MxMIndia

Tag: Swati Bhattacharya

  • Swati Bhattacharya will stay with the agency till March-end

    New creative leadership for FCB India Delhi

    FCB India, part of the FCB Group agencies in India, has announces a new creative leadership for its Delhi office. Udayan Chakravorty and Anusheela Saha, ECDs at FCB India, have been promoted to National Creative Directors. Saha will also take on the additional role of Head of Design at the agency.

    As is known, Swati Bhattacharya has stepped down from her role as Creative Chairperson for FCB India to take some personal time. Swati will stay with the agency until the end of March.

    Commenting on the announcement, Dheeraj Sinha, Group CEO of FCB Group India and South Asia, said: “It’s always a pleasure to see our leaders moving up and taking on greater challenges. Udayan and Anusheela are two creative leaders who have amazing talent and energy, and have continually demonstrated a future-thinking approach. With their enthusiasm and passion for creating globally competitive work for our clients, I am convinced they will help write a new future for FCB India and the FCB Group overall,” adding:”We are grateful to Swati, who has played a pivotal role in shaping FCB India’s creative direction and fostering a culture of creativity and excellence. She helped put the agency on the global creative map, and we wish her the very best in her future endeavours.”

  • To celebrate ‘The Steel Within’ every woman this Durga Puja

    FCB films new campaign for Elegant Steel

    By Our Staff

     

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Elegant Steel (@elegantsteelofficial)

    Elegant Steel has marked Durga Puja festivities with the launch of its new film- Narishakti- The Steel Within. The film has been conceptualised by FCB India.

     

    Sharing insights on the creative ideation, Swati Bhattacharya, Creative Chairperson, FCB India, said: “This work is brave because many brands are aware of how social media tries to objectify and classify women… But nobody has spoken about it. Elegant steel asks us to celebrate the steel in us and continue to be the woman we want to be even if it rattles some people.”

     

    Elaborating on the brave message of the film, Swati Agarwal, Chairperson, Elegant Steel, added: “As one of India’s leading steel brand, our values have always stood for quality, strength and resilience and this Durga Puja we wanted to celebrate these exact same values we see in every woman who has gone through the fires of being judged and tested and has emerged stronger.”

     

  • Rohit Ohri, Chairman and CEO, FCB Group India in a video interview with Pradyuman Maheshwari

    The Road to Being Killer-Diller

     

    By Our Staff

     

    Some five-and-a-half years back, when he had just taken charge as CEO of the FCB Group in India, our editor-in-chief Pradyuman Maheshwari  had asked Rohit Ohri about a general perception of FCB Ulka/India being an efficient, successful but a fuddy-duddy agency. We followed it with a similar question to Global CEO Carter Murray a few months later on the sidelines of Goafest.

     

    As he tells us in this interview, Messrs Murray and Ohri took this comment rather seriously and were determined to purge this perception. Fast and furiously. Which they did. From being considered a servicing- and planning-centric network, creative has gotten centerstage, which is what creative agencies are meant to be.

     

    After having asked this horribly rude question in 2016, Pradyuman Maheshwari interviews Rohit Ohri, Chairman and CEO, FCB Group India, on the road from to being a, as Ohri calls it, a killer-diller agency. It’s a looooong, 54-minuter, so bring along that cup of chai. Or coffee, if you are a trueblue adperson.

     

    Watch. Enjoy. Like.

     

  • A hybrid agency for new era of marketing

    FCB India announces restructuring

    By Our Staff

     

    FCB Group in India had recently announced the restructuring of its creative agencies and a new three-agency structure – FCB Ulka, FCB Interface and FCB India. FCB India, the newest agency in the fold, led by Swati Bhattacharya as the Creative Chairperson. It has now announced its newly elevated C-Suite leadership team.

     

    FCB India will be led by Debarpita Banerjee as Chief Executive Officer, Surjo Dutt as Chief Creative Officer and John Thangaraj as Chief Strategy Officer. In their previous roles, Banerjee, Dutt and Thangaraj were President – North & East, National Creative Director and National Planning Director, respectively.

     

    Swati Bhattacharya
    Swati Bhattacharya

    Speaking on the occasion, Swati Bhattacharya, Creative Chairperson, FCB India, said: “When Debbie, Surjo, and John enter the room to solve a problem… you know it will be done. Very rarely do you see such chemistry and energy in the boardroom. They can afford to be terribly honest with each other, and that directly makes the idea shiny and the brand shinier!”

     

    Rohit Ohri
    Rohit Ohri

    Added Rohit Ohri, Chairman & CEO, FCB Group India: “Hybrid thinking truly begins with hybrid talent. Debbie, Surjo and John’s diverse experience across content marketing, media strategy and digital storytelling, respectively, uniquely positions them to deliver to the challenges of building and growing brands in today’s complex, ever-changing marketplace”.

     

  • To provide clients with strategic direction and creativity

    FCB Group restructures

    By Our Staff

     

    Creative agency FCB Group India has announced a reorganisation of its creative agencies in India, along with key elevations. The group will undertake restructuring with three full-service agency brands in India – FCB Ulka, FCB Interface, and FCB India. These three agencies will be a part of FCB Group India.

     

    Rohit Ohri
    Rohit Ohri

    Said Rohit Ohri, Chairman & CEO, FCB Group India: “It is imperative for us now, more than ever before, to be able to provide our clients with the strategic direction and creativity they need to navigate the new world we live in today. Our new structure allows for our best people to provide focused and dedicated partnership to our clients; to bring the disruptive creativity, agility, and fluidity that is required today to transform our clients’ businesses and create unmissable brands.”

     

    With the new three creative agency structure, agency seniors Nitin Karkare will be FCB Ulka Vice Chairman, Swati Bhattacharya will be FCB India Creative Chairperson, Robby Mathew will be FCB Interface Vice Chairman & CCO, and Joe Thaliath will be FCB Interface Vice Chairman & CEO.

     

  • The 2021 edition of Cannes Lions saw India getting three moral metals than 2019

    Dentsu Webchutney & FCB star at Cannes

     

    By Our Staff

     

    In 2019, the Indian marketing services contingent put on a very sorry figure at Cannes Lions, the annual festival of creativity in advertising. Entrants from India brought back 19 metals, just one more than what they earned the previous year. But this year, the number has grown by three, and Indian entrants bagged a total of 22 metals – in various hues – Gold, Silver and Bronze.

     

    Dentsu Webchutney bagged 50 points if one includes shortlists followed by FCB Interace with 48 points. But as a group FCB that includes FCB Ulka and FCB Interface bagged 8 metals including one Gold, three Silver and four Bronze, followed by Digital Agency Dentsu Webchutney with seven metals.

    In 2021, Webchutney beat their previous record with 20 shortlists and 7 Lions.

     

    Said Sidharth Rao, CEO, Dentsumcgarrybowen (dentsuMB) India and founder of Webchutney: “2019 showed us Webchutney was capable of creative excellence at the highest level. 2021 showed it was about doing it consistently – the wins this year have firmly planted the ‘new normal’ of what Webchutney’s north star as an agency is. The agency is home to some incredible talent and is a shining example of what the dentsuMB group of agencies and dentsu India itself wants to stand for.”

     

    Added PG Aditiya, NCD, Dentsu Webchutney added: “This year’s Cannes Lions is probably our most meaningful one yet. A huge round of applause for our teams across the country, both past and present, & gratitude to our clients who’ve shape-shifted the status-quo of Indian creativity at a global level, with us. And congratulations to the teams behind all the winning work from India.”

     

    For FCB, the metals came in for The Punishing Signal for the Mumbai Police and Times Out & Proud for The Times of India.

     

    Speaking on the win, Rohit Ohri, Chairman & CEO, FCB Group India, said: “Our pride of Lions bears testimony our commitment to putting creative excellence at the center of everything we do. Over the last three years we’ve been the best performing Indian agency at Cannes. Like they say… once is a chance, twice is a co-incidence and three times is a habit. I’m really proud of how far we’ve come on our creative transformation journey.”

     

    Added Robby Mathew, Vice Chairman & CCO, FCB Interface: “I am absolutely delighted with our performance at Cannes this year. Looking forward to many more bountiful years for my agency.”

     

    Said Swati Bhattacharya, Vice Chairman & CCO, FCB India: “When I have grandchildren I think I will skip telling them about Cinderella. I will tell them about the FCB Group India story. It’s a fairy tale without evil stepsisters. Just perfect!

     

     

    The following Special Awards were also presented: 

    Holding Company of the Festival 2020/21

    1. WPP

    2. Omnicom

    3. Interpublic Group

     

    Network of the Festival 2020/21

    1. FCB

    2. Ogilvy

    3. BBDO Worldwide

     

    Agency of the Festival 2020/21

    1. AMV BBDO, London, UK

    2. Publicis Italy, Milan, Italy

    3. FCB Chicago, USA

     

    Independent Agency of the Festival 2020/21

    1. Wieden+Kennedy, Portland, USA

    2. The Bloc, New York, USA

    3. Rethink, Toronto, Canada

     

    Palme D’Or 2020/21

    1. Chelsea Pictures, USA

    2. Pulse Films, USA

    3. Division, France

    4. Smuggler, USA

    5. Prettybird, USA

     

    Creative brand of the Festival 2020/21

    1. Burger King

    2. Bodyform/Libresse

    3. Dove

     

    Agency of the Festival by track 2020/21 – Communication

    Publicis Italy, Milan, Italy

     

    Agency of the Festival by track 2020/21 – Craft

    AMV BBDO, London, UK

     

    Agency of the Festival by track 2020/21 – Entertainment

    72andSunny, Los Angeles, USA

     

    Agency of the Festival by track 2020/21 – Experience

    McCANN, New York, USA

     

    Agency of the Festival by track 2020/21 – Good

    VMLY&R Brazil, São Paulo, Brazil

     

    Agency of the Festival by track 2020/21 – Reach

    FCB Chicago, USA

     

    Independent Agency of the Festival by track 2020/21 – Communication

    Wieden+Kennedy, Portland, USA

     

    Independent Agency of the Festival by track 2020/21 – Craft

    Work & Co, New York, USA

     

    Independent Agency of the Festival by track 2020/21 – Entertainment

    =1. Edelman, London, UK

    =1. GUT, São Paulo, Brazil

     

    Independent Agency of the Festival by track 2020/21 – Experience

    Uncommon, London, UK

     

    Independent Agency of the Festival by track 2020/21 – Good

    FARM, Stockholm, Sweden

     

    Independent Agency of the Festival by track 2020/21 – Reach

    GUT, Miami, USA

  • The account was won following a multi-agency pitch

    FCB wins integrated mandate for Lakme & Elle 18

    By Our Staff

     

    FCB India has announced that it has been awarded the integrated communication mandate of Hindustan Unilever’s cosmetic brands Lakme & Elle 18 following a multi-agency pitch.

     

    Said Rohit Ohri, Group Chairman & CEO, FCB India: “We are proud to partner Lakme and Elle 18 in India. These iconic Indian brands are a symbol of and inspiration for ‘Make in India’. At FCB, we believe in creating ‘Never Finished’ stories for brands. We’re delighted to have this opportunity to write an exciting new chapter in the ‘Never Finished’ stories of Lakme and Elle 18.”

     

    Added Swati Bhattacharya, CCO of FCB: “Lakme is a brand that has witnessed the internal and external journeys of Indian women. To be a part of this brand’s voice, makes it an absolutely exciting opportunity for us.”

     

     

  • The film was created by FCB

    Horlicks’ new TVC celebrates confidence

    By A Correspondent

     

    Horlicks has unveiled a new new film that highlights the journey of childhood. The film, notes a communique, brings alive the fact that today’s stories should not be limited to the intrinsic physical growth benefits but to the courage and confidence that children display when they grow well.

     

    Commenting on the latest TVC, Sudhir Sitapati, Executive Director, Foods & Refreshment, HUL said: “India’s nutrition journey is central to the growth of the country. Nutrition is also the primary motivation that drives the mother, as a gatekeeper to the family’s health, so that the child can meet each moment with their full potential. Through this special film, we seek to celebrate the deeper meaning of growth that stems from courage and confidence. We truly believe that children, when enabled to their full potential, will lead the world through change and troubled times.”

     

    Added Swati Bhattacharya of FCB:  “What does a child growing up mean to a mother? Is it the annual health check-up or do they happen in moments suddenly, unrehearsed taking her by complete surprise? This is a grown-up version of our old promise of taller stronger sharper children, now it takes it to the next level where the child applies it to life.”

     

     

  • The graphs by FCB Ulka show people staying at home, so that they contribute to ‘Flatten The Curve’

    FCB Ulka’s Flatten The Curve

    By A Correspondent

     

    To drive communication on flattening the curve, FCB Ulka has come up with graphic representations that drive this important message. The graphs by FCB Ulka show people staying at home, so that they contribute to ‘Flatten The Curve’.

     

    Speaking about the idea, Swati Bhattacharya, CCO, FCB Ulka, said: “I am really proud that UNAIDS took this piece of work and shared it all over Europe. Never has the world been more united than in our fight against covid19.” Added Surjo Dutt – NCD FCB Ulka Delhi: “Flattening the curve is the one big thing common folk can do. Hence, we created communication that makes people enjoy/engage/evangelise this curve.”

     

    The creator of the campaign, Anusheela Saha, Group Creative Director, FCB Ulka, said: “The truth is that on social media, data or graphs are not compelling for most. So, we made it our task to present information in a way that becomes compelling to many.”

     

    Said Mahesh Mahalingam, Director, Communications and Global Advocacy, UNAIDS: “Flatten the curve was an attempt to make an epidemiological concept understood in practical ways by the public. We wanted to make staying at home less stressful and more fun at a time when Covid-19 was spreading across the world. FCB Ulka helped us in bringing home the message of staying home in a witty yet factual fashion.”

     

     

  • It will provide a clean new interface that showcases the brand philosophy “Think Tomorrow.”

    VMLY&R to revamp digital presence of Bajaj Group

    By A Correspondent

     

    VMLY&R India has been appointed by Bajaj Group to refresh its digital platforms to convey the brand’s heritage, with a clean new interface that showcases the brand philosophy “Think Tomorrow.”

     

    Swati Bhattacharya

    Said Swati Bhattacharya, Chief Communications and Brand Officer of the Bajaj Group: “This is an exciting time for us as a group. Our businesses are on a growth trajectory and we continue to impact millions of lives through our Foundation initiatives for farmers by developing grassroots infrastructure. Our new brand identity gives shape to our vision of building a unified Bajaj Group brand that leverages synergies across group businesses and drives a common culture based on our heritage and future ambitions. We feel like VMLY&R understands how to manifest this brand philosophy in the digital space through various touchpoints starting with the website and bring to life our brand ethos of “Think Tomorrow” effectively.”

     

    Saurabh Mathur

    Added Saurabh Mathur, Business Head, Experience & Technology at VMLY&R India: “Bajaj Group has a rich history full of stories. It has been a pleasure designing these stories into digital experiences that allow Bajaj’s partners and consumers to truly understand the brand and feel their promise of “Think Tomorrow” as deeply as Bajaj does. We look forward to launching first their new site, followed by the rest of their digital ecosystem, to help them connect with their community across every touch point.”

     

     

  • The brand has launched a new campaign ‘Dil, Dosti, Domino’s!’ to further strengthen that relationship with its consumers

    Domino’s takes emotional route with consumers

    By A Correspondent

     

    Domino’s Pizza has unveiled its new campaign ‘Dil, Dosti, Domino’s’, that aims to strengthen the emotional connect with consumers by creating tasty and memorable moments of togetherness.

     

    Speaking on the launch of the new campaign, Kapil Grover, Chief Marketing Officer, Domino’s Pizza India said: “Today, relationships have evolved from what they were a few years ago, especially relationships between Friends and Families. Hierarchical parental relationships no longer bind families. There is a lot of mutual respect and friendship amongst kids and parents today. Similarly, with the family structures changing, friends have become your new support system and in fact an extended family for a lot of us. And if we recall these moments, good food has always been a glue for relationships, especially Domino’s Pizza being a shareable product has been at the centre of many such stories where “Friends Become Family and Families Become Friends.”

     

    Added Swati Bhattacharya, CCO, FCB Ulka: “Domino’s pizza is designed to be shared for people to gather around the “magic circle”, pull at a cheesy slice and fight for the last bite. And in this very act of sharing and connecting, formality and boundaries get dissolved. Friends become like family, and family become like friends. Our campaign captures this essence of Domino’s and its role in the Indian consumer’s life.”

     

     

  • Recognised as a symbol of sisterhood, the annual campaign will run with the endeavuor to make inclusive sindoor khela celebrations a part of tradition

    TOI unveils third edition of #NoConditionsApply – Sindoor Khela

    By A Correspondent

     

    Two years ago, The Times of India reinterpreted a 400-year-old tradition with the award-winning campaign #NoConditionsApply – Sindoor Khela. Conceptualised to promote gender equity, the campaign calls attention to the issue of inclusion of women in celebrations and combats the discrimination that they face in terms of their caste, creed, marital status, sexual orientation etc. In its third year, #NoConditionsApply – Sindoor Khela initiative aims to reach the corners of the nation and beyond spreading this message of inclusive celebration that celebrates the womanhood sans any discrimination based on labels and societal barriers.

     

    Commenting on the launch, Sanjeev Bhargava, Director, Brand TOI, said: “The #NoConditionsApply – Sindoor Khela campaign is extremely special to all of us, owing to the change that it has fostered across the various communities in India. While it is contextualized to a Bengali cultural event, the message of inclusive celebration and sisterhood resonates with everyone. We have always left no stone unturned in spreading the message across the various strata of society. Our success lies not in the awards that this campaign has garnered but in the fact that the initiative has grown from strength to strength and is rapidly becoming a symbol of inclusiveness.  We are grateful for the overwhelming response we have received from women across the country who have shared their celebrations with us. The fact that it is back for the third time is testament to the widespread movement that the campaign is now. I thank everyone who has supported us in making the change happen.”

     

    Speaking about the campaign, Swati Bhattacharya, Chief Creative Officer, FCB Ulka added: “This piece of work has been a big emotional milestone for me personally. This bloodless coup of a campaign shows the world that joy love friendship and beauty can help break down walls an inclusive Sindoor Khela shows us that sisterhood is one of biggest ideas that can change the world we live in.”