us owe you for being mentor and guide in our professional and personal lives.

    How does one tell a story of the passing away of a true legend of our times, or words to express the impact Mike had on so many.

    We were blessed to have known him and his ideals and values, which still continue, and which have become the foundation of India’s finest advertising agency –  Hindustan Thompson Associates then, and now J Walter Thompson.

    His belief was best articulated in an oft-used phrase which summed up our purpose so appropriately: “to build the finest company, which would stand the test of time…”.

    Mike lived by human values of decency and grace, of professionalism and exactitude, and set the highest standards for us; so evident all across a company which thrives by those very values even today.

    In his footsteps, generations will follow, in our company and across the advertising industry where he played  such an invaluable role.

    Mike Khanna will be remembered for many aspects. The professional who was instrumental in the huge success of the company; the CEO who led us all to be what we are and what we achieved; for being the complete family man; and the charismatic and charming persona for the advertising fraternity given the man he was.

    For the advertising industry, his passing leaves a huge void, as many knew him as a friend having been the generation that together built our industry.

    For the professionals who walked the corridors of HTA and went on to greater success, their true inspiration was Mike.

    To sum it up in Nelson Mandela’s words:

    “when a man has done what he considers to be his duty…he can rest in peace”.

    You will be remembered Mike.  Always.

     Colvyn Harris is now Executive Director Global Growth & Client Development at JWT

    The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon in Mumbai.

     

  • The ad narrates that 99acres.com can provide best rental options in your town whenever required

    99acres.com TVC on ‘Maximum Rental Properties’

    By A Correspondent

     

    99acres.com has launched its new TV commercial highlighting rental options on the platform. The TVC that has been created by JWT is designed with the objective to establish the concept of searching rental properties hassle free using its mobile platform. The ad narrates that 99acres.com can provide best rental options in your town whenever required.

     

    Conceptualised by JWT, the story is about two friends living together in an apartment. While they are watching television in their living room, a girl walks in with her luggage. She greets both these guys and they reciprocate.

     

    While this is happening, one of the guy turns towards his friend sitting beside him and he finds that he is not there. We realise that the guy is actually standing next to the girl. Both of them are a couple. This guy then says to his friend that both of them are moving together in their apartment. Knowing this the other guy is thrilled but realization sets in the very next moment. With a funny expression on his face, he realizes that he will have to move out and he has no choice. Cut to next scene, we see him sitting in the middle of a busy street with his luggage and searching for a rental property on 99acres.com mobile app. With 2 lakh+ rental properties on the site, you can virtually get a place on rent anytime, is what the promise is from 99acres.com.

     

    Commenting on the campaign, Sumeet Singh, Senior Vice President- Marketing and Corporate Communications, Info Edge said, “The TVC has been executed in a manner that appeals to young working professionals. An entertaining plot has been used to subtly inform our users about 99acres.com being a one stop solution for all their property related needs. Using the mobile platform as the chosen medium, our TVC showcases that 99acres.com can help you find the best rental options in town anytime”.

     

    Commenting on the campaign, Sundeep Sehgal, Associate Vice President, JWT Delhi said, “The film is a comical take on life’s unpredictable twists and turns. You never really know when the roof over your head might be wrested away. But if you have the 99acres.com mobile app, you needn’t worry because it gives you instant access to a plethora of properties.”

     

  • With over 12 years experience in the fields of advertising and marketing, Mr Kapany was VP, Marketing & Ecommerce, at ICICI Prudential Life prior to taking on Paytm portfolio

    Jaskaran Kapany quits ICICI Pru to join Paytm as VP Mktng

    By A Correspondent

     

    Jaskaran Kapany

    Mobile commerce facilitation firm Paytm has appointed Jaskaran Kapany as VP Marketing.

     

    With over 12 years experience in the fields of advertising and marketing, Mr Kapany was VP, Marketing & Ecommerce, at ICICI Prudential Life prior to taking on Paytm portfolio.

     

    His functional expertise traverses large scale Brand Building, Strategy, Consumer Insights, Media Strategy, Buying and Research.  As Vice President – Marketing at ICICI Pru, he spearheaded all national brand-building, consumer initiatives and was responsible for the ICICI Pru ‘Achche Bandeh’ campaign. He also managed the company’s E-commerce business for a short while.

     

    Prior to ICICI Pru, he spent over six years with Lowe Lintas and JWT. His experience here included large scale brand building, repositioning exercises, innovative activation projects with some of the world’s leading consumer brands including Unilever (Rin), Godrej (Brylcreem, Nutrine), SBI Mutual Fund, Standard Chartered Bank, Reliance Money, Baskin Robbins, Philips, De Beers (DTC) etc. He has also bagged multiple Effie awards for marketing effectiveness of his work.

     

  • They come in with solid experience and strong body of work to showcase

    Tejali Shete and Ajay Menon appointed Senior CD at DDB Mudra South & East

    By A Correspondent

     

    Tejali Shete
    Ajay Menon

    Tejali Shete and Ajay Menon have joined DDB Mudra South & East as Senior Creative Directors, based out of the agency’s Bengaluru office.

     

    With over a decade of experience in the creative communications industry, Tejali joins DDB Mudra from Grey Worldwide and a short stint at Leo Burnett, Kuala Lumpur. Tejali has worked with leading advertising agencies including Contract, Lowe Lintas, Ogilvy & Mather, Creativeland Asia, and Percept/H. She’s worked on an array of world-renowned brands including Coca-Cola regional, Samsung regional, Pantene, AmbiPur, Wella, Downy, Godrej Cinthol, Godrej Aer, Godrej Expert Hair Color, Asian Paints, Samsonite, HSBC, Tata Indicom and Photon, Louis Phillip, Vladivar Vodka, Johnson’s Baby, Femina, Ceat, and Brooke Bond Red Label to name a few.

     

    Ajay Menon joins DDB Mudra from JWT Chennai where he was Senior Creative Director & AVP. With over 16 years of experience, Ajay has worked on MRF, Blackberry smartphones, Cinthol, Godrej, TI Cycles, Indian Terrain, HP, Fiat, Mitsubishi, Sun Direct, Univercell, Mico Bosch, Lacto Calamine, and Piramal Healthcare. He has worked at Orchard in Mumbai, JWT in Chennai, and Saatchi in Bengaluru.

     

    Ranji Cherian

    On the new appointments Ranji Cherian, President, DDB Mudra South & East, quoted, “”I am delighted to have Tejali Shete & Ajay Menon join our team at DDB Mudra South and East. They come in with solid experience and strong body of work to showcase. They are extremely talented and nice to work with and fit into our DDB culture that prioritizes creativity & humanity. I am confident that their contribution will take our agency to greater heights.”

     

  • Linen Lintas bagged the sole Grand Prix awarded at the Creative Abby at Goafest 2015

    JWT gains most metals at Creative Abby

     

    Goafest 2014:: Text and Pictures by Pradyuman Maheshwari, Shailesh Mule, Labonita Ghosh & Dyanne Coelho

    More stories coming up tomorrow (Tuesday, April 14)

     

    By Pradyuman Maheshwari

     

    For some years now, Goafest, the annual congregation of advertising, media and marketing professionals, has been known for the controversies surrounding it. Some from the creative fraternity, which constitutes a majority of the delegates, have said the knowledge sessions have not been too exciting, and the Abby, the awards run by the Advertising Club, has been plagued by its own set of problems in the recent past. Even as the organisers tried to cleanse the system, there were charges of plagiarism and scam ads and allegations that the Ad Club wasn’t doing enough to check these.

     

    The problems at the 2013 event led to doubts being raised about the need for an overhaul. The parliamentary elections got the event last year shifted to end-May.

     

    While there may have been some logistical issues, the awards process at Goafest 2014 was cleaned up, although big players like Ogilvy and Lowe Lintas continued to stay away. That this negative sentiment of the Big 2 is only towards the Creative Abby at Goafest, and not directed at the Advertising Club as a whole, is evident from the fact that both participate in the Effie that the Ad Club also conducts annually.

     

    So how did Goafest 2015 go? It was a far improved version of the 2014, to be sure. The awards were controversy-free. Linen-Lintas, part of the Lowe Lintas family, won the sole Grand Prix for its #BraveandBeautiful ad campaign for Dabur. JWT India maxed the Creative Abby with 35 metals (nine golds, eight silvers and 18 bronze) followed by its own group agency Contract bagging 22 metals. In the Media Abby, presented on Day 1 of Goafest, Lodestar UM won three Golds in its tally of nine metals, but Mindshare and Madison gained more in terms of metals with 11 and 10 metals respectively. Maxus earned nine metals.

     

    JWT India wasn’t available for comment. In fact, normally the team winning the maximum metals at the Creative Abby assembles on stage for a celebration and photographs. Sadly, that didn’t happen, which is why you don’t see the stage crowded with the JWT team pic as our Big Story image today. Just one with Senthil Kumar and team collecting a metal for Nike.

     

    Meanwhile, for Advertising Agencies Association of India President MG ‘Ambi’ Parameswaran, Advertising Club President Pratap Bose and Goafest 2015 Organising Committee Chairman Nakul Chopra, the event has been a resounding success. Both Bose and Chopra told ‘dna of brands’, that this year’s fest has ticked all the desired boxes.

     

    Now, all eyes on Kyoorius’s ‘Melt’ and Advertising and Digital Awards next month.

     

     

    Goafest 2015 – Day One
    Goafest 2015 – Day Two
    Goafest 2015 – Day Three

     

  • He was Marketing Head and part of the start-up team for Danone India and also spent nearly 15 years with JWT India at its flagship Mumbai office working with Unilever and other key clients

    Varun Channa is MD, Mindshare Malaysia

    Varun Channa

    By A Correspondent

     

    Mindshare APAC, the global media agency network part of WPP, has appointed Varun Channa, to the role of Managing Director, Mindshare Malaysia.  He joins Mindshare after six years with Danone Indonesia, where he helped to turn around their fresh dairy business and developed the roadmap for their Isotonics. Prior to that, he was Marketing Head and part of the start-up team for Danone India and also spent nearly 15 years with JWT India at its flagship Mumbai office working with Unilever and other key clients.

     

    Gowthaman Ragothaman

    Commenting on the appointment, Gowthaman Ragothaman, COO of Mindshare Asia Pacific, said:  “We are totally delighted to welcome Varun on board, who brings a wealth of experience across industries and markets. This is the beginning of a new chapter in the whole new world of connected media, where content, creativity and consumer data in the Malaysian market is at the centre of all activities and importance. “ Adding on to this, Girish Menon, CEO, GroupM Malaysia said: “With Varun, we have hit upon a fantastic combination – with JWT, he honed his skills in developing communications solutions for some iconic global brands and then as a tech-savvy marketer with Danone in tree different fast-growing, competitive markets, he got his hands dirty developing marketing solutions to deliver strong business results. I believe these are the combination of skills and experiences that our clients increasingly expect from the head of their agency, so I am confident that Varun will lead Mindshare to even greater success!”

     

    Commenting on his appointment, Mr Channa said: “It’s a pleasure to be part of Mindshare Malaysia in these exciting times when media is playing a even greater role in growing our clients’ business. Seeing the pipeline of innovative digital solutions we have, I look forward to us adding greater value to our clients’ business.” Mr Channa takes over the role from Gerald Wittenberger, who returned to Europe at the end of 2014.

     

  • The agency will handle all strategic, mainline advertising and digital creative services for the brand

    NPCI hands over creative mandate to J. Walter Thompson

    By A Correspondent

     

    National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has awarded its creative mandate to J. Walter Thompson India following a multi-agency pitch. The account will be handled by the agency’s Mumbai office.

     

    The agency will handle all strategic, mainline advertising and digital creative services for the brand.

     

    “National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is pleased to be associated with J. Walter Thompson India. NPCI aims to reach out to every Indian with its products & services, we are sure J. Walter Thompson will aid in achieving this massive yet exciting and daunting task,” said A.P Hota, MD & CEO, National Payments Corporation of India while making the announcement.

     

    The mandate is to be the organisation’s strategy and creative partner for their flagship brand RuPay and other products. The agency will be responsible for the entire creative mandate in the ATL and BTL space.

     

    “We are privileged to partner NPCI in its mission to deliver efficient and speedy financial services. NPCI will play a crucial role in writing the new India story and we are delighted to be a part of this journey,” said Rajesh Gangwani, Managing Partner J. Walter Thompson, Mumbai.

     

  • The new Live It Abhi campaign inspires young Indians to shake things up and leave a mark wherever they go

    ‘Live it Abhi’, exhorts Pepsi to the youth on today

    By A Correspondent

     

    Pepsi celebrates the fun and entertainment attitude of Indian youth by rolling out a new thematic campaign – Live It Abhi.

     

    With its irreverent spirit and dynamism, Pepsi has always led youth imagination and challenged convention. The new Live It Abhi campaign inspires young Indians to shake things up and leave a mark wherever they go. The campaign features a star-studded ensemble cast with brand ambassadors Ranbir Kapoor and Virat Kohli – two of the country’s hottest and most sought after youth icons. In an interesting twist, leading actress Anushka Sharma makes a special appearance.

     

    Speaking about the launch of Pepsi’s new Live It Abhi campaign, Ruchira Jaitly, Senior Director Marketing – Social Beverages, PepsiCo India, said “Pepsi has always shared a strong and culturally relevant connect with the youth. We have been an integral part of Indian pop culture and shaped opinion at every stage. This year is extraordinarily special at Pepsi, as we make the young Indian the focal point of all our campaigns and activations. In 2015, the consumer is ‘front-and-center’ for Pepsi, not just as a target audience, but in a much more exciting and meaningful way. This year, we will engage with Indian youth in a manner that has never been seen before in India.”

     

    The new TVC enlivens the Live It Abhi philosophy by urging the consumer to grab opportunities, dive headlong into life, and live it now. For the first time, consumers will see Ranbir and Virat together in a Pepsi ad; along with a sizzling cameo by Anushka Sharma. The film opens with Virat Kohli batting, and sending the ball over the ropes in a smashing stroke. Sitting in the crowd is Ranbir Kapoor, who catches the ball and with a Pepsi bottle in his hand, decides to Live it Abhi that very moment. Watch the link to know more.

     

    Talking about the TVC, Anuja Chauhan, Creative Consultant, JWT said “The ad celebrates the irreverent cheeky attitude of Youth today, who see life not as a spectator sport but as a stage – with spotlights to be stolen, whistles to be earned, and hearts to be won. And that it is better to try – and flop – than not try at all.”

     

  • The new integrated campaign highlights a relationship of equals between mother and child

    Kellogg’s takes the ‘Khuljaye Bachpan’ route for Chocos

    By A Correspondent

     

    Kellogg’s Chocos has launched a new campaign ‘Khuljaye Bachpan’. This campaign highlights the win-win equation between mother and child, where they learn and grow together. Buddy parenting makes way for some unforgettable moments between mother and child and through ‘Khuljaye Bachpan’, kids and mothers have a symbiotic, fun relationship over Chocos which enables the child to unlock happiness in their childhood. The campaign motivates mothers to nurture intimate, fun relationships with their kids throughout their childhood.

     

    Speaking about this initiative, Harpreet Singh Tibb, Director of Marketing, Kellogg India said, “Our new campaign “Khuljaye Bachpan” is built on the insight that parent-kid relationships have now evolved into a relationship of equals. Parents learn from the kid as much as they teach them. Kellogg’s Chocos is kid loved and mom approved because of its chocolaty taste and roti-like benefits. It creates those precious moments where the mother and kid bond. These moments create a happy and memorable childhood, a childhood that is uninhibited and allows the kid to discover the joy of growing up. Chocos as a brand celebrates uninhibited childhood and over the next few months we will be creating many such platforms that allow mom and kids to bond better.”

     

    The campaign TVC features brand ambassador Juhi Chawla portraying the role of a buddy mom to her kid. She shares a friendly equation with her son who has just lost in a video game and boosts his confidence by saying that “Harna jeetna is all part of the game”. The TVC then reveals an interesting twist that he has lost the game against his mother, played by Juhi, and she has learnt all the moves from him. It reiterates that Kellogg’s Chocos creates moments of happiness, where mother and child learn fun things together.

     

    The TVC will be supported by 20 second testimonials by celebrity moms sharing their ‘Khuljaye Bachpan’ moments with their kids. Viewers will also witness celebrity moms inviting real life stories from mothers bonding with their kids. Viewers will be encouraged to share their own ‘Khuljaye Bachpan’ stories, which will then be recognized by the brand through gratifications.

     

    Commenting on the latest campaign, Nandita Chalam, Vice President & Executive Creative Director, JWT said, “Modern parenting is all about letting children have an uninhibited childhood. Our new campaign philosophy for Kellogg’s Chocos reflects this – ‘Khuljaye Bachpan.’ We brought this alive by showing a new trend in families – today, it’s not just children who learn from their parents but parents also learn a lot from their children. As part of this campaign, Juhi Chawla invites other parents to share such stories of learning from each other. Digital and activation legs of the campaign are all built around the same thought of ‘Khuljaye Bachpan’.”

     

    The campaign is an integrated promotion campaign comprising of amplification across TV, digital and on-ground to engage with mothers and children.