MxMIndia

Tag: Omnicom Group

  • To build new capabilities

    Annalect India opens new office in Mumbai

    By Our Staff

     

    Annalect India, an Omnicom Media Group company, announces the launch of its new office in Mumbai. This is to further its commitment to building new capabilities.

     

    Zaid Al Rashid, Executive Vice President, Global Digital Operations at Omnicom Group said: “Omnicom Group is committed to investing and growing our global delivery capabilities. India is a country where we will continue to expand our services in the near future. The opening of our new experiential hub in Mumbai is an example of that.”

     

    Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Srivastava, Chief Executive Officer, Annalect India added: “I’m extremely delighted to have launched our new office in Mumbai. The Global leaders and I have always been certain: to keep expanding our footprint across India and synergize the gamut of talent within our network. The Mumbai office will further support us in delivering timely and actionable insights to Omnicom agencies and clients through globally integrated processes, powered by best-in-class tools and technology. We continue to evolve and envision becoming an employer of choice for aspiring professionals.”

     

  • For Optimized Investment Planning

    Omnicom Media Group India launches Auto ROI Vault

    By Our Staff

     

    Omnicom Media Group (OMG) India has announced the launch of the OMNI Auto ROI Vault, a market-leading and powerful repository spanning 500+ econometric models built on the back of Omnicom Media Group’s extensive ROI-based approach and industry-leading work with automobile clients in India and around the world. With a dominant market share in the auto category in India, OMG manages over 34% of the Indian auto industry’s media mandate.

     

    As a part of the agency’s focus on making media spending’s impact on revenue a focus, and by extension long-term business growth, the Auto ROI Vault enables automotive players on the global stage to make nuanced decision-making – a cut above many traditional industry frameworks, and one that shines a light on unlocking true revenue potential and sustainable growth. Data-driven attribution continues to be a priority at Omnicom Media Group and the auto category is just the beginning. One can expect more categories in the near future.

     

    Omni is Omnicom Group’s people-based precision marketing and insights platform, designed to identify and define personalized consumer experiences at scale across creative, media, CRM as well as other Omnicom practice areas. With the launch of the Auto ROI Vault, Omni now allows for the ability to precisely curate investment planning and channel plans for both short-term and long-term payoffs for auto brands. Across Omnicom Media Group’s agencies – OMD and PHD, teams can calibrate and optimize investment plans and effective allocation of budgets based on the potential of media spends to generate revenue.

     

    In a market that is in a state of constant flux, combined with increased competition, it becomes imperative for marketers today to analyse metrics tracking, lead generation, conversion, sales and more. Businesses need to adapt and evolve and be able to adjust media budgets with high precision, enabling a rigorous marketing strategy focusing on the big picture – revenue. Traditional ways of estimating and setting media budgets, using a combination of Share of Market/Share of Voice ratios or Advertising to Sales ratios, prove challenging when it comes to getting an accurate picture of the impact of marketing efforts on business functions like customer service, sales and overall revenue impact and this is where the ROI Vault comes in.

     

    Featuring a collection of 500+ models curated for Auto OEMs specifically across 20+ markets; with India being one of the key emerging markets featured in it, the OMNI Auto ROI vault empowers clients to reach the desired revenue objective by allocating budget wisely across various channels, benchmarking of categories to measure the performance and predicting models for future sales and revenue – thereby enabling them to focus on the eventual business generated and not just interim media variables.

     

    Kartik Sharma, Group CEO of Omnicom Media Group India, said: “OMG’s data-led approach delivers on our ambitions of exceeding the needs of our clients, being their most trusted partner on their journey of transformation and being able to uncover business-led insights with a tangible impact on revenue growth. With the OMNI Auto ROI Vault’s marketing orchestration capabilities, we are primed to help brands see the effectiveness of media planning as a long-term investment rather than approaching it as yet another cost incurred. With it in our arsenal, we are uniquely positioned to focus on revenue-driven outcomes for our clients and further deliver on our promise of our transparent and client-centric approach to brand building.”

     

  • The company will be completing a decade in India

    OMD’s Annalect India rejigs top deck

    By Our Staff

     

    Annalect India, an Omnicom group company, has announced the elevation of its executive leadership team in India. Effective immediately, Vishal Srivatsava, former President, Annalect India, will be taking up the role of Chief Executive Officer. Meanwhile, Kiran Guruswami will take charge as Chief Operating Officer, Kaushik Srinivasan will take charge as the Chief Client Officer, Devya Patney will take charge as the Chief People and Culture Officer.

     

    In addition, Annalect India is launching three key organisations to drive growth and efficiency in the business outcomes and promoting leaders to take the charge of each.

     

    The company will be completing their 10-year milestone journey in India this August as Omnicom’s delivery and capability centre. Annalect India currently has four Centres of Excellence in Gurugram, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad, with a strength of over 1200+ employees in the field of Tech, Creative Services, Marketing Science, Media and Global Shared Services.

     

    Speaking on the occasion, Steve Tobengauz, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operating Officer, Annalect Group, said: “We will be celebrating our 10-year anniversary, this August. So far this year, we have witnessed immense growth in talent, and support from Omnicom Group partners. We are confident of our strategy given the solid results and are going to double this year and expected to quadruple in next few years.”

     

    Added Srivastava: ” I take immense pride and satisfaction in leading such an amazing group of talent at Annalect India. As I take on the role of CEO, I also believe it takes a team to get the job done and support from everyone as we work towards it. I am privileged and thankful to be surrounded by great leaders in this organization. We are excited about the great future of our organization and the business value it delivers to Omnicom agencies and their clients.”

     

  • BBDO, Omnicom, Burger King & P&G top WARC ‘Best of the Best’

    By A Correspondent

    WARC has released the results of its first-ever ‘Best of the Best’ global index of excellence, to showcase the best all-round agencies and brands by aggregating results from across all three recently released WARC Rankings – Creative 100, Effective 100 and Media 100. No Indian agency or brand features in the Top 10.

    The WARC Rankings, successor to the Gunn Report and WARC 100, are annual rankings providing a global benchmark for campaign, agency, network, holding company, brand and advertisers’ success.

    The Best of the Best 2019 has been calculated by combining the 2018 results of the most prestigious and rigorous global and regional creative, effectiveness and media awards shows and competitions as determined by the industry following a worldwide survey and consultation.

    Said David Tiltman, Head of Content, WARC: “The culmination of the WARC Rankings is the newly launched ‘Best of the Best’. This identifies the best-performing companies across our three benchmarks of marketing excellence – creativity, effectiveness and media excellence.”

    BBDO New York and BBDO Worldwide are the best agency and network respectively across the WARC Rankings. BBDO New York performed strongly in both creativity and effectiveness, and its parent network, BBDO Worldwide, had a total of 59 offices contribute to its winning network total.

    Commenting on their success, Andrew Robertson, President and CEO, BBDO Worldwide, said: “‘The ‘Best of the Best.’ It literally can’t get better than that when it comes to public recognition of BBDO Worldwide. I am proud of, and grateful to, our clients and all of the people in our agencies who made this happen. Having four agencies from four regions all ranked in the Top Ten, including BBDO New York at No.1, demonstrates the breadth of talent in the network.”

    Omnicom Group tops the Best of the Best holding company ranking. BBDO Worldwide’s strong performance was supported by top 10 ranks for DDB Worldwide, PHD Worldwide and TBWA Worldwide.

    “It’s a proud moment to see Omnicom and its agencies topping the ‘Best of the Best’ list as the #1 network, #1 and #2 agency, and #1 holding company,” said John Wren, Chairman and CEO of Omnicom Group. “Employees across the globe come to work every day ready to deliver world-class services for our clients, and that shines through as they’re recognized by WARC for their creativity, marketing effectiveness and media excellence. Congratulations to all our people who can take great pride in these accomplishments.”

    Burger King tops the Best of the Best brands, with placings in the top 50 in all three rankings, and in first place in the Creative 100. The retail brand had 23 award-winning campaigns across all three rankings.

    Procter & Gamble topped the advertiser ranking by less than a point, as the two leading FMCG players continue to produce highly successful work, particularly in effectiveness and media. However, neither had a brand in the top 10. Instead, both had multiple successful brands throughout the depth of the rankings.

    The top companies in WARC’s Best of the Best 2019 are:

    The world’s top 10 agencies across the WARC Rankings

    RankAgencyLocationPoints
    1BBDONew York, USA489.8
    2adam&eveDDBLondon, UK466.7
    3McCannNew York, USA413.1
    4AMV BBDOLondon, UK410.8
    5MediaComLondon, UK390.8
    6Colenso BBDOAuckland, New Zealand351.8
    7LOLA MullenLoweMadrid, Spain343.1
    8McCannLondon, UK316.6
    9Host/HavasSydney, Australia288.3
    10AlmapBBDOSão Paulo, Brazil281.0

    The world’s top 10 agency networks across the WARC Rankings

    RankNetworkPoints
    1BBDO Worldwide3207.1
    2McCann Worldgroup2912.0
    3Ogilvy2006.7
    4DDB Worldwide1746.7
    5MediaCom1511.2
    6IPG Mediabrands1430.9
    7PHD Worldwide1395.2
    8TBWA Worldwide1315.0
    9Dentsu Aegis Network1298.2
    10Mindshare Worldwide1174.2

    The world’s top 10 agency holding companies across the WARC Rankings

    RankNetworkPoints
    1Omnicom Group8926.6
    2WPP8556.4
    3Interpublic Group5772.1
    4Publicis Groupe2714.6
    5Dentsu1398.5
    6Havas Group1151.5
    7Accenture260.3
    8Hakuhodo DY Group259.3
    9MDC Partners189.8
    10BlueFocus152.7

    The world’s top 10 brands across the WARC Rankings

    RankNetworkPoints
    1Burger King593.2
    2McDonald’s465.0
    3IKEA339.0
    4Coca-Cola327.9
    5Pedigree321.0
    6KFC299.6
    7Greenpeace260.4
    8Skittles260.3
    9Palau Legacy Project258.0
    10Nike257.8

    The world’s top 10 advertisers across the WARC Rankings

    RankNetworkPoints
    1Procter & Gamble969.8
    2Unilever969.1
    3Mars963.3
    4Restaurant Brands International593.2
    5Anheuser-Busch InBev567.6
    6Volkswagen Group553.8
    7McDonald’s573.5
    8The Coca-Cola Company469.5
    9Heineken382.3
    10PepsiCo347.3

    The Best of the Best ranking aggregates points across the three rankings. To ensure performance in each ranking has equal weight in the Best of the Best tables, a weighting for the effectiveness and media rankings has been calculated that inflates their scores versus the creative rankings. For this reason, points in the Best of the Best are not simply the total of the three individual rankings.

    An annual survey will be held to ensure that the WARC Rankings remain independent and the competitions tracked reflect the opinion of the industry.

  • Meanwhile Chuck Brymer has transitioned to role of Chairman

    Wendy Clark takes charge of DDB as Prez & CEO

    By A Correspondent

     

    Wendy Clark

    Omnicom Group President and CEO John Wren announced the appointment of Wendy Clark as President and CEO of DDB Worldwide. Clark succeeds Chuck Brymer who will assume the title of Chairman. Both roles are effective immediately.

     

    “After 12 terrific years as the head of DDB, I am excited to hand the baton to Wendy,” said Brymer, adding: “She is passionate about our business and clients, and has proven to be an inspiring leader for our company. I look forward to helping Wendy continue to foster an environment where our people can do their best work.”

     

    Under Clark’s leadership as CEO of DDB North America, the agency, notes a communique, has grown by enhancing existing relationships such as State Farm, Mars, and Johnson & Johnson, as well as a strong new business track record. Most notably, Clark was instrumental in winning the consolidated US creative account for McDonald’s in 2016 that led to the formation of a dedicated agency unit, We Are Unlimited.  In addition to leading her approximately 2,000-plus team across 17 offices, Clark launched “DDB Flex” – an operating model that creates bespoke, cross-agency, integrated teams based on clients’ businesses.

     

    Commenting on her new position, Clark said, “I’ve loved every minute of the last two years with our DDB North America team and clients creating the resurgence of this majestic, important agency. To now have the opportunity to follow Chuck’s legacy of leadership and work with our global teams and clients is both humbling and exciting.”

     

    In his new role of Chairman, Brymer will continue to serve the company while taking on added responsibilities within Omnicom. Said Wren, President and CEO of Omnicom, added: “During his tenure as CEO of DDB, Chuck has successfully grown DDB as not only one of the most creative agencies in the advertising industry but also a leading network for CRM, retail activation, branding, and digital services around the globe. At Omnicom, we recognize the importance of succession planning, and Chuck and I knew that Wendy would be the right person to take the helm of DDB. Her experience leading DDB North America coupled with her expertise as a leading marketer makes this a seamless leadership transition that will build upon DDB’s capabilities and reputation as a leader in the business.”

     

    Clark joined the agency in 2016, from Coca-Cola North America, where she was President, Sparkling Brands and Strategic Marketing. Previously, she served as Senior Vice President, Global Sparkling Brand Center, where she was responsible for the global leadership of all Coca-Cola’s Sparkling brands. Before joining Coca-Cola in 2008, she was Senior Vice President, Advertising for AT&T.

     

     

  • Huria worked with eBay until yesterday heading communications and has worked with Genesis B-M and Avian in the past

    ​Girish Huria to join Ketchum Sampark as President

    By A Correspondent

     

    Girish Huria

    ​Senior communications professional Girish Huria is set to join Ketchum Sampark as President. He is likely to join the PR major on Monday (Nov 13). Huria worked with eBay until yesterday heading communications. Ketchum Sampark is part of the Omnicom group.

     

    Huria who worked with Genesis Burson-Marsteller as Managing Partner where he had an 11-year stint also worked with Avian Media as COO for four years and joined eBay in 2014.

     

    Huria will helm operations at Sampark, partnering founders Managing Director N S Rajan and Director Bela Rajan who lead the agency.

     

  • Purpose, Technology and Brand are the key growth drivers in Interbrand’s Best Indian Brands report

    Tata is India’s #1 brand. Reliance & Airtel follow

     

    It’s that time of the year when the Omnicom Group’s Interbrand releases its Best Indian Brands report. For five consecutive years, Tata Group has continued to hold the top position. And while Airtel continues to play strong at #3, Reliance is now a strong #2 on the back of Jio’s omnipresence amongst telecom service providers.

     

    Following Airtel is HDFC Bank at #4, and then Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC),State Bank of India, Infosys, Mahindra, ICICI and Godrej round out the Top 10.The best growth performances belonged to Maruti, Reliance, HDFC, JSW and Kotak highlighting the relevance of Purpose Centricity, Technology and Brand in driving their growth.

     

    Interestingly more than 50 per cent of the Best Indian Brands come from five sectors: Automotive (5), Diversified (10), Financial Services (12), Telecom (2), and Technology (2). Automotive is one of the top growing sectors, leading the change is brand Maruti Suzuki, which posted a 19% increase in brand value versus 2016.

     

    Breaking into Best Indian Brands for the first time at #17 is Royal Enfield and Ambuja Cement at #40.

     

    Said Ashish Mishra, Managing Director, Interbrand India: “The Best Global Brands understand that brands are the platform for growth. A quick look at the top growing brands confirms how outgrowing the now and changing at the speed of life creates admirable value growth.  Encouragingly, the top growing Best Indian Brands too have begun to understand and demonstrate the levers that drive growth and value. Maruti Suzuki, our top growing brand for the second year in a row has done an exemplary job with Reliance, Kotak, JSW, HDFC and Ashok Leyland not far behind. Our analysis of the Best Global Brands reveals some simple truths. Truths that are useful for Indian Brands to consider while driving growth in our rapidly changing market.”

     

    Also present at the launch of the 2017 report was Gonzalo Brujo, Chief Executive Officer of Interbrand EMEA, Latam and India. And this is what he said: “We are living in one of the most exciting periods of change—societal, technological, industrial—that impacts every aspect of commerce and life. In this ever-shifting context, to grow, brands need to outgrow. Outgrow barriers, challenges, markets, competition, mindsets, technology and potential. Which is why businesses need brands more than ever. The Best Indian Brands understand this value  in belief systems and purposes, and hence propel this change without losing the way.”

     

    The Top 40 Indian Brands have a combined total value of INR 4755.7 Bn, an increase of 5% from 2016. For the complete Top 40 ranking and the report with comprehensive analysis of growth, sector and industry trends, click here

     

     

  • The summit brought together Omnicom operating companies including DDB Mudra, BBDO, TBWA, CPM, FleishmanHillard, OMG, Interbrand, Flamingo, Ketchum Sampark and others in the creative space to discuss the tectonic changes affecting their industries and clients' businesses

    Digital, data & talent dominate at 1st Omnicom India summit

    By A Correspondent

     

    The Omnicom Group concluded its first summit of India agency heads in Udaipur last week with a full spectrum of creative industries represented by a group of over 35 CEOs and Managing Directors, clients and India market experts.  The summit brought together Omnicom operating companies including DDB Mudra, BBDO, TBWA, CPM, FleishmanHillard, OMG, Interbrand, Flamingo, Ketchum Sampark and others in the creative space to discuss the tectonic changes affecting their industries and clients’ businesses.

     

    Attendees heard from speakers including KPMG, Deutsche Bank, Google India, PepsiCo, Hindustan Unilever, MicroMax and the Tata Group; regional Omnicom and agency representatives and from digital and e-commerce industry experts such as Amiya Pathak from ZipDial and eTailing India’s Ashish Jhalani.  They discussed the potential of the next wave of digital growth, the e-commerce opportunity and the application of data and creative industries; industry experts focused on the changing nature of the Indian media landscape, the reshaping of the demographic dividend and how the political environment is likely to reboot India’s creative industries.

     

    Omnicom participants included DDB Mudra’s Madhukar Kamath, BBDO’s Josy Paul, Jasmin Sohrabji of OMG, Vineet Bajpai of TBWA\ India and Mandeep Singh of CPM India.

     

    Dara Akbarian, Omnicom’s regional CFO for APIMA, explained that the summit was designed to bring Omnicom India business leaders together to strategize how the next wave of growth in India will take shape and how each business can position itself to support our Indian and multinational clients capitalizing on this growth:  “We heard some fascinating points of view and the collective voice was resounding.  Omnicom agency heads firmly believe that our industry has only scratched the surface of the digital opportunity and there is much more to come from India.”  He added that the idea of holding an in-India, for-India meeting was to gather the spectrum of operational companies’ experiences to build a collective strategy for Omnicom business growth in India.  “There are organic and inorganic opportunities that will help all of us to grow in this dynamic market, and our agency heads recognize the potential we need to target to accelerate our position in India.”

     

    Some of the decisions made at the event include a greater investment in talent programs to find and keep the next generation of creative industry talent, to develop a deeper entrepreneurial culture in keeping with India’s changing demographics, and investments to tap the so-called DRIP effect (data rich, insight poor) that India currently faces with big data and creative sector work.

     

    Shivakumar, Chairman and CEO, PepsiCo India Holdings Pvt. Ltd., said, “It was a pleasure to take part in the first Omnicom India event especially since Omnicom is a key PepsiCo partner.  The focus on digital, creative and integrated campaigns was enlightening.  The future of marketing in India will be based on these pillars and Omnicom agencies understand and demonstrate the need to come together to deliver work that our business needs. This market is ready and hungry for creativity that challenges and campaigns that go beyond the traditional media reach.”

     

    Added Rajan Anandan, Managing Director Google India: “It was interesting to meet Omnicom’s full mix of creative agencies at a single event.  And, thankfully, we were able to move beyond ‘the potential is big’ discussions I hear all too often in India.  What these agency heads understand is the future of Indian creative industries is moving beyond the shock and awe of how big digital is or what it can offer, and into the areas of how can Indian companies make the most of this potential.”

     

  • Acquisition extends Adelphi's worldwide multi-perspective healthcare solutions

    Adelphi Worldwide acquires The Planning Shop International

    By A Correspondent

     

    Adelphi Worldwide, part of The DAS Group of Companies (DAS), a division of Omnicom Group, announced that it has acquired The Planning Shop international (TPSi,) a London-based healthcare brand and research agency. TPSi will join Adelphi’s portfolio of healthcare evidence and solutions businesses, strengthening even further their global research and insight capabilities in the United States and Europe, working across the product and health intervention lifecycle.

     

    Stuart Cooper, Adelphi Worldwide’s CEO, commented, “We are delighted to welcome TPSi to the Adelphi Group. I have admired their creative skills in developing a unique agency and branded solution-based offer in the global space. They complement superbly our research presence across the spectrum, from molecule idea development to tangible brand – delivering the right solution and communication for patients and healthcare professionals. This really strengthens even further our top flight presence as a group in this sector. They will complement also our DAS and Omnicom partners, dedicated to effective creative communication solutions, some of whom they already work with.”

     

    Adelphi provides services in strategic marketing, marketing and business intelligence, real-world observational research and disease specific programmes, health and economic outcomes research, market access, pricing and reimbursement research, health communications, medical education and strategic product development consultancy.

     

    Kim Hughes TPSi CEO said, “The fit between Adelphi’s product development focus with the brand focus of TPSi provides numerous synergy opportunities. Partnering this real world, market access and communications expertise will create value for our clients. We are confident we have found the ideal home for our business,” he concluded.

     

  • MARTIN Vs ARNAB promises to be an interesting Reality Shadow Boxing Show, writes Sanjeev Kotnala

    In Jest | Sanjeev Kotnala: Sir Martin’s Secret 7 Steps for Encounter with Arnab

    By Sanjeev Kotnala

     

    MARTIN Vs ARNAB promises to be an interesting Reality Shadow Boxing Show. Live today at 3:30pm at ITC Grand Central, Lower Parel. Mumbai.

     

    Sources in WPP and IAA requesting anonymity tell us: “A lot went into ensuring Sir Martin Sorrell (SMS) 69, CEO, WPP to agree to converse with Arnab Goswami (AG), the 9pm dude of Indian television. It’s a great combination and a must-watch for the audience. Hope AG does not tone down his usual theatrics.”

     

    AG the sport that he is was willing to grill SMS risking his future. You don’t know what Martin buys next. IAA convinced him that Martin is no Rakhi Sawant or Lalu and could not guarantee TRPs at 9pm. ‘Frankly Speaking with Arnab’ was out of question. Hence the 3:30pm slot with a live audience.

     

    It started with the head of one of the Martin’s many companies pushed by the polite tall gentleman of IAA approaching Martin for the Encounter. Who is this Arnab Goswami? Is he head of some media business that you guys want Martin to meet was a natural question raised by SMS’s secretary.

     

    Primary research over the Net revealed AG, born 1973, writer of missing-from-the-racks ‘Combating Terrorism’, is an Indian journalist + Editor-in-Chief + News anchor of ‘Times Now’ and primarily responsible for all the Noise at 9pm. He has 21K+ likes on his Facebook pages (FB does not count Hates). While ‘NATION WANTS TO KNOW’ is his pet verse, truth is AG already knows and decides what and how much the nation should know.

     

    This was insufficient information for SMS who believes in knowing the ememy. WPP India team was directed to provide a complete dossier incuding list of Youtube videos to watch. Due to conflicting views, SMS finally made his own assumptions. Child’s play, he uses the same technique for understanding any thing Indian, including the economy.

     

    For the last seven weeks, SMS been preparing for the Encounter wrongly named Conversations. And here is the exclusive step-by-step action of the 7-week preparation programme.

     

    Step I: Watch Youtube videos and track social media on AG. Avoid polarised performance vedios with Rahul Gandi and Modi.

     

    Step II: Practise raising voice. AG loves a fight. SMS went to the best, he has been coached by Thirumurugan Gandhi who holds the record for outshouting AG.

     

    Step III: Dodge questions on Economy, FDI and cross-media ownership.  Fighting AG is a waste of time. Polite conversations will be the best weapon. AG after all is ill experienced to handle politemess and logic.

     

    Step IV: Build immunity to shouting.  With no body to shout at him, this was identified as the weakest point. Now, SMS is expected to  allow AG to shout when he breaks down the discussion to few limmited  focussed points, without  bothering if he was stating things out of context. Right context. WPP Generals have informed him audience would love it.

     

    Step V: Carry no notes. Sit straight. No gestures. Head must always be held above AG line of vision this makes AG nervous. Only AG can hold paper and bang the table or raise his voice shouting ‘The Nation wants to know”.

     

    Step VI: Shuffle through recnet past. Read all your past comments. Articles- interviews and even the SMS and Whatsapp messages. AG is bound to bring something from your past that even you may not remember.

     

    Step VII: Minor details major impact. AG is known to wear suit with white shirt. SMS been advised to stick to light pastals. SMS expected to avoid Dark Red and sit facing North. AG is allergic to anything Red or South. If he reports in wearing just shirt and trousers, be on guard, this is his style of trapping you.

     

    The two parties agreed on a NO-DISCUSSION LIST.

     

    Point 1: Salary and Copensation. SMS Total calculated compensation 2013 was 2.98 crore GBP. SMS is staunch supporter of salary hikes for CEO and Board members.

     

    Point 2:The failed merger of Publicis Groupe and Omnicom Group. It is old news.

     

    Point 3: Need for media measurement. Both WPP bosses IAA and the publication houses has warned AG on it.

     

    The tall gentleman from IAA been extra-cautious. No playing ‘My Funny Valentine’ by Chet Baker and Gerry Mulligan, especially the trumpet. It is known to change SMS’s mood. Deva oh Deva or ‘mai doll hu peetal di‘ is not allowed as AG natural instincts get charged and errupt out of context, just like some of his debates.

     

    Media Punters taking bets on (1) How late will the programme start  (2) How long will Martin last (3) How many times will we hear ‘The Nation wants to know’ ( The audience wants to know would qulify) (4) How many non-planted questions will be asked. *Conditions apply.

     

    No bets are being taken decibel level beyond perisible limits. Punters do not take bets on facts – truth and near certainty.

     

    Disclaimer: Late update reveals that it’s going to be mellowed down AG taking in equally polite SMS. With no satellite beam and lack of people to switch and noute; Arnab is expected to show his other side that audience will hate to love.

     

    If you are on Twitter, just go ballastic at the conversation

     

    Sanjeev Kotnala is Head Catalyst, P1P2Solutions. The views expressed here are his own

     

  • The second edition of Interbrand India's Best Indian Brands 2014 study is unveiled. Tata, Reliance, Airtel, SBI & LIC are in the Top 5

    Tata is India’s #1: Interbrand

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    Interbrand India, part of the Omnicom Group, has released the second edition of its Best Indian Brands 2014 league table. The table was unveiled at an event earlier this week, attended by representatives of the leading brands that made it to the list.

     

    Said Graham Hales, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Interbrand, “With an impressive growth rate of 14% across the brands within table, we can see that investing in brands is a good opportunity for Indian business. Indian business may have been slow to start the process of creating really strong brands, but the opportunity is now evident and in its own right that should feed the impetus to create stronger brands”

     

    Commenting on the release, Ashish Mishra, Managing Director, Interbrand India, said,”Not just Indian but very few Asian companies have managed to build valuable international brands. In my mind, it has to do with a prevalent business belief that brand is a cost, rather than a strategic and long-term investment. Here businesses clearly lead the brand and are not led by it, with the brand mostly relegated to being an expression tool.As a leading brand consultant in the region, I see the need to continue to educate senior managers, about brands being an asset that require long-term management and planning. If Indian companies begin to change their brand mindset, the opportunities are limitless. Indeed opportunities are a positive way of looking at the challenges. And there can’t be a stronger motivation for us than to act as a bridge of sorts in the Indian corporate world – between the two league tables we bring to the market – Best Indian Brands and Best Global Brands.”

     

    Interbrand’s brand valuation methodology is considered most comprehensive and covers the key areas of financial analysis, role of brand index and brand strength scores, notes a communiqué.

     

    Interbrand India : Best Indian Brands 2014

    *N/A – New Entrant BV – Brand Value

     

  • On a day which started with the news of 22feet being gobbled up by the Omnicom group, the Bengaluru-based digital marketing agency got acquired by an Indian ecom player

    Infibeam to acquire digital marketing firm ODigMa

    By A Correspondent

     

    Ahmedabad-based ecommerce company Infibeam has acquired a 100 percent stake in ODigMa, a leading digital marketing company headquartered in Bengaluru. The buy will help the seven-year-old ecom firm strengthen its offerings.

     

    ODigMa is a specialist in customer engagement via social networks and Twitter and Whatsapp. Infibeam, on the other hand, runs a B2C platform Infibeam.com and a B2B platform at BuildaBazaar.com.

     

    With more than 400 brands as clients, ODigMa will help Infibeam’s merchant on its B2B service. Said Sachin Oswal, COO, Infibeam.com: “The OdigMa acquisition will expand our digital marketing capabilities in the key areas of social media and SEO, SEM etc. complementing our existing strengths.”

     

    Advit Sahdev, CEO of ODigMa, added: “We are excited to build tools and processes to deliver transformational marketing services for SMEs and enterprise clients by attracting the best talent in the industry.”