MxMIndia

Tag: Maxus

  • The account will be managed by the Maxus New Delhi team

    Getit opts for Maxus

    By a correspondent

     

    Maxus has won the media planning duties for askme.com and askmebazaar.com. Getit Infomedia owns a portfolio of brands operating in both online and offline properties with brands including ASKME, ASKMEBAZAAR, FREEADS & YELLOWPAGES across Indian online search, deals, marketplace and classified industry.

     

    The account will be managed by the Maxus New Delhi team.

     

    ASKME is being launched as a next generation mobile app for consumption across local search, marketplace, classified and deals. It is platform agnostic and allows consumption across Voice (04444444444, ten times four), Mobile (APP n WAP) and Online. It has also executed some industry defining product partnerships such as with WECHAT.

     

    Manav Sethi, Marketing Head, Getit Infomedia said “Our determination to lead the online search, deals, marketplace & classified space with clutter breaking marketing activities also drives us to ensure we work with the best of the agency to deliver on the ambition. After careful evaluation, we decided on Maxus, as it was able to bring in consumer experience beyond traditional communications.”

     

    V. Narayanan, General Manager, Maxus New Delhi said “We are thrilled to partner Getit Infomedia. Their brands focuses on strategic thinking & smart innovations when it comes to communications solutions. This very much aligns with the Maxus way of working. We look forward to contributing to their success & work towards building the portfolio of brands in a fiercely contested market place.”

     

     

  • Maxus New Delhi has won the media investment mandate for Paytm, widely regarded as the country's largest mobile commerce platform

    Maxus wins media mandate for Paytm

    By A Correspondent

     

    Leading media agency Maxus has won the media investment mandate for Paytm, widely regarded as the country’s largest mobile commerce platform. The business will be managed by Maxus, New Delhi.

     

    Paytm started with mobile recharge and utility bill payments and today it offers a full marketplace to consumers on its mobile apps. Paytm has over 12 million registered users. In a short span of time, Paytm has scaled to more than 7 Million orders per month.

     

    Said Vijay Shekhar Sharma, founder and CEO of Paytm, said: “Maxus has come on board to help us with our media investments and planning. What impressed us about the team at Maxus is their simple, effective and to the point approach with focus on a lot of new media vehicles and initiatives such as content, experiential etc. We look forward to working closely with the team.”

     

    Said V Narayanan, General Manager, Maxus New Delhi, “We are truly delighted with the win and look forward to creating a long term partnership with Paytm and One97communication. Mobile commerce and marketing is the future, and Paytm is pioneering several products and services in the field. We currently envisage an integrated strategy using our global proprietary Relationship Media Framework to create a deeper engagement with targeted consumers using smart media solutions.”

     

  • Maxus has bagged the media investment mandate in India for the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014

    Maxus wins media mandate for T20 World Cup 2014

    By A Correspondent

     

    GroupM agency Maxus has bagged the media investment mandate in India for the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014. Maxus has previously handled three campaigns in India for the International Cricket Council (ICC), including the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, ICC World Twenty20 Sri Lanka 2012 and ICC Champions Trophy England & Wales 2013.

     

    Kartik Sharma

    Commenting on the win, Kartik Sharma, Managing Director Maxus, said: “Cricket captures the hearts and minds of our nation, and Maxus is extremely proud and excited to manage the media duties for the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014. The T20 format has taken the game to a whole new audience, especially women and kids, and there still lies a huge opportunity to make the game bigger!” – MxMIndia

     

  • Maxus announced the elevation of Sanchayeeta Verma as Managing Partner, Maxus South India & South Asia

    Maxus elevates Sanchayeeta Verma to Managing Partner

     

    Sanchayeeta Verma
    Sanchayeeta Verma

    By A Correspondent 

    Media services major Maxus announced the elevation of Sanchayeeta Verma as Managing Partner, Maxus South India & South Asia.

    Ms Verma, who was has been with GroupM for over 10 years, moved from Mindshare to Maxus in 2009  as head of the Bangalore office. Over the years she has managed the agency’s Bangalore operations and also established the Kerala set-up.

    Speaking on her appointment, Kartik Sharma, Managing Director, Maxus South Asia said, “Sanchayeeta is one of our star Maxusites.  A team player to the core, her sharp strategic thinking and keen sense of innovation keeps her and her team at the cutting edge of media investments and planning. We wish her all the best for her future endeavors at Maxus.”

    Upon her appointment, Ms Verma said, “The future of media is about choreographing convergence between traditional, digital and experiential media, content & data being the epicenter of it all. Maxus is best poised to lean into change towards this exciting new future and I look forward to it!”

     

     

  • The mandate came in to Maxus after a multi-agency pitch

    Maxus wins Kotak Mahindra business

    By A Correspondent

     

    Leading media agency Maxus has bagged the coveted mandate for the Kotak Mahindra Group in a multi-agency pitch.

     

    Speaking on the announcement, Kartik Sharma, MD, Maxus, South Asia, “We are excited about working with one of India’s most established brands, with a legacy of over 20 years.” Maxus is part of the WPP-owned GroupM media services conglomerate.

     

    The agency has been in the news for recent wins like Ruchi Soya, Tata Tea, Redbus and Musafir.com This year, it also retained the coveted L’Oreal account after an aggressive multi agency pitch.  “2013 has been a great year for Maxus and we are excited with yet another client in our roster,” added Mr Sharma.

     

     

     

  • Maxus has the won the media business on online bus ticket-booking site Redbus.in in a recently conducted pitch process

    Maxus wins Redbus media business

    By A Correspondent

     

    Maxus has the won the media business on Redbus.in in a recently conducted pitch process. Redbus.in, an online bus ticket-booking site, recently started advertising on television and other mass media. It was a highly contested pitch which saw the participation of Mindshare, Madison, ZO and Mudramax.

     

    Sanchayeeta Verma, GM, Maxus South who is the key lead in the pitch, said, “Redbus is a highly reputed name in the travel space. We are very excited with this win and believe our role is to help our clients navigate and maximize the opportunities of change in an always-on, fully digitized media world. And we’re looking forward to partnering Redbus in their exciting journey towards exponential growth.”

     

    Commented LK Gupta, Chief Marketing Officer, Redbus, “As an ecommerce travel brand launching in mass media for the first time, we were looking for the right blend of aggressive presence, yet delivering efficiently for the business. In Maxus, we found a partner that showed innate understanding of what our business needs are, and complementing it with sound planning and buying capabilities in media. We’re excited to embark on this exciting journey during which we’re sure Ajit and his team will be big contributors. ”

     

    RedBus.in started in 2005, with a personal experience of the founder members. During Diwali of 2005, one of them wanted to spend the festival in his hometown. Since he didn’t know his schedule till the end, taking a bus was the only choice. He ran around town hunting for a ticket, but they were all sold out minutes before he reached the travel agents. That’s when he thought of the possibility of providing consumers the convenience of booking a bus ticket over the internet. The objective was two-fold – to ensure that they don’t have to leave the confines of their comfort to book a ticket, and to help them get a ticket when they need it the most.

     

  • As the GroupM South Asia CEO assumes the Maxus Global CEO role, MxMIndia speaks to a cross-section of associates, including some from competition

    The Importance of Being Vikram Sakhuja

     

    By Johnson Napier

    With inputs from Ananya Saha

     

    It may be the calling of a lifetime but as Vikram Sakhuja gets ready to shoulder new responsibilities as Global CEO of Maxus, he leaves behind a legacy at Group M that’s not going to be easy to match. Apart from influencing the team and colleagues to take on bigger challenges at the workplace, Mr Sakhuja has ensured that that the four media agencies under Group M umbrella continue to dish out excellence in whatever manner possible. The results are for all to see as the Group collectively has soared to great heights over the past few years and has become a hot favourite with several clients as well.

     

    On the eve of a farewell the team at Group M is hosting for him, MxMIndia spoke to a few industry captains who have worked or interacted closely with Mr Sakhuja maverick to gather their perspective on his contribution to Group M and towards the industry.

     

    CLIENT:

    Ajay Kakar, Chief Marketing Officer, Aditya Birla Group – Financial Services

    What does one say about Vikram? He is an omnipresent shadow. And what i mean by omnipresent is that he is there all the time but in his perfect humility and understated personality. He is not overpowering or overbearing but always there wherever you need him, wherever you need him. So as a client, i can say he is an omnipresent shadow, a very reassuring person to have to have access to and he will be there.

     

    As an industryperson, he is a very rounded person because he has the rare experience of agency, client and media. He is not a theoretical preacher but he has been on all sides and knows the practical side of clients and clients’ business. It gives him an unparalleled edge. The biggest thing i have noticed about him that he has managed to create culture at Group M, which reflects his personality of understated people who just do their best. Typically, advertising is about talking about your own self and talking about your own work. Here, his personality is of being understated and letting his work speak for himself and he has managed to permeate that culture across all Group M companies. Today, if you look at the Group M leadership belt, you find the same welcome personality across the agencies and people.

     

    What he has achieved is unparalleled  Look at the way Group M agencies are ruling not on size but on recognition also. On one end it is Mindshare and at the other, it is Maxus. Whichever horse won the race, it was Group M or Vikram.

     

    COMPETITION:

    Sam Balsara, Chairman & Managing Director, Madison World

    I’ve known Vikram Sakhuja for quite some time now first as a client at P&G and Coca Cola and then at Star India and later Group M. I see Vikram as a true-blue professional with high professional integrity and commitment to do a good, objective and honest job at hand. Also, he has performed well as a leader at Group M and his promotion is richly deserved. His promotion in fact is a cause of pride for all of us in the media industry and also India Inc. because he is an outstanding example of someone from within our industry who has been chosen to be a global head and that too operate out of India.

     

    Ambika Srivastava, Chairperson, VivaKi Exchange India

    I’ve known Vikram Sakhuja since his brand management days when he was with Coca Cola. He was very sharp and clear and was always able to ask the right questions. It’s a fundamental want but some people do not ask the right questions especially at forums. What I’ve noticed with Vikram is that he is always focused and asks the right questions. That is what enables him to articulate and address issues in the right manner.

     

    As for his stint at Group M, I personally feel that he has done a great job especially during the last 2-3 years when the economy was going through a tough phase. His appointment as global CEO of Maxus is indeed an achievement; he would be a great role model for the younger generation. I am indeed pleased that Indian talent has been recognised; it was indeed waiting to happen.

     

    MEDIA HOUSE:

    Bhaskar Das, Group CEO, Zee News (cluster)

    From what I’ve seen of Vikram Sakhuja, he is truly an inspirational leader as he is known to lead by example whether on the intellectual or managerial front. Of the many qualities that he possesses the one I think he is good at is keeping his eye on the future and seeking out cutting-edge development in the business and media space. He has a good understanding of business theories and the way it needs to undergo constant evolution for its own betterment. Our industry is such that it is undergoing continuous evolution due to acceleration in technological development and global practices. For a media buying house to be successful needs to have a good thought leadership in place and that is what Vikram Sakhuja has excelled in abundantly.

     

    During his stint, I think Group M has achieved greater heights and much of that has been possible due to his dynamic thought leadership skills. He has even created leaders out of his organisation in the time that he was at Group M. It is a matter of pride that an Indian has managed to get a global mandate, which signifies the importance being paid to Indian talent and also India being the epicentre of intellectual and managerial ability.

     

    (Dr Bhaskar Das was until recently President, Bennett Coleman and Company Ltd)

     

    COLLEAGUE:

    Ajit Varghese, Managing Director South Asia – Maxus and Motivator

    Vikram has been a client, a boss and great leader for me in the last decade. His biggest strength is depth of knowledge, ability to dig deep into issues and ability to focus on issue in hand than the people involved. To me his biggest contribution to GroupM is his ability to choreograph the strengths of 15-17 units heads and not letting competition have anything easy.

     

     


  • Vuclip has been selected to amplify the 'trendify' campaign for the Nokia Lumia 510 through more than 55 million video views

    Vuclip helps Nokia, Maxus trendify social media sharing

    By A Correspondent

     

    Independent mobile video and media company Vuclip has announced that it has been selected by Nokia and Maxus India to promote the much touted Trendify brand campaign for Nokia Lumia 510 on Vuclip’s mobile video portal and social networks. As many as 65 percent of Vuclip’s 14 million Indian users share videos primarily through Facebook and Twitter, making it the ideal platform to integrate Trendify and allow users to experience what Trendify means in the language of Nokia Lumia 510.

     

    Social users in general and the youth in particular are in the age of ‘discovery’ enabled by the proliferation of internet-enabled mobiles in India. Identifying this, Nokia, Maxus India and Vuclip have joined hands to empower the youth to discover and create new trends in time and spearhead innovative social media campaign on mobiles. As part of the product innovation involving a seamless integration with Vuclip, for the first time, the ‘Share’ button has been changed on a video portal to reflect the brand campaign. The ‘Share’ button for each video has temporarily been replaced with ‘Trendify’, encouraging users to now trend their videos directly on m.trendify.in at the click of a button, which in turn can be shared on Facebook, Twitter and other social sharing sites. More than 55 million videos on Vuclip are expected to be viewed in 2 weeks through this campaign. Besides its mobile portal, Vuclip has also integrated Trendify with its own social media properties to further amplify the campaign leading to virality, where it has extended Nokia’s opportunity for lucky users to win a Nokia Lumia 510.

     

    Viral Oza, Marketing Director, Nokia India said, “Through the Trendify campaign we wanted to connect to the urban youth on a platform and space that is relevant to them. The youth today are socially connected 24×7 and have their own take on life. They experiment to express their originality, creativity and individuality. Topics that trend affect their lives in a big way and is their tool to express themselves on the bigger stage. This was the genesis of the Trendify campaign. We believe that anyone can begin a trend by sharing, following, liking through social platforms. The Nokia Lumia 510 is designed to empower the Indian youth to start their own trends. By leveraging Vuclip, world’s leading mobile video platform, we wanted to bring the Indian youth even closer to the Trendify campaign. Creating trends requires a 360 degree approach, and with its exponential growth in India, leveraging entertainment snacking was a clear choice for us.”

     

    Unny Radhakrishnan, Digital Head (South Asia), Maxus India said, “Nokia wanted us to craft a campaign which exemplifies trendifying in the DNA of each of its core elements. Leading the curve in mobile video sharing, Vuclip fitted well with our strategy in helping us connect the Nokia “Trendify” campaign with millions of users in a fun sharing way almost instantly. One of the essential criteria that worked in their favour was that besides being a leader in mobile video sharing, their team was quick to internalize the core philosophy of our novel campaign, think out-of-the-box with creative application of technology, and adapt to make functional enhancements that added value to our campaign, instead of just cosmetic changes. Looking at the results, we are confident that this agile integration will help us optimally amplify the campaign across regions.”

     

    Commenting on the integration, Meera Chopra, Vice President – Head of Advertising Sales (APAC & ME), Vuclip said, “We are delighted that Vuclip has been chosen to showcase and integrate Trendify. This fun and path breaking campaign is yet another proof of how Vuclip is fast becoming an integral part of aggressive digital campaigns for leading brands like Nokia. In one of the most unique ways of perfect integration on the site, Vuclip has temporarily renamed the social Share link on all its videos as Trendify. This not only helps build a stronger brand recall but also builds a ‘cool quotient’ for the youth who now Trendifies, instead of just sharing.”

     

  • The timing of his appointment to Global CEO of Maxus couldn't have been better as the agency's HQ will shift to India + Dominic Proctor on Sakhuja

    India Shining with Vikram Sakhuja

     

    By Johnson Napier

     

     

    Proctor on Sakhuja

     

    Exclusive to MxMIndia: Dominic Proctor, President of GroupM Global on Vikram Sakhuja’s appointment to the position of Global CEO of Maxus and the relocation of Maxus’ Global Heaquarters to India

     

    Vikram has been selected as he is the best candidate for the job, not because he lives in India. The fact that he does live in India is an additional bonus because it spreads the management of Maxus around the world, consistent with the new world order. It also reflects the fact that much of our global senior talent resides in Asia and I fully expect that more of that talent will move into global positions in the years to come. Not just in GroupM agencies but business in general.

     

    The world has become a smaller place and boundaries are no longer barriers. Maxus does not have a single HQ so there is no plan to move more people into the market. Indeed the agency will continue to grow and develop as a very global business.

     

    Vikram will join the global management team of GroupM and I am really excited by the opportunity to work with him more closely. He will bring a different and interesting perspective to our business as we continue to grow. The fact that he is coming from a fast growing market will also be a benefit as we plan to grow quickly everywhere!

     

    I can’t think of anybody as qualified as Vikram to build on the great work that Kelly Clark and his team have done in establishing Maxus as the world’s fastest growing agency.

    As India celebrated her 66th Independence Day, the headquarters of the world’s fastest growing media agency is to be shifted to the country. And Vikram Sakhuja, currently Group M’s CEO for South Asia, has been appointed Global CEO of the media advertising network’s Maxus agency.

     

    Proctor Dominic

    Mr Sakhuja’s appointment was part of a series of senior-level changes announced on Wednesday by Dominic Proctor, President of GroupM Global. “The world has become a smaller place and boundaries are no longer barriers,” Mr Proctor told MxMIndia. “Maxus does not have a single HQ so there is no plan to move more people into the market. Indeed the agency will continue to grow and develop as a very global business.” Said Mr Sakhuja, “It’s very exciting and humbling at the same time… It’s still sinking in.”

     

    In the first move, GroupM North American CEO Rob Norman becomes Chief Digital Officer for GroupM Global, a new position at the company.

     

    Rob Norman

    “Our activity in digital will define our future success and we are truly fortunate that Rob will step into this crucial role full time,” Mr Proctor said in a communiqué issued earlier, announcing the movements.  “There is nobody better suited or more experienced than Rob to lead our teams into the future.”

     

    Mr Norman has extensive experience in the digital arena having served as CEO of GroupM Interaction since 2006.  Mr Proctor said his responsibilities will be significantly expanded in his new role.

     

    Kelly Clark

    At the same time, Mr Proctor said Kelly Clark, currently Global CEO of the GroupM agency Maxus, will succeed Mr Norman as CEO of GroupM North America.

     

    “Kelly has had wonderful success with our companies in Asia, the UK, and Europe and most recently at Maxus globally,” Mr Proctor said.  “His broad experience and track record will bring a great boost to our business in North America.”  Prior to taking over Maxus in 2008, Mr Clark served as CEO of GroupM Europe, Middle East and Africa.

     

     

    Talent and leadership is sitting everywhere: Vikram Sakhuja

     

    The new Global CEO of Maxus spoke to MxMIndia hours after the news of his appointment was announced

     

    Congratulations… has the news sunk in yet?

    It’s very exciting and humbling at the same time. It’s a very vibrant and exciting agency to be with. All I can say right now is that I am thrilled with the news. It’s still sinking in.

     

    In a sense you’ve piped some favourites to the job…

    I really have no idea on how the contender things work. It obviously involves the system and you’ll have to ask that to the bosses at Group M.

     

    We’ve seen the stellar work that you have done for Group M but personally, what would you attribute your ascent to the top to?

    I can’t really say what is it that has worked in my favour. One needs to introspect such things, I guess. Something great has obviously worked for me. But one has to work things up and have a gameplan and get people together to move things in a particular direction. The ability to have a vision and the ability to drive it are the things that I have tried to do as the Group CEO for Group M South Asia. And if that has worked, then it’s great.

     

    How big a challenge is it to fit in the shoes of Kelly Clark, who’s been promoted to CEO of Group M North America?

    Kelly’s shoes will be very large to fill. I remember that I joined the system when he was the APAC head at Mindshare and was transitioning between UK and Europe handling several roles for the agency before he moved to Maxus. Hats off to Kelly for the sheer intrusiveness and energy with which he has driven the agency. I am a big fan of his.

     

    What are the immediate changes that will be seen on ground?

    Not sure on when the new change will come into effect and will be clear only when a successor has been decided. These things take time and it is still work in progress.

     

    In a sense you become the first global CEO of a media agency to be based out of India. And Dominic Proctor too has highlighted the emergence of an APAC market as being the driving engine for the future. What do you have to say about this?

    It so happens that you got talent and leadership sitting everywhere. I have been fortunate enough to be picked out of here but at the end of the day, we are living in a pretty global world and the new reality is that communication barriers are slowly fading away. In our earlier system, people used to be running the system out of Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong but suddenly where you sit is not central to what is called the ‘headquarter concept’. In my case too, it just so happens that I am going to be based in Mumbai. But I won’t read anything too much into saying that Asia Pacific has emerged as a hot favourite – it’s great to hear that but at the end of the day we have been part of the global network for years and it feels that way. I don’t see it as APAC being suddenly recognised. If you see Ashutosh Srivastava, the Mindshare APAC head also has taken up a global responsibility…so there are Indians all over the place. It just shows the ability of the system to look at APAC as the global hub rather than elsewhere.

     

    Will it be a challenging task to lead global operations out of India?

    It’s just that I am going to be based in Mumbai and I will be travelling as the other global CEOs do. A global CEO’s job doesn’t automatically mean that everything is decided by a bunch of team sitting at some headquarter and running the entire set-up, it doesn’t work like that. You’ve got to work through a network, you’ve got to create a team and drive a certain agenda. It doesn’t require physically handling a bunch of people in one place.

     

    One of the challenges will be to see that Maxus continues to achieve the 20 per cent growth trajectory in the coming future as well…

    I have no idea how I’ll continue to keep it at that. But it will be an interesting challenge. I look forward to my role at Maxus.
     

    Vikram Sakhuja interviews on mxmindia.com

     

    Interview with Anil Thakraney

    http://www.mxmindia.com/2012/06/ creative-agencies-have-allowed-themselves-to-be-dumbed-down-vikram-sakhuja/

     

    Text and MxMIndiaTV interview at FICCI-Frames 2012

    http://www.mxmindia.com/2012/03/ff12-integrated-media-is-the-best-way-forward- vikram-sakhuja/

     

    MxMIndiaTV interview at World Magazine Congress 2011

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSS2j9PQMkU& feature=player_embedded

    Maxus was named the 2011 “Media Agency of the Year” by Adweek and last month the agency was named the fastest-growing global media services agency in the world for the third consecutive year by RECMA, the independent organization that measures media agency sector operations.

     

    Taking Mr Clark’s role at Maxus will be Mr Vikram Sakhuja, currently CEO of GroupM India and South Asia. “Vikram is the perfect candidate to take on the Maxus role from Kelly,” Mr Proctor said.  “Maxus has a great management team and a lot of momentum.  I have no doubt that Vikram will continue to build a great agency.”  He added that Mr Sakhuja will remain in his current role until his successor is announced (See ‘Proctor on Sakhuja’ in box alongside).

     

    All three will report to Mr Proctor and the new roles begin later this year.

     

    Mr Sakhuja’s appointment is the second global level appointment made by Maxus in recent times. Earlier this year, Madhvi Pahwa moved from a Group M responsibility to that of Global Talent Director. Ms Pahwa was to be based in India.  But now, Maxus has become the first global media agency to have its headquarters in not just India, but also Asia. Said Mr Proctor on the relocation of the HQ: “It also reflects the fact that much of our global senior talent resides in Asia and I fully expect that more of that talent will move into global positions in the years to come. Not just in GroupM agencies but business in general.”

     

    Lynn de Souza, chairman and CEO of Lintas Media Group, believes that it’s a welcome recognition for Mr Sakhuja and India. “It shows that Indian talent is appreciated and not that it needs to be exported out of India to do good work. That is the essential story that comes out of this,” she said. Added Mona Jain, CEO, Vivaki Exchange: “India has been consistently delivering healthy growth numbers for several agencies and is also one of the fastest growing markets in the continent. So it is only fitting for them to consider India as the hub for managing global operations.”

     

    For Mr Sakhuja, it’s a significant move as he moves to Group M global management team directly and not via the Asia-Pacific route. However, he doesn’t think there’s an all-new focus on APAC. “It just so happens that I am going to be based in Mumbai. But I won’t read anything too much into saying that Asia Pacific has emerged as a hot favourite – it’s great to hear that but at the end of the day we have been part of the global network for years and it feels that way,” he said.

     

    The successor to his current position as CEO, Group M South Asia hasn’t been announced yet. Once that’s done and the transition happens, Mr Sakhuja will take on the global role at Maxus in right earnest.

     

     

    INDUSTRYSPEAK

     

    Lynn de Souza, Chairman & CEO, Lintas Media Group

    I think it is a fantastic development both for Vikram himself who has really done a very good job ever since I have known him and it’s an appreciation for all the good that he has done and the potential that he has. So I am very happy for him. Also, for the industry itself, it shows that Indian talent is appreciated and not that it needs to be exported out of India to do good work. That is the essential story that comes out of this.

     

    Certainly, Maxus is a great agency; I have always said that. It’s excellent news; the recognition for Vikram as well as for India is really very good.

     

    Divya Gupta, Chief Executive Officer, Dentsu Media India

    This epitomizes India as a key, growth engine for most brands and marketers across the globe.
    It also augurs the emergence of India as a strategic global and regional hub for management and control of network businesses.
    I wish Vikram success.

     

    Mona Jain, CEO, Vivaki Exchange

    The agency has always been rated highly. It’s great news that the CEO should be from India which shows that the country is becoming very critical in the entire global scheme of things for agency networks. Also, India has been consistently delivering healthy growth numbers for several agencies and is also one of the fastest growing markets in the continent. So it is only fitting for them to consider India as the hub for managing global operations.

     
     

    Maxus Global Factsheet

    > Launched in late 2008, is part of GroupM, the world’s largest media investment management group that serves as the parent company for all of WPP’s media agencies, and which buys over one third of the world’s media every day.

    > Rated world’s fastest growing global media agency network

    > Talent base 1,400 people across 67 locations worldwide

    > Global clients include Barclays, SC Johnson, NBC Universal, Fiat Group, Nokia, Vodafone, Church & Dwight, Nestle and L’Oreal

    >Services include Communications strategy, Media planning and buying, Digital marketing, SEM and SEO, Direct response media, Data analytics and Marketing ROI evaluation

    (Information source: Factsheet, www.maxusglobal.com)

     
     

    Rise and Rise…

     

    Vikram Sakhuja

    Twitter @VikramSakhuja

     

    Education:

    IIM Calcutta (1988)

    IIT Delhi (1984)

    Modern School, Delhi (1979)

     

    Work:

    Group M

    CEO South Asia (earlier MD, Mindshare Fulcrum and later Mindshare South Asia) (2002-present)

    Star TV

    Exec VP Marketing (Jan-Dec 2001)

    Coca-Cola India

    Marketing Manager-Brands (1996-2000)

    P&G India

    Associate Manager-Media & MR (1988-96)

    DCM

    Management Trainee (1984-86)

     

     

  • Initiative India has announced the appointments of 'R Venkatasubramanian and Vishnu Sharma as Senior Vice Presidents in the company

    Initiative announces two senior appointments

    Venkatasubramanian
    Vishnu Sharma
    Manas Mishra

    By A Correspondent

     

    Initiative India has announced the appointments of ‘R Venkatasubramanian and Vishnu Sharma as Senior Vice Presidents in the company.

     

    While Mr Venkatasubramanian or Venkat, as he is universally known, will oversee investments and sports, Mr Sharma will be in charge of strategy and insights for all clients of the agency in Delhi.

     

    Mr Venkatasubramanian is returning to Initiative, where he worked for almost a decade, after two shorts stints at Maxus and MPG. Mr Sharma is presently national head of Sales Strategy and Business Analytics at HT Media. He has experience of more than a decade working with national brands such as Airtel, Hero Honda, LG and others at Group M and Madison before.

     

    “These key appointments will help take Initiative to a superior level of delivering business and media solutions for clients. I look foward to welcoming Venkat and Vishnu as part of my leadership team for this agency,” said , newly appointed President of the agency.

     

     

  • Most crime shows do attract a large number of eyeballs, but most GECs also claim that it’s not about entertainment alone; they are helping the society as well

    Crime pays for GECs

    By Meghna Sharma

     

    What is it about the dark side that attracts us? A glance over any newspaper or news channel will tell us the increased attention being given to the gruesome incidents.

     

    The media, especially the television which is a reflection of the society, has reflected this growing interest with the increasing popularity in the number of the unglamorous, and sometimes, gory crime shows. From Karamchand in the 80s on DD to the latest Gumraah on Channel V, most crime shows have done well and have been able to garner an interest that other genres might not be able to. The longest running show on the Indian television, CID, is a crime show which was started in 1998 and recently turned tri-weekly.

     

    Speaking about the show’s success, Sneha Rajani, senior EVP and business head, Sony Television, said: “CID has been doing well for years now; it’s not a recent phenomenon. On an average, the show gets TVR of 3.3-3.5, and sometimes even goes up to 4.5. So, it’s no surprise that show has its share of viewers, as week after week people switch on their TV sets to get inspired by the bravery and the relentless passion of CID against crime.”

     

     

    Popular Crime Shows

    Karamchand – 1980 – DD

    CID – 1998 – Sony

    India’s Most Wanted – 1999 – Zee

    Aadalat – 2010 – Sony

    Gumrah – 2012 – Channel V

     

    According to industry experts, most GEC experiments with crime shows have been successful – some have garnered a little interest and others have gone on to become national hits like Adaalat and India’s Most Wanted.

     

    Such crime shows consist of an economically viable format – no huge sets, no major actors, no glamorous outfits or expensive judges are required – hence, the channels don’t mind investing in them.

     

     

    Janardhan Pandey

    Janardhan Pandey, associate vice president, DDB Mudra Max feels that apart from reality shows, only crime shows have the ability to create sensationalism and that’s the main reason people are attracted towards the format. “People want to know what’s happening around them. And these shows are able to portray facts through dramatization, without costing too much for the channel.”

     

    ‘Curiosity killed the cat’ is the apt reason why crime shows work on television according to Anand Chakravarthy, executive vice president, Marketing, RBNL and business head, Big Magic. “Crime, as a genre, has an extremely wide appeal, irrespective of the country. In a developing nation likeIndiawhere crime and corruption are a part of the societal fabric, the audience is most likely to appreciate televised content in the genre.”

     

    Anand Chakravarthy

    He added: “The fascination with the morbid and intrigue that the genre provides work across a cross section of audience, regardless of age and gender, making it acceptable to a larger and diverse audience base.”

     

    However, the question which still arises is – aren’t such shows the figment of the writers’ imagination? The writers of such shows may choose to disagree about the authenticity. “Though some might say they are a writer’s figment of imagination, but in reality, newspaper reports, sometimes even FIRs and investigations done by channels help us gather facts and details about various cases,” said a writer with a national GEC.

     

    According to Priti Murthy, national director – Insights, Maxus, crime shows attract not only the middle-aged, but a large number of youth too. “Crime cuts across genres and finds a large number of youngsters hooked on to the genre like action, thriller, and crime. One could say it gives them adrenaline rush.”

     

    Prem Kamath

    Channel V recently launched a teen crime show, Gumraah, which has became popular for its disruptive format and unique viewpoint of understanding the psyche of young criminals. “V’s Gumrah, in its second season now, details the ecosystem in which a teen crime is conceived and the extraordinary circumstances that lead to it. The show has had an immense impact on us, in terms of viewership as well as vindicating our research and understanding of the youth. We have seen a tremendous response in terms of feedback and appreciation on social media and other consumer responses. It has also further encouraged us to try bolder formats and continue on our chosen content strategy,” said Prem Kamath, Executive VP and GM, Channel V.

     

    Most crime shows do attract a large number of eyeballs, but most GECs also claim that it’s not about entertainment alone; they are helping the society as well. “As for adults, and specifically parents, this show is an eye-opener: if one neglects their child’s need for attention or dismiss it as juvenile behaviour, it can have serious repercussions and lead to moment of madness, eternally irreversible,” added Mr Kamath.

     

    “Shows such as Police Files (aired on Big Magic), while showcasing crimes from the region, also attempt to educate and empower the viewer. The depiction of the crimes help the viewers to understand and accept the need to be vigilant in safeguarding themselves and their loved ones. The information imparted by way of applicable laws of the Indian Penal Code, safety tips by experts and NGOs help empower the viewer,” said Mr Chakravarthy.

     

    So, if one has to go by what industry experts have to say: it’s entertainment with awareness that makes one switch on their television sets to watch crime shows.  Whatever be the reason, the channels can surely say that ‘crime pays’!

     

  • Most experts feel is that both the incumbent SAB and challenger Life OK will have to work harder if they want to reach the top slots.

    Life OK and SAB: The see-saw continues…

    By Meghna Sharma

     

    In India there is no dearth of television channels. The competition is only growing and the race to lead in the TRP race is heating up. In the past few weeks, the two channels which seen an increase in their TRPs are Life OK and SAB TV which have been fighting for the fifth spot in the TRPs race.

     

    Life OK, the newest entrance in the GEC genre from the Star India stable, was launched in December last year. The network renamed and re-launched their youth-oriented channel Star One with new tagline ‘cherishing what you have’.

     

    On the contrary, SAB TV has been around for over a decade now but has gone through various transformations. In March 2005, SAB TV was acquired by Sony Entertainment Television and was transformed into a youth-centric channel. In June 2008, the channel announced that it would return to its roots by being repositioned as a comedy-centric channel.

     

    So what does the race for TRPs mean for the two channels and do they pose a threat to other GECs? MxMIndia spoke to a few media planners to see what is the future of the GECs and what shape will this ‘war’ take.

     

    According to the latest TAM data, in week 24, SAB TV has toppled Life OK and regained No 5 position. Whereas, last week (week 23), Life OK was the fifth most watched GEC.

     

    Sundeep Nagpal

    Sundeep Nagpal, founder director, Stratagem Media feels that these are momentary fluctuations and cannot be contributed to anything per se. “These channels have a small base; therefore, even a single factor can affect the ratings of the show – positively or negatively – depending on how it did on a particular week. Hence, I don’t think we should be alarmed by such fluctuations. And they won’t be able to impact the top 4 slots.”

     

    The two channels have positioned themselves differently, too. SAB TV is a comedy-centric channel which portrays itself has a family channel, whereas Life OK has shows full of melodrama like other GECs.

     

    Janardhan Pandey, associate vice-president, DDB Mudra Max feels that the two cannot impact each other drastically. “SAB has its own set of audience which won’t get influenced by other GECs and vice-versa. They will continue to do well in their own categories; the fluctuation between the two is possible but they don’t have the same hold as other GECs do. They still have a long way to go.”

     

    Jai Lala

    On the other hand, Priti Murthy, national director – Insights, Maxus, feels that though these channels might be still small fish, they cannot be ignored entirely. “Like these two channels, even number two and three slots have been fluctuating for a while now. So, slot five and six can create an impact too. One cannot rule out the possibility of them gaining to higher positions in the future if they come up with new and better content.”

     

    On the channels growth, Mindshare’s principal partner, Jai Lala feels that the two channels have grown since Imagine TV, a Turner International India Pvt Ltd entity, was shut down earlier this year. “The shutdown of Imagine TV has benefited these two who are now turning out to be competitors. However, they still have a small base compared to others and unless and until they cross the 200+ threshold, I don’t think that they can or will affect the channels like Star or Zee or Sony which have been ruling the top slots in the TRP race for a long period of time.”

     

    Uday Mohan

    “While these channels are doing well they have a long way to go in terms of reaching the numbers of the mainline GECs. They still don’t have the kind of appointment viewing that the mainline GECs generate….they might eat into the shares of other frequency channels but will not threaten GECs, at least not immediately,” added Uday Mohan, executive director – North, MPG.

     

    Most experts believe that there is nothing to be alarmed about the two channels see-sawing. What they do feel is that both the incumbent SAB and challenger Life OK will have to work harder if they want to reach the top slots.