MxMIndia

Tag: Ravi Deshpande

  • Author Meghna Pant (@meghnapant) has tweeted anonymous accounts of two women

    Whyness surprised with allegations against Ravi Deshpande. “Will look into and verify”

    By A Correspondent

     

    Yet another #MeToo revelation shook the advertising fraternity industry on Thursday with a tweet from awardwinning author Meghna Pant (@meghnapant) carrying anonymous accounts of two women on the sexual acts of veteran adperson Ravi Deshpande.

     

    Other than helming agencies like Contract in the past, Deshpande has now set up his own agency called Whyness, and also runs a design school at Ecole Intuit.lab.

     

    When we asked Deshpande and Whyness to respond to the allegations, this is what we receive via email: “We are surprised to learn about the allegations made against Ravi. We will look into and verify this.”

     

    There have been several allegations against advertising professionals ever since the #MeToo revelations rocked the country earlier this month. The co-founders of Happy Creative Services, now a part of the Dentsu Aegis Network, and a few other senior professionals have already faced the axe from their respective employment.

     

    There have also been allegations against the founders of Creativeland Asia and Famous Innovations. According to sources, some leading advertisers who have retained big to small-named agencies are also conducting their own investigations and may terminate mandates if the acts of agency professionals are found to be in dissonance with their own values and ethics, and if the agencies do not act against the ‘erring’ professionals.

     

     

  • Together, they envision a seamless merging of marketing strategy, creativity and content with the action-oriented insights of big data

    Abhinav Verma to lead new data intelligence unit at Whyness Worldwide

    By A Correspondent

     

    Abhinav Verma

    Whyness Worldwide announced the launch of a new business vertical that aims to be the meeting point of both the future of marketing and data intelligence. Whyness has a strategic alliance with Boston-based Findability Sciences, a SoftBank portfolio company a leading data specialist. Together, they envision a seamless merging of marketing strategy, creativity and content with the action-oriented insights of big data.

    To kickstart this process, Whyness has brought on board Abhinav Verma as Director – Digital, Data and AI. He has previously led the digital marketing mandate at Airtel. He is also a Hyper Island alumnus and was also associated with Wieden+Kennedy, Whyness Worldwide, Geometry Encompass and Babajob.com (now bought over by Quickr) in the past.

     

    Said Ravi Deshpande, Chairman and Founder, Whyness: “The fusion of creativity and data gives clients a sophisticated marketing suite that gives much greater understanding and insights into consumer behavior. That means greater accuracy in communication and thus more bang for your buck. At Whyness, we are constantly changing ourselves with every progress in the digital ecosystem, and therefore we’ve appointed Abhinav, who I believe, has a natural flair for data, digital and AI and having him onboard adds great value to the Whyness-Findability alliance.”

     

    Added Anand Mahurkar, CEO, Findability Sciences: “Globally, we have experienced that every CMO is wondering how to make use of AI in the marketing function. With our Whyness collaboration, I say we now offer AI Inspired Creativity! Abhinav brings a combination of creativity and understanding of modern technology applications to the marketing function. We are very excited to have him onboard and offer one of the best solution to CMOs worldwide.”

  • This campaign has been conceptualised by Whyness Worldwide

    Whyness unveils integrated campaign for Carlton Edge series

    By A Correspondent

     

    Whyness has unveiled a 360-degree marketing campaign to launch the Carlton Edge range of bags. The advertising film has been directed by British adfilm-maker Peter Lydon.

    Said Radhika Piramal, Vice Chairman and Executive Director of VIP Industries: “We have high hopes for the Carlton Edge bags with their unique Lifetime Warranty that takes care of any kind of bag damage, no questions asked. In my mind, this is what a thought leader does: disrupts, innovates and changes the rules of the game. I’m sure this campaign will be the perfect launch pad for this unique offering.”

    Added Sudip Ghose, CEO, VIP Industries: “Carlton Edge and its Lifetime Warranty now raise the bar for the entire premium luggage category in India. This is true innovation in both product and service. This marketing campaign, designed to celebrate both the bag and the unique Lifetime Warranty, is just the high-impact launch such a bag deserves.”

    Said Anirudh Pandharkar, Head of Marketing, VIP Industries: “Carlton Edge’s Lifetime Warranty is a category changer. No other bag brand offers a warranty that takes care of all kinds of damage, including airline damage, no questions asked. This marketing campaign delivers on highlighting the special qualities of this bag and its special offer.”

    Added Ravi Deshpande, the Chairman and CCO of Whyness Worldwide: “Using understated British humour, this campaign demonstrates the supreme confidence that Carlton have in their lifetime warranty and its ability to accept even the most incredible bag damage story, no questions asked. It also showcases the bag’s ability to withstand the toughest punishment.”

     

     

  • The inaugural session will see acclaimed adman and founder & chairman of Whyness Worldwide, Ravi Deshpande present a session on Culture and Creativity

    Account Planning Group launched in India

    By A Correspondent

     

    Having made its mark as an acclaimed community of planners and strategists across the globe, the Account Planning Group (APG) is set to formally begin operations in India. Helmed by Sudeep Gohil of Publicis India with support from planners across top agencies, the APG will begin its India chapter next week with an inaugural session that will see senior adperson and founder & chairman of Whyness Worldwide, Ravi Deshpande present a session on Culture and Creativity.

     

    The session will be held at the newly opened MTV@FLYP, Kamala Mills, Lower Parel on December 13, 6.30pm onwards.

     

    Sudeep Gohil

    Commenting on the launch of the India chapter of the London-headquartered organisation, Sudeep Gohil, Chief Strategy Officer & Managing Partner, Publicis India said: “Globally, the APG is a well-established body with a number of countries including UK, Australia, Canada and Germany – successfully running their operations with partner agencies in individual markets. It was surprising that India, despite being the hub where so many great ideas take birth, didn’t have the APG to bring together and celebrate achievements of the planning community. That will now be a thing of the past as we have set up a core committee for APG India that will work closely in formulating the core objectives and will also create a platform for people to engage, deliberate and debate. We are thankful to Ravi Deshpande for gracing the inaugural function, and we look forward to hosting similar events on a regular basis across the country.”

     

     

  • Creatively conceptualised and executed by Whyness, the TVC encapsulates how the luggage brand has always been a trusted companion for travelers around the world

    VIP turns 50; relives nostalgia of yesteryears in new campaign

     

     

    VIP Industries has launched its new ad to commemorate 50 golden years in India. This new campaign offers a modern twist features superstar Hrithik Roshan and highlights VIP as a “perfect travel partner of India for generations”.

     

    Creatively conceptualised and executed by Whyness, the TVC encapsulates how the luggage brand has always been a trusted companion for travelers around the world.

     

    Said Sudip Ghose, Senior Vice President – Sales, Marketing and Service, V.I.P Industries: “This is a very exciting year for us at VIP Industries, as we complete 50 years of being market leaders in the luggage industry. From a single brand to offering a diverse product portfolio across multiple brands, VIP industries has come a long way. And we have only our customers to thank for all the love and support they would have shown us. Therefore, we are doing our bit by offering 50 per cent discount on our select ranges. We hope to continue our endeavor to manufacture world class products and provide numerous different offerings to make travel simple and convenient for millions of people around the world in the future. We completed 50 and are ready for the next 50.”

     

    Speaking from a creative perspective Ravi Deshpande, Chairman, Whyness added: “This ad is a celebration of VIP’s ‘50% off on its 50th anniversary’ offer. Bringing together Hrithik Roshan and a contemporary version of the classic VIP jingle make the ad just right for the occasion.”

     

     

  • Ropes in the leading actor as the Brand Ambassador for their maiden marque VIP

    VIP unveils new campaign featuring Hrithik Roshan

    By A Correspondent

     

    V.I.P Industries has announced the launch of theirmega campaign “When you are very important” for their homegrown brand VIP. The campaign features reigning heartthrob Hrithik Roshan as their brand ambassador illustrating the transformation of India’s pioneering luggage brand, creating a niche positioning for itself.

     

    Leaving no stone unturned the campaign is created by a team of globally acknowledged creative minds such as Thomas Krygier – Director of Oscar winning commercials,Olivier Schneider – Stunt Director for classics like James Bond 24: SPECTRE, Fast & Furious 6 and conceptualised by the team of Whyness Worldwide.

     

    Filmed in Prague, one of the largest citiesin Europe, the campaign showcases the superstar trying to escape a gang of thugs who want to steal a precious jewel which he carries in a VIP strolley.Against a beautiful backdrop depicting the magnificent cultural sights;the scene is shot on the streets where Hrithik is seen fighting the gang. Aesthetically choreographed the fight sequence shows Hrithik using the strolley to defend himself and at the same time demonstrating the durabili ty and toughness of the bag.

     

    Commenting on the new campaign Radhika Piramal, Managing Director, V.I.P Industries says, “VIP is a brand with which we pioneered in the luggage industry. Almost 4 decades old; brand VIP continues to reign as one of the most preferred luggage companions. Through this campaign we offer our consumers another reason to continue to associate with brand VIP, as the campaign tag line says “When you are very important”. We are extremely delighted to associate with Hrithik Roshan; there couldn’t have been anyone else who could match the classic legacy of our brand.”

     

    Detailing the marketing strategy for the brand Sudip Ghose, Vice President-Marketing, V.I.P Industries says, “This campaign is an amalgamation of two very important personalities i.e. VIP and Hrithik Roshan. With “When you are very important” campaign we want to entice the audience with the features of the new collection that Hrithik displays in the commercial. Adopting a different approach; apart from a 45 second television commercial viewers on the digital platform will get to watch a 2.45 minute film which will be exclusive to social media and will go live sometime soon.”

     

    Expressing his thoughts on the campaign Ravi Deshpande, Founder and Chairman, Whyness Worldwide says, “VIP as a brand has a unique charm just like the Brand Ambassador-Hrithik Roshan. Our attempt was to ensure that both the personalities are stitched together displaying the features of the product, thus offering the audience an action packed commercial that we hope stands out from the rest.”

     

  • The brand has decided to take a bold move forward, in alliance with the creative stewardship of Whyness

    VIP opts for Whyness as its creative agency

    By A Correspondent

     

    Following a multi-agency pitch, Whyness has been handed the creative mandate for VIP, the country’s luggage leader and one of India’s most iconic brands.

     

    As VIP looks to consolidate market share and deepen the relationship with its traditional consumer base as well as appeal to a younger audience, the brand has decided to take a bold move forward, in alliance with the creative stewardship of Whyness.

     

    SudipGhose

    Commenting on this partnership, Sudip Ghose, Vice President – Marketing, VIP Industries, said, “Whyness has already helped us successfully launch Carlton Luggage and establish it as a major player, with a 50 per cent growth rate last year. Throw in Ravi Deshpande’s wisdom and leadership and I believe the flagship VIP brand is in the best possible hands.”

     

     

    Ravi Deshpande

    Ravi Deshpande, Chief Creative Officer and Founder, Whyness, said, “It’s a huge win for Whyness. Our team is deeply excited to now hold the reins of a brand that has been integral to the lives of most Indians. We look forward to steer this much-loved brand in a fresh creative and strategic direction.”

     

  • Guerrilla Art and Design’s entry involving India’s best-known prison and TBWA/India's conservation message grabbed the top awards at the 10th edition of Kyoorius Designyatra

    Tihar Jail & Save Aarey creatives win big at KDY15

     

    By A Correspondent

     

    If you thought a conference in Goa would just be an excuse to celebrate, then Kyoorius Designyatra (KDY) was the wrong place to be. For, it’s certainly not an event where people go to spend time in the lobby, drink away at the bar or head to the beach. Designers, creatives and a mix of marketers and brand practitioners, flock here for their annual dose of gyaan and stand-out creative thinking.

     

     

    In-book: Work that stands out above the rest and meets the three judging criteria, ie 1) An original and inspiring idea, 2) Well-executed, and 3) Relevant to its context. Among the best pieces of work in the year, In-book winners are the nominees for Blue Elephants.

     

    Blue Elephant: Checks off all three criteria and reaches the Kyoorius Awards benchmark of creative excellence. Recognised as a symbol of the very highest creative achievement.

     

    Black Elephant: Best of Show. The ultimate prize. Work that is truly ground-breaking among all the judged work.

     

    For ad industry honchos Ravi Deshpande (Whyness) and Anil Nair (L&K Saatchi & Saatchi), a visit to Designyatra is like an annual pilgrimage. Well, almost. Both underscore the great attention paid to the content of the conference. And what they may not say in so many words is that the stuff dished out elsewhere doesn’t raise the bar and that perhaps a comparison of KDY with Goafest is incorrect given that that their target groups are different, even though both celebrated their 10th anniversary this year.

     

    The interesting news for Indian adland is that its constituents have done rather well at the third D&AD-governed Kyoorius Design Awards. Of the 29 Blue Elephants and two Black Elephants awarded, eight were won by Ogilvy, and three each by JWT and Alok Nanda Company. But the biggest awards of the night – the Black Elephants, and there were two of them awarded – were bagged by TBWA\India and the Delhi-based Guerilla Art & Design.

     

    A total of 488 entries were submitted across 10 categories: Branding & Identity, Design for Packaging, Design for Communication, Design for Space, Design for Books, Design for Editorial, Design Craft, Writing for Design, Product Design and Design for Good. The 29 Blue Elephant winners included Thought Blurb, Out of the Box, Sisterconcern, Open Strategy and Design, J. Walter Thompson, Ogilvy & Mather, Landor, MuseLab, Studio Lotus, TBWA/India, TenArt Private Limited, Star India Pvt. Ltd, Godrej Properties, Open Strategy and Design, Guerilla Art and Design and Ek Type.

     

    Guerilla Art and Design’s Black Elephant-winning work ‘Tihar Jail’ had the design firm working with local sign painters to illustrate an emotional poem written by one of the inmates, on the four walls of the prison.

     

    TBWA/India was awarded a Black Elephant for ‘Rakhis from Aarey’, where the agency created letters on behalf of the trees and rakhis made from discarded material of the same trees, which were sent out to 2,000 influencers.

     

    Said Rajesh Kejriwal, Founder CEO of Kyoorius, on the awards: “Our winners can confidently stand up against some of the best international work, thanks to the rigorous standards and judging criteria laid down by D&AD and Kyoorius. We are committed to nurturing and stimulating Indian creative talent through the awards, which help to fund our educational initiatives.”

     

    About the three-day conference, Kejriwal was ecstatic. “We were blown away by the creativity, passion and dedication on display,” he said. In a session entitled ‘10 Years of Designyatra, 10 years of Design’, that followed, Designyatra regular Harsh Purohit of Cognito, did a survey of 10 years touching on the things that have changed and those that have stayed the same.

     

    There were several speakers who were standout on the three days. Nick Law of R/GA, Lydia Winters (Mojang/Minecraft), Satya Raghavan (YouTube) and John McHale (SapientNitro) on Day 1; Jon Wilkins (Karmarama and, earlier, Naked), Morihiro Harano (Mori), Dave Trott (Author), Armin Vit (Underconsideration) and Max Weisel (innovator) on Day 2, and Jessica Walsh (Sagmeister & Walsh, who has done the new Frooti identity) and Neville Brody (Brody Associates) on the last day.

     

    Meanwhile, work has already begun on the 11th edition of KDY. Planning ahead and with uncompromising rigour with regard to curating content, are the key to Kejriwal’s success with Designyatra. Indeed.

     

    A shorter version of this report first appeared in dna of brands dated September 14, 2015

     

  • A leading global luggage brand, Carlton reflects the very best of British design and innovation

    Carlton takes ‘The New Face of Business’ route in new campaign

    By A Correspondent

     

    Luggage brand Carlton has launched its new campaign ‘Carlton – The New Face of Business’. The campaign is designed to tap into new consumer bases and fortify its position in the business luggage category. A leading global luggage brand acquired by VIP Industries in 2004, Carlton reflects the very best of British design and innovation.

     

    Conceptualized by Whyness, the new campaign raises a tribute to the new generation of business leaders and their luggage of choice – Carlton. While retaining the charm of its British heritage, the new campaign subtly points out how business has evolved from the old order. Set against a rapidly shifting corporate environment, ‘The New Face of Business’ campaign showcases Carlton as the perfect travel partner for the new business maverick in his pursuit of the next big idea.

     

    Reflecting on the campaign, Ravi Deshpande, Founder, Whyness shared, “There’s a new breed of business leaders out there. Young, passionate, innovative and ready to rewrite the rules. For whom chasing profits isn’t as important as chasing the big idea. The new Carlton campaign is a celebration of this new business generation and positions Carlton as the luggage of “The new face of business”. We look at Carlton as being young, exciting, up-market and disruptive, vis-à-vis the staid competition.”

     

    Speaking on the campaign, Sudip Ghose, Vice President-Marketing, VIP Industries said, “Young, passionate and always-on-the-go, the new generation of business leaders have their finger on the pulse of business. With the ‘New Face of Business’ campaign, we are directly speaking to this daring new business generation as they make their way to success.”

     

    The Carlton ‘New Face of Business’ campaign is currently on air and will be extended across print, radio and social media platforms.

     

  • The campaigns have been conceptualized to reinforce its position as the leader in the luggage sector

    VIP Industries unveils mega campaigns for ‘Caprese’ and ‘Carlton’

    By A Correspondent

     

    Luggage leader VIP Industries Ltd. has announced the launch of two mega campaigns for their brands ‘Caprese’ and ‘Carlton’. Power packed with glamour, new product launches, strategic market positioning, exploring new target segments, robust marketing strategies and alliances, the two brands captivate their respective audience with style and charisma.

     

    Established in 2012 by VIP Industries, Caprese offers ladies handbags which are a symbol of the international fashion inspired by the isle of Capri. Since its launch the brand has been positioned on Hi Fashion. But this time around the campaign objective was to go beyond the target of a niche fashionable audience to a wider segment without losing its essence of international fashion. Communication needed to retain its genes of elite style, while adding lifestyle cues to enhance the aspiration and desirability quotient among the masses.

     

    Thus, resulting in the concept of ‘The Caprese Girl’ – a desirable style icon that a young woman will look up to; a brand icon that defines Caprese over the coming decades. In order to connect with the masses, fashionable Bollywood star Alia Bhatt, was roped in as the first ever Caprese girl.

     

    KB Vinod, Managing Partner, Company says, “The Caprese girl is an ambassador of good taste, elegance and good life. She’ll hopefully define fashion for the girl next door. We would like to see the Caprese girl enjoying good things in life, with a gorgeous Caprese on her arm, for many decades to come.”

     

    Acquiring ‘Carlton’ in 2004, one of the leading global luggage brand designed and developed in London, since 1976 is an assurance of the very best of British design and innovation. The objective of the brand new campaign was to cater to the new order of business which is different from the old order. Jeans, garage offices, cloud computing have replaced pin striped suits and corner offices. The new generation of business leaders is young and not averse to taking risk. The way business is done today has changed and Carlton is the luggage for this ‘New Face of Business’ that accompanies this new business maverick in his journey to success.

     

    Created and conceptualized by Ravi Deshpande, Founder, Whyness the campaign is filmed in London keeping in mind its British legacy. It pays tribute to a new kind of business leader who is young, passionate and is relentless visionary in the pursuit of the next big idea and the next business revolution. The film shows the modus operandi of this new generation contrasting it with the old order. It shows enthusiastic and driven youth who are ready to make a dent in the business world with their unyielding resolve through different situations having the same underlying philosophy.

     

    Detailing his experience, Ravi Deshpande, Founder, Whyness shared, “Carlton is a premium luggage brand with a heritage of the UK legacy wanting to reach out to ‘The New Face of Business’. We hope that the campaign communicates with the young aspiring face of business who will associate with Carlton on their next business travel.”

     

    Speaking on the two campaigns, Radhika Piramal, Managing Director, VIP Industries stated, “Today’s travelers are evolving, demanding and always on the go. Their luggage needs to represent who they are. All our brands like VIP, Caprese, Skybags, Carlton, Alfa and Aristocrat cater to different market segments and with these two campaigns, we aim to strengthen the two segments that they target. We are extremely happy to have Alia Bhatt on board as the brand ambassador for Caprese, as she represents the modern young Indian woman with no compromise on fashion or style. With Carlton, the campaign communicates to a niche segment which is constantly developing. We hope that both the campaigns are successful in establishing a connect with its target audience.”

     

    The Caprese campaign will go on air starting 15th November 2014 followed by the Carlton campaign on 22nd November 2014. Both the campaigns will witness a 360° marketing approach across all the mediums of print, radio, television and social media.

     

  • Former Contract bossman Ravi Deshpande gives the story behind setting up an integrated agency that combines storytelling, tech, strategy & design

    Ravi Deshpande on the hows and whys of Whyness

     

    By Pradyuman Maheshwari

     

    He had made his exit as chairman and and chief creative officer of Contract India in April this year. While his design school in Central Mumbai was doing well, he was working on a project that he said he would tell us in good time.

     

    Which he has with Whyness Worldwide. Three offices – Mumbai, Paris and Boston plus alliances with Boston-based big data tech firm Findability Sciences and a branding and design company called Seenk from France.

     

    Said Deshpande, who is designated founder, chairman and CCO of Whyness, in a communiqué: “We are an integrated communications agency for the new world.  We address brand challenges with solutions that combine human insights, creativity, design and technology. In a sense it is an agency that bridges the gap between traditional agencies and digital agencies. We wanted to mix up things and produce surprising results that actually work for brands and companies. Design and Strategy combined with technology, Creativity mixed with Algorithms.” This isn’t Deshpande’s first attempt at being an entrepreneur. In 2001, he quit Contract to start Lemon.

     

    In a free-wheeling chat, Deshpande goes behind the setting up of Whyness, the name, the integration of tech and design in an ad agency and whether he would look at hooking up with a bigger player.

     

    Other than Ravi Deshpande, how will Whyness be different from the others?

    Whyness is born with a different genetic structure, and that flows through the way we approach businesses, marketing challenges and storytelling with the help of technology. We have built our team around that ideology. In a sense, Whyness will bridge the gap between traditional agencies and typical digital setups.

     

    There is an emphasis on Big Data in Whyness. While we have had India perform well in the international Echo awards, is Big Data really big for advertising agencies. And wouldn’t advertisers prefer specialists for that?

    It should be. With so much emphasis on social media, both by advertisers and marketers, it’s perennial to know your audience and have smart data to validate every step. It is a practice in Whyness, we don’t do anything without asking the right questions, and to ask the right questions, you need to have market intelligence. Big Data is just that, and it’s the lack of such practices is why Whyness is born with a specialist Big Data alliance called Findability Sciences.

     

    Ditto with design… there are a fair number of exclusive design boutiques in the country?

    Technology without design is soulless, and art without the use of new techniques of expression is stale. Both are disciplines that help you solve a marketing problem, and at Whyness we stitch them together in order to create more immersive experiences.

     

    A lot of agencies now display the ‘integrated’ tag. There are many agencies which are now sporting that tag? Is integrated the same as full-service or is it different?

    Integrated is not necessarily full-service agency. It is really about a seamless structure that combines storytelling, tech, strategy and design.

     

    Will you be having the strategic planning and media buying/planning functions too as part of ‘Whyness’?

    Strategy and Planning would be an integral part for Whyness. We are exploring digital media planners being part of the ecosystem.

     

    Any clients on board? Any one moving from Contract?

    We are in conversation with businesses from India and the US.

     

    Tell us about the funding?

    It is a self-funded venture.

     

    This isn’t your first experience with entrepreneurship? Any lessons from Lemon that you will not repeat now?

    Well, the biggest learning is that you have to control your own destiny.

     

    While we all knew that you were looking at setting up anew, the immediate response was: offo, ek aur nayi agency? Is there room for another creative shop?

    Indeed there is a need for an agency such as Whyness. Marketers in India and around the globe, feel the need to integrate disciplines when it comes to communication. But there aren’t many agencies that successfully manage this integration. Most importantly, I don’t know of any such agency in the country that is built around a technology core.

     

    What’s about the name of ad agencies these days… from agencies named after people (JWT, Ogilvy, R K Swamy) to business-like names (Enterprise, Contract, Rediffusion) to some interesting ones now like Taproot, Scarecrow, Enormous and now Whyness?

    Well, defining a problem sharply, is halfway to finding the right answer. Great work usually happens when we take a problem by its horns, and ask the question ‘Why’.  From the reply, emerge more questions. Which when answered, give rise to more questions. Until finally, we have narrowed down the problem, cornered it, pinned it to the wall and left no room for it to escape. No more room for questions.

     

    On such a clean slate, the problem lies, clear, waiting to be solved.  This, we believe is the perfect condition to deliver great work. Hence the name ‘Whyness’.

     

    You’ve just set up so possibly inappropriate to ask this now, but still: at what stage would you look at aligning with a Big ‘Un?

    We are beginning a journey, we have the steam and strength to move ahead comfortably for a long while to come. But if we do meet some partners who value us for our way of thinking, then a friendship may be forged. But till then, we are happily unmarried.

     

  • The former Contract India chairman and CCO has set up Whyness Worldwide with offices in Mumbai, Paris and Boston and two strategic offshore alliance – the Boston-based big data tech firm called Findability Sciences and a branding and design company called Seenk from France

    Ravi Deshpande sets up Whyness

    By A Correspondent

     

    (left to right): Anand Mahurkar (Founder and CEO of Findability sciences, Boston), Clement Derock ( Founder and Creative Director, Seenk, Paris ), Ravi Deshpande ( Founder, Chairman and CCO, Whyness) and Frederic Lalande ( Founder and Creative Director, Seenk, Paris)

    As he made the rounds of various industry events over the last few months, Ravi Deshpande would assure us to hang in there for the big news. The design school was functional and the trade was abuzz with the news that the former chairman and and chief creative officer of Contract India was up to something new.

     

    Enter Whyness Worldwide with three offices: Mumbai, Paris and Boston. Mr Deshpande has chosen two strong strategic offshore alliance as it has tied up with Boston-based big data tech firm called Findability Sciences and a branding and design company called Seenk from France.

     

    Said Mr Deshpande, who is designated founder, chairman and CCO of Whyness: “We are an integrated communications agency for the new world. We address brand challenges with solutions that combine human insights, creativity, design and technology. In a sense it is an agency that bridges the gap between traditional agencies and digital agencies.”

     

    So why Whyness? How will it different from the others? “Whyness was to take the next big step in seeking answers on how to communicate to the people of the new world. We redesigned the way we work, right from our structure and alliances to our talent strategy. We were convinced about the kind of work we want to do. And it matches with the kind of work our clients and marketers are asking for. We wanted to mix up things and produce surprising results that actually work for brands and companies. Design and Strategy combined with technology, Creativity mixed with Algorithms.”

     

    Whyness will work with Findability Sciences and Paris-based Seenk closely and ’employ’ graduates from the ‘Ecole Intuit Lab’ school of design set by Mr Deshpande to add fresh perspective to design.

     

    It maybe remembered that this is Ravi Deshpande’s second attempt at being entrepreneur. In 2001, he quit Contract to start Lemon. In April this year, he quit Contract as chairman and chief creative officer.