MxMIndia

Tag: VML

  • Conceptualised by VML

    Kareena Kapoor campaigns for Tirupati oil

    VML and Tirupati Edible Oils have launched a campaign celebrating the joy of healthy living. It stars actor Kareena Kapoor Khan.

    Said Shaileen Patel, General Manager, Business Development & Marcom at N K Proteins Pvt. Ltd.: “Through ‘Healthy Wali Happiness’, Tirupati Edible Oils aspires to motivate families to make thoughtful decisions regarding their health and well-being, ensuring every festive occasion is truly special. We aim to highlight the intrinsic link between health and happiness, showcasing that a healthy family is indeed a happy family. Our continued association with Kareena Kapoor Khan as the brand ambassador only helps us to organically build our new proposition even stronger.”

    Added Sameet Soni – ECD VML India: “We look forward to festivals, meeting friends, family and celebrations. However, if you’re a foodie, you look forward to all the good food that’s served during these festivals. We wanted to celebrate the foodie in each of us with Kareena as brand ambassador.”

  • Featuring Sachin Tendulkar

    Ageas Federal Life Insurance unveils campaign

    Ageas Federal Life Insurance has unveiled a campaign conceptualised by VML, featuring Sachin Tendulkar.

    Speaking about the brand film, Erum Kidwai, Seniro Vice President and Head- Marketing at Ageas Federal Life Insurance, said: “With “Cradle to Crease,” we aim to redefine the narrative surrounding financial planning and insurance. Sachin Tendulkar’s journey serves as a powerful reminder that there is no fixed age or time to prioritize financial security. Through this film, we seek to inspire individuals to take charge of their future fearlessly and embrace a proactive approach towards financial planning through insurance.”

    Mukund Olety, CCO VML, added: “By using Sachin Tendulkar’s journey, we aim to redefine the narrative around financial planning and insurance, emphasizing that there’s no fixed age or time to prioritize financial security. VML is proud to create a campaign for AFLI, making it the first brand in India’s BFSI sector to use DeepFake technology positively. This combination of creativity and technology allows us to educate audiences about the importance of life insurance in a way that connects with today’s tech-savvy generation.”

  • Brings debut to life in new Cradle to Crease campaign

    Tendulkar features in Ageas Federal Life

    Ageas Federal Life Insurance, introduces its latest brand campaign film, “Cradle to Crease,” an initiative focusing on financial planning and investing in life insurance.

    The campaign sheds light on the significance of early financial planning for parents through the lens of Sachin Tendulkar’s debut.

    Speaking about the brand film, Erum Kidwai, Senior Vice President & Head- Marketing at Ageas Federal Life Insurance, said: “With “Cradle to Crease,” we aim to redefine the narrative surrounding financial planning and insurance. Sachin Tendulkar’s journey serves as a powerful reminder that there is no fixed age or time to prioritize financial security. Through this film, we seek to inspire individuals to take charge of their future fearlessly and embrace a proactive approach towards financial planning through insurance.”

    Adddd Mukund Olety, CCO VML: “After a very successful Young Sachin campaign, we have created Cradle to Crease. The film features Sachin walking through the tunnel of life as he reaches the pitch. Using technology, we’ve created a hyper-realistic rendition of 16-year-old Sachin to recreate the moment he made his international debut. With the power of Gen-AI, we’ve told a story that could not have been told 5 years ago. We are constantly pushing boundaries and using technology to make storytelling richer and better. We’re sure seeing Sachin walk up to his debut shall inspire a lot of parents to plan better.”

  • Campaign conceptualised by VML

    New TVC launched for Pass Pass Pulse

    DS Group has launched a new TVC for Pass Pass Pulse, the hard-boiled candy. The brand’s foundational message, ‘Pran Jaaye Par Pulse Na Jaaye’, is echoed once again in the film, where Saurabh Shukla and Abhishek Banerjee take centerstage. It is conceptualised by VML (earlier Wunderman Thompson (Delhi)).

    Commenting on the occasion, Arvind Kumar, General Manager, Marketing, DS Foods, DS Group, said: “DS Group’s Pulse is all about a great tasting candy that you would never share with anyone. Our campaign line ‘Pran Jaaye Par Pulse Na Jaaye’ talks about this in a simple yet creative manner. This latest TVC brings this to life with yet another hilarious story that showcases people going to any extent when it comes to procuring/hiding their Pulse candy.”

    Ådded VML’s Sundeep Sehgal: “Pran Jaaye Par Pulse Na Jaaye is a promising idea that we have built over the years. To take things a notch higher, we developed yet another ad that showcases unique ways people adopt to hide their Pulse candy. We had a lot of fun making it and we are sure that the audiences will find it super entertaining.”

  • It has been created by VML

    Shell launches ‘Expect more from Shell Fuels’ campaign

    Shell has launched a new marketing campaign titled ‘Expect more from Shell Fuels’. It has been created by VML.

    Introducing the new campaign, Kartiki Karihaloo, Manager Marketing, Mobility India, said: “We have always been committed to enhancing the mobility experience for our valued customers. With our latest campaign, ‘Expect more from Shell Fuels, ‘ we want to emphasise that even though life’s diverse experiences may not always exceed expectations, customers can always expect exceptional value and quality from Shell Fuels. It also builds upon our previous campaign ‘More than Just a Fuel Station’, marking another step forward in our journey towards enhancing our customer’s overall experience.”

  • For their strategic advertising and communications

    Troo Good appoints Wunderman Thompson

    By Our Staff

     

    Troo Good, the millet snack enterprise, has appointed Wunderman Thompson (soon to be VML) as its advertising agency, solidifying a multi-year, multi-crore collaboration.

     

    Speaking on the announcement, Raju Bhupathi, Founder and CEO, Troo Good, said: “Troo Good has seen exponential growth since inception. We are making heavy investments in brand building and retail to further expand on that momentum and are exploring the utilization of all possible channels to highlight the benefits of millet-based snacks to consumers and make them aware of our affordable and healthy offerings. As a means of achieving this, we have assigned our advertising mandate to one of the top agencies in the country, Wunderman Thompson, after a detailed shortlisting process. We see a strategic fit and a professional alignment in this association that will help us accomplish our marketing goals.”

     

    Commenting on winning Troo Good’s advertising mandate, Vijay Jacob Parakkal, Managing Partner at Wunderman Thompson, added: “We are delighted to partner with the new exciting millet brand Troo Good. Our strategy weaves affordability and nutritional excellence into Troo Good’s brand story. By amplifying the brand’s unique selling proposition, we are poised to deliver a compelling narrative that not only captures attention but also reinforces Troo Good’s market distinction.”

     

  • India leadership will be announced in Q1 2024

    VML announces new leadership APAC, no names yet for India

     

     

    By Our Staff

     

    In the world of politics in India, names of Chief Ministers (and not too long ago, even a Prime Minister) doesn’t always happen as per expectations. It could take days, often some weeks.

     

    Which is what’s happening at VML, the new agency that will be born on January 1, 2024 with the merger of Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R. The agency has announced its new in-market leadership team for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, except for India. Yes, not for India.

     

    Notes a communique: “Uniting more than 5000 employees across 25 offices in 13 markets in APAC, the new structure has been designed to provide best-in-class support for VML’s clients across the region, featuring market leaders with robust local knowledge and deep expertise spanning customer experience, brand experience and commerce.”

     

    VML is being the world’s most advanced and largest creative company.

     

    Under the leadership of newly appointed VML APAC Co-CEOs Audrey Kuah and Yi-Chung Tay, and with its regional principal offices in Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney, the restructure sees the appointment of the following market leaders (by region) from January 1, 2024:

     

    ANZ

    In Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), Tom Tearle, VMLY&R ANZ CEO, is appointed to the role of CEO, VML ANZ. Gavin Bain, Wunderman Thompson CEO for Australia, moves to the role of VML Chief Consulting Officer, ANZ and Managing Director, Perth, Australia.

     

    Southeast Asia

    Singapore: Nimesh Desai, Wunderman Thompson CEO for Singapore, has been appointed as VML CEO, Singapore. Rhys Taylor, VMLY&R Managing Director, Singapore, takes on the role of VML Chief Client Officer, Singapore, focused on ensuring the new VML is providing the full suite of capabilities to its clients.

     

    Indonesia: Samir Gupte, CEO, Wunderman Thompson, Indonesia, has been appointed CEO, VML Indonesia.

    Malaysia: Kenni Loh, CEO, VMLY&R Malaysia, has been appointed CEO, VML Malaysia.

    Philippines: Golda Roldan, CEO, Wunderman Thompson, Philippines, has been appointed CEO, VML Philippines.

    Thailand: Parattajariya Jalayanteja, CEO Wunderman Thompson, Thailand has been appointed CEO, VML Thailand.

    Vietnam: Ha Nguyen, VMLY&R CEO, Vietnam, has been appointed CEO, VML Vietnam.

     

    East Asia

    In China, Kevin Zhu, VMLY&R China CEO, has been appointed CEO VML, China, and Carter Chow Wunderman Thompson CEO for Greater China, steps into the role of President, VML China.

    Hong Kong: Maggie Wong, CEO, Wunderman Thompson, Hong Kong, has been appointed CEO, VML Hong Kong.

    Japan: Ichiro Ota, CEO, VML & Ogilvy Japan remains in his position; while Akira Suzuki, CEO, Wunderman Thompson Japan, moves into the role of COO, VML Japan.

    Taiwan: Even Teng, CEO, Wunderman Thompson, Taiwan has been appointed CEO, VML, Taiwan.

     

    South Asia

    India:  No names yet. The communique says: “India is a key market for VML and we are taking the time to ensure that our teams are led by the most capable leaders for our employees and clients. We will announce India’s leadership in Q1 2024.”

     

    Said Audrey Kuah, Co-CEO, VML APAC: “We are thrilled to introduce our new APAC leadership team, who represent the cream-of-the-crop across two of the most awarded creative agencies in the region. As we unify our storied agencies, there is an exciting opportunity to redefine the possibilities of creativity and set the stage for more innovative and effective work.”

     

    Added Yi-Chung Tay, Co-CEO, VML APAC: “At VML we are dedicated to creating connected brands which matter to the consumer and drive growth for our client partners. Working closely with our leaders across our APAC network, we are well positioned to provide the best possible solutions to our clients’ most pressing business problems via an integrated suite of capabilities which are unsurpassed in the region.”

     

    Meanwhile, there is speculation around who will head VML in India. Saurabh Saksena, CEO of VMLY&R or Shamsuddin Jasani, Chief Executive Officer, Wunderman Thompson South Asia. Consider the explanation given: “India is a key market for VML and we are taking the time to ensure that our teams are led by the most capable leaders for our employees and clients. We will announce India’s leadership in Q1 2024.”

    So, are all other markets in APAC not “key”?

    Taking the time to ensure teams are led by the most capable leaders. Uff, is the current leadership not capable for “employees and clients”?

    Well, while we keep ‘wundering’, suffice to say that such delays do not augur too well for both clients and staff.

    An insider in one of the two (actually four) agencies sent us this:

     

    In the realm of ads and creative glee,

    VMLY&R joins hands with Wunderman Thompson, you see.

    But in India, oh what a mystery,

    No leader yet, just a vacancy.

     

    They search high and low, far and wide,

    For a capable chief to take the stride.

    A leader to steer, with talent and pride,

    Till then, in suspense, we all abide.

     

    In the world of mergers and agency lore,

    The missing leader, we can’t ignore.

    VML, oh who could ask for more?

    A chiefless ship, on an unknown shore.

    Grrr!

     

  • VML will be the world's largest creative company, notes a communique, combining brand experience, customer experience and commerce

    Wunderman Thompson + VMLY&R = VML, effective Jan 1, 2024

    By Our Staff

     

    WPP has  announced the merger of Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R. The combined entity will be known as VML and will be the industry’s largest creative company, notes a communique. VML – in the new avatar – will be operational from January 1, 2024.

     

    VML unites the two creative agencies each with  commerce, customer experience and marketing technology capabilities. VML will be equipped to support clients on creative brand growth strategy and transformation initiatives, all powered by data operations, technology platforms and partnerships with leading technology companies. It will also provide an exceptional offer for healthcare companies and B2B marketers.

     

    “Respective client bases, functional expertise and geographic strengths mean the agencies are highly complementary and the combined company will have more than 30,000 people in 64 markets,” noted a communique, adding:  “Jon Cook becomes VML Global CEO and Mel Edwards VML Global President, with the broader management team bringing together strong leaders from across both companies. “

     

    Said Mark Read, CEO of WPP: “Scale matters in today’s world as AI and technology transform marketing and global clients look to simplify their relationships. VML will combine world-class creativity with deep expertise in data, marketing technology and platforms to deliver competitive advantage for ambitious brands. It’s another important step forward for WPP as we continue to reshape our offer for the future, simplify our business and unlock further benefits of scale. Separately, Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R are two of WPP’s strongest and best-performing agencies. Together, they will deliver an even wider, fully integrated suite of capabilities to our clients in every market. Marketers today expect seamless links between their brand advertising and technology solutions and platforms. VML provides an immediate solution to this business imperative.”

     

    Added Jon Cook, Global CEO: “The future of building strong brands and businesses requires the interconnectivity of brand experience, commerce and customer experiences. We recognised the immediate opportunity to create what every consultancy and advertising agency aspires to build with the formation of VML. We’re especially excited to present our new offering to the industry as we don’t believe there is another company as creatively awarded with our depth in customer experience and commerce.”

     

    Sid Mel Edwards, Global President: “This is the right suite of capabilities, offered at just the right moment, at unprecedented scale. It’s incredibly exciting because with this new agency we have the chance to shape the future of modern marketing in every key market around the world. The opportunities it affords our people and the growth we can deliver for our clients at a global scale make this a real game-changer for each business and the wider industry.”

     

    mmediate leadership appointments include Debbi Vandeven, Global Chief Creative Officer; Eric Campbell, Global Chief Client Officer; Juan Pablo Jurado, CEO LATAM; Ewen Sturgeon, CEO EMEA; and Audrey Kuah and Yi-Chung Tay, Co-CEOs APAC.

     

    Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R have also partnered globally across clients such as Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company and more.

     

  • The question really is how WPP is going to transfer the legacy of JWT and Y & R into a Johnny-come-lately such as VML, writes Prabhakar Mundkur

    WPP fells two great brands in one stroke

    Courtesy Pexels, under Creative Commons Licence

     

     

    Prabhakar MundkurBy Prabhakar Mundkur

     

    Is this the final death of advertising as we know it? The last nail on the coffin? Or is it that the communications conglomerate that started it all has forgotten what is branding in their quest for “interconnectivity of brand experience, commerce and customer experiences” words that Jon Cook, Global CEO of VML used to the announce the death of Thomspon, previously J Walter Thompson and Y & R, previously Young & Rubicam.

    Not to speak of Wunderman.  

    Although I don’t think Wunderman was nearly as great a brand as either J Walter Thompson or Y & R, it had certainly gained a reputation starting from its origins as a direct marketing agency.  Somehow I am unable to shed tears for Wunderman but to think that both J Walter Thompson and Y & R do not exist even as the initials depresses me. To me, it is the death of creativity and strategy more than the death of advertising. The fact that they had been reduced to initials itself was depressing but I had just begun to accept it.

    Strangely, the erstwhile JWT which was named after its founder J Walter Thompson had sold the business at the turn of the early twentieth century because he thought that advertising had no future.  While it did well in the intervening 100 years or so it is strange that his spooky prediction about the future of JWT should finally turn out to be true. 

     

    So what is VML?

    Do those 3 letters conjure up any images in my mind? I am afraid not. Who do those initials belong to and what do they mean to the rest of us? To me, I am sorry to say, it sounds like a company producing scooters at best. Maybe that classifies me as an advertising dinosaur. But even dinosaurs must have their say on history.

    John Valentine, Scott McCormick and Craig Legible started VML in 1992 in Kansas City.  I never thought that a great communications company would emerge out of Kansas City. Kansas city is known only for BBQ and a mighty good time!

     

    The Challenge for WPP

    The question really is how WPP is going to transfer the legacy of JWT and Y & R into a Johnny-come-lately company such as VML. What happens to 100 years of thinking about advertising and branding that made JWT famous?  Thanks to stalwarts like Stephen King, Jeremy Bullmore and many others.  People who laid down the foundation of the advertising business and built interesting theories about how communication worked. Or the creativity of Y & R who is known to have produced the first colour television commercial in advertising history? Or the theory of Archetypes and how that could be brought to hear on advertising which first emerged from writers that worked at Y & R?

    What happens to the legacy of proprietary knowledge, analytical rigour and creative solutions  these two great advertising agencies brought to bear on the rest of the communications industry?

    Or are 100 years of history and knowledge going to dissolve in the vacuous nothingness of AI, technology, customer experience and commerce? That is a lot of words that somehow  don’t convey much to me but are found in the press releases of the new age communications companies.

    In retrospect, Wunderman-Thompson was a good example of bad branding from the world’s largest communications conglomerate. Why would they have  delegated Thompson to second place in the first instance? More people surely knew Thompson rather than Wunderman. And in process kill an over 130 year old brand with much higher equity. 

    Wunderman was a small entity. Thompson was a big entity.  Wunderman-Thompson was a non-entity. So I am not even sure I  should be shedding any tears now that both of them are dead. 

    I am sure  “Commodore”  J Walter Thompson as he was lovingly called must have flipped a few times sadly in his grave last evening when he saw the VML press release.

    Goodbye, J Walter Thompson, Young & Rubicam and Wunderman.  

    Hello, VML, whoever you are!

    And Sir Martin what do you think of what your successor is doing?

     

    PS: Meanwhile, Sir Martin’s successor has just got himself another five-year contract from the Board. Share price is trending at a third of its 2015 peak and lagging behind Publicis and Omnicom to No 3.

     

  • The TVCs feature Kurkure’s brand ambassador Akshay Kumar and Lay’s brand ambassador Ranbir Kapoor were launched promoting the initiative

    Kurkure & Lay’s kick off festive season campaign with AK & RK

    By A Correspondent

     

    Ahead of the upcoming festive season, Kurkure, has launched two campaigns. The campaigns promote an initiative with Airtel offering a special digital experience for all its prepaid customers. The TVCs feature Kurkure’s brand ambassador Akshay Kumar and Lay’s brand ambassador Ranbir Kapoor were launched promoting the initiative.

     

    Said Shashwat Sharma, Chief Marketing Officer, Bharti Airtel said: “At Airtel, we are obsessed about offering our customers the best network experience. We are thrilled to partner with PepsiCo India to help all their customers experience our award winning 4G data services. This also gives us the opportunity to reward our loyal customers with complimentary data and unlock a world of digital experiences on Airtel Thanks when they buy their favourite packet of snack.”

     

    Added Ritu Nakra, WPP Lead – PepsiCo Foods, India: “In the last few months we have truly understood the value of connecting with our friends and family. Keeping this in mind, the creative team at Wunderman Thompson developed the campaign idea for Lay’s which depicts that the answer to all your questions lies inside a Lay’s pack. Similarly, for Kurkure, the creative thought stemmed from the fact that everyone in the family is having chatpata fun in the kitchen with recipes. The integrated campaign developed by the WPP team at MS, VML and WT, brings this idea alive on this special initiative.”

     

    Said Dilen Gandhi, Senior Director and Category Head – Foods, PepsiCo India: “The ‘new normal’ has catapulted everyone into a more digital world than ever before. At PepsiCo India, as part of our digital first approach, we follow evolving digital trends and develop matching strategies. Our insights showed us that consumers are enjoying our products and seeking convenience while working and watching content at home. The special initiative with Airtel is therefore is perfect fit that will further compliment in-home experience of consumers. With festive season kicking in, the initiative, truly emphasize the importance of staying connected with friends and family.”

     

    The integrated campaign was developed by the WPP team at Mindshare, VML and Wunderman Thompson.

     

     

  • Cook will report to Mark Read, Chief Executive Officer of WPP

    WPP merges Y&R with VML. Jon Cook to oversee ops

    By A Correspondent

     

    WPP has announced the creation of a new agency, VMLY&R, uniting two leading brands to deliver a contemporary, fully integrated digital and creative offering to clients on a global scale.

     

    Notes a communique: VMLY&R’s proposition will combine brand experience and brand advertising, drawing on the complementary expertise of VML and Y&R to create connected brands that drive value for clients.

     

    The new agency will be led by Global Chief Executive Officer Jon Cook, who is currently Global CEO of VML. Jon will report to Mark Read, Chief Executive Officer of WPP. David Sable, former Global CEO of Y&R, will continue to support Cook, VMLY&R and its clients as Non-Executive Chairman as he transitions to a new role in WPP.

     

    Added Read: “VMLY&R will be a powerful brand experience offering and a core agency brand for WPP. VML and Y&R have distinct and complementary strengths spanning creative, technology and data services that make them a perfect match. This is an important step as we build a new, simpler WPP that provides clients with a fully integrated offering and easy access to our wealth of talent and resources.”

     

    Said Cook: “I’m thrilled for the VMLY&R team as we start this journey together and harness the best of each agency to deliver culturally relevant world-class work. The landscape of our industry is changing rapidly, and we are committed to being an invaluable partner to CMOs around the world. I look forward to leading this unprecedented unification of two exceptional agencies.”

     

    And this is what Sable said: “VMLY&R has been nearly 18 years in the making as we have worked to build two successful brands and develop partnerships together with clients such as Colgate-Palmolive, Dell and the U.S. Navy. I’m proud of this pinnacle moment as we are now able to provide clients one robust, seamless offering. I look forward to supporting Jon and our VMLY&R client partners as I take on my new role within WPP.”

     

     

  • Achal Deoda has been appointed Business Director, VML Mumbai and Amandeep Singh as Business Director, New Delhi

    VML bolsters senior team with new appointments

    By A Correspondent

     

    VML has announced the appointment of two senior resources in its team. Achal Deoda has been appointed Business Director of VML Mumbai and Amandeep Singh as Business Director for VML New Delhi. Both will report to Udit Bhambri, Business Head, VML India.

     

    Said Deoda on his new assignment at VML: “VML India has been successful in helping brands envisage digital transformation strategy and continues to deliver expertise across building large Enterprise solutions across digital, Social Media and Digital Marketing, TVC style digital video content and digital strategy consulting. My vision is to continue to bring VML’s global expertise across digital and help Indian brands lead their respective categories with stronger and sustainable digital ecosystems.”

     

    Added Singh: “VML has a level of energy and vision which is infectious and made me take up this new opportunity to head the business in Delhi. The capabilities VML has is phenomenal and my plan is to simply take this out to the clients helping them solve their next business problem. We are already working on some very interesting projects here and you all would hear about them very soon,” said Singh.