MxMIndia

Tag: Wunderman Thompson

  • To scale business and help expand team

    Frodoh World welcomes Shamsuddin Jasani as Strategic Advisor

    AdTech firm Frodoh World has onboarded former Wunderman Thompson CEO and digital native Shamsuddin Jasani as a Strategic Advisor. Jasani will help in the  teams expansion plans.  He will also play a pivotal role in the launch of Frodoh World’s digital Retail Media platform.

    Russhabh R Thakkar
    Russhabh R Thakkar

    Speaking on the development, Russhabh R Thakkar, CEO of Frodoh World, said: “Shams has always been a mentor to me and we believe that his invaluable expertise will catalyse Frodoh’s leadership in CTV innovation, Digital Retail Media and our overall company growth. With his strategic guidance, we are poised to pioneer groundbreaking advancements in the CTV space and new ventures in Retail Media further solidifying Frodoh World’s position as a frontrunner in the industry.”

  • 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!

     

  • Created by Wunderman Thompson

    Apollo Tyres unveils latest campaign with Sachin Tendulkar

    By Our Staff

     

    Apollo Tyres has announced the latest chapter in its partnership with Sachin Tendulkar – Performance 10: Where Legends Drive. Wunderman Thompson India has conceptualised and brought Performance 10: Where Legends Drive to life.

     

    Said Satish Sharma, President of Apollo Tyres: “When Sachin gets behind the wheels, we witness the performer in him coming alive. His love for machines has seamlessly merged with his unmatched dedication, resulting in an extraordinary synergy,” “Performance 10 is not just a campaign; it’s a testament to Sachin’s persistence and passion, qualities that resonate deeply with Apollo Tyres. Our tires, like Sachin, are built to excel, delivering outstanding performance under any conditions.”

     

    Added Joy Chauhan, Chief Client Officer at Wunderman Thompson India, who expressed the agency’s excitement about this collaboration: “Partnering with Apollo Tyres and Sachin Tendulkar for Performance 10 has been a thrilling experience for us. We aimed to capture not just the drive, but the essence of Sachin’s persistence and passion. This campaign is a celebration of his spirit and the exceptional performance that both Sachin and Apollo Tyres represent.”

     

  • To redefine customer engagement

    Mirum & WebEngage enter a partnership

    By Our Staff

     

    Mirum India, a Wunderman Thompson (soon VML) company, and WebEngage, a full stack retention operating system, have joined forces.

     

    The collaboration is set to bring together Mirum’s experience and expertise in MarTech and WebEngage’s marketing automation platform.

     

    Commenting on the partnership, Mihir Karkare, EVP, Mirum India, said: “This is a significant partnership for both Mirum and WebEngage as we are two best-in-class players working towards delivering value to our customers. The strong synergy of WebEngage’s robust platform with our expertise in delivering MarTech projects will surely create a more holistic approach to delivering a top-tier customer engagement      solution, enabling our clients to achieve even greater success. We have just begun, and I am happy to share we already have some great wins on the way.”

     

    Added Apoorv Sood, Vice President Of Global Business Development and Partnerships, WebEngage: “The digital era has reshaped the way businesses operate and embracing digital transformation is no longer an option but a necessity. Brands need to constantly reinvent their engagement strategies, whether it involves better understanding their customers, enhancing engagement models or deployment of personalised user experiences. In line with our core philosophy of Simplifying Customer Engagement and Retention for brands, we are proud to announce this full stack solution under one roof in partnership with Mirum India. Clients of both WebEngage and Mirum, as well as brands looking to stay ahead of the curve will benefit from this solution.”

     

  • Rajesh Gangwani: Can’t make sense of VML

    Rajesh GangwaniBy Rajesh Gangwani

     

    I would  consider JWT ( yes it always was that for me ) my second home. Not surprising, if you have spent close to three decades in the organisation and been a Thompsonian all your working life in advertising!

     

    I left JWT just before the letter J fell off  and it morphed into WT (Wunderman Thompson). It was disturbing news but the spirit behind the Thompson name still offered hope of a new beginning where the present and future came together. The baby was still in the bathtub, even as the business waters were getting turbulent.

     

    I can’t make sense of VML. There are heavy numbers being thrown behind it to herald its creation but I don’t even recognise it. I hear words like scale, technology platforms,  deep expertise , massive  transformation etc. But one thing doesn’t change even as the world changes dramatically – people still value trust and relationships. Built in no small measure by powerful brands like JWT and Y&R that have weathered many a storm during their illustrious existence.  And that remains an  issue to be resolved at the core of the new behemoth unleashed. Can VML forge the same level of trust and build the same quality of relationships (both external and internal) in future, freed from the valuable legacy of its pedigree constituents.

     

    JWT will always conjure for me the endurance of timeless values – integrity, respect, humility, warmth, passion for learning and committed brand ownership. When you call your company your second home, it also shapes your persona and mirrors your own personal values. It’s a bittersweet moment for me as I put words to my feelings.

     

    This is all that I can say with both pride and a heavy heart: Goodbye JWT. It was a privilege serving you.

     

    In gratitude, Rajesh Gangwani

     

     

    Rajesh Gangwani is an Executive and Leadership Communication Coach based in Mumbai. He worked with J Walter Thompson for over 27 years (1991 to 2018). He can be reached at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajesh-gangwani-executivecoach-communication/. His views here are personal

     

     

  • 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.

     

  • Developed by Wunderman Thompson

    Shell India launches campaign

    By Our Staff

     

    Shell India released its latest campaign, ‘More than Just A Fuel Station’, for its mobility business in India. The new campaign showcases Shell retail stations as comprehensive destination with quality fuels, vehicle care, fresh food, beverages, and convenience items, emphasising its role as more than a fuel station.

     

    The campaign is developed by Wunderman Thompson and will be promoted across social & digital platforms, including Jio Cinema, Sony Liv, MX Player, Zee5 etc.

     

    Announcing the campaign, Kartiki Karihaloo, Marketing Manager, Shell Mobility India, said: “Traditionally, fuel stations in India are not perceived as destinations, but with our integrated offerings, we have witnessed a gradual shift in this perception. Our latest campaign, #MorethanJustAFuelStation, reinforces our effort to be more than just a fuel provider and be a reliable on-the-go companion that enhances the overall commute of our customers.  It reflects how our fuel retail outlets serve as holistic service hubs and signify our dedication to addressing the evolving mobility needs of people.”

     

  • To provide strategic and creative services

    Wunderman Thompson bags Cult.Sport mandate

    By Our Staff

     

    Following a multi-agency pitch, Cult.Sport – from the house of Cure.Fit, sports brands, has awarded its integrated creative mandate to Wunderman Thompson India. The agency will be providing strategic and creative services for the brand which will cut across geographies, demographics, and mind-sets, and deliver differentiated content to create a niche for the brand among sports and the fitness fraternity.

     

    Commenting on this new partnership, Shamik Sharma, MD, Cult.Sport said: “While India has the world’s largest youth population, only a few take up any sports or fitness activity. As a sport-first brand of this country, we want every Indian to make sports an indelible part of their everyday life using our range of Cult.Sport products. In Wunderman Thompson India, we have found an agile agency that understands this sporting culture, which is evident through its award-winning sports films and campaigns. As a team, we plan to up the game and create some clutter-breaking communication for the brand.”

     

    Added Vijay Jacob Parakkal, Managing Partner, East and South, Wunderman Thompson India: “Amidst the fierce competition in the high-performance sports and fitness market, it’s important to recognize that in India, sports and fitness transcend mere performance—it embodies a way of life. Cult.Sport’s distinctive business philosophy of simplifying sports and fitness resonates deeply with all of us. We are committed to forging a close partnership with our client team to help them achieve their ambitious business objectives. Leveraging our expertise in creative, data, and technology, we are uniquely positioned to provide comprehensive end-to-end solutions tailored to their specific business needs.”

     

  • Conceptualised by Wunderman Thompson

    Tata Tiscon launches new campaign

    By Our Staff

     

    Tata Tiscon has launched a campaign conceptualised by Wunderman Thompson India. Focusing on the latest range of 550SD rebars, the 360-degree campaign is built around a set of three TVCs.

     

    Speaking of the campaign TVS Shenoy, Chief Commercial Officer, Long Products, Tata Steel, said: “Tata Tiscon has always strived to enable our customers to have a joyful home building experience. This campaign attempts to guide our customers in making informed choices as they build their dream homes.”

     

    Added S Karthik Narayanan, Chief of Marketing & Sales, Tata Tiscon: “It is unfair to expect individual homebuilders to have a thorough understanding of technical specifications required for selection of the right rebar. Hence, it is important for us to guide them in a consumer-centric manner without overloading them with industry-specific terminologies.”

     

    Said Vijay Jacob Parakkal, Managing Partner, East and South, Wunderman Thompson India: “As the creative and strategy partner for Tata Tiscon right from its inception, our communication approach has mirrored that of a trusted confidant, a source of wisdom, and an invaluable guide for our consumers. Amidst a sea of celebrity-driven promotions saturating our industry, we have recognised that the engineer reigns supreme as the ultimate luminary. Consequently, we have chosen to elevate the engineer to the forefront of our brand, acknowledging their unparalleled technical knowledge and expertise upon which we all rely.”

     

  • McCann Worldgroup India has won advertising and marketing communications mandate for Air India

    The Maharaja moves to McCann

     

    By Our Staff

    McCann Worldgroup India has won the coveted advertising and marketing communications mandate for Air India, the Tata group promoted global airline, following an extensive multi-agency pitch, which we learn including longstanding agency Wunderman Thompson, FCB and DDB Mudra.. The agency will develop a new brand platform and develop a comprehensive range of multi-channel marketing communication. And we presume the Maharaja, the mascot that has greeted passengers since 1946, will be retained.

    The selection process for this partnership entailed a rigorous evaluation as part of an exhaustive multi-agency pitch.

    Nipun Aggarwal
    Nipun Aggarwal

    Said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial and Transformation Officer, Air India: “We are building Air India as a ‘Global Airline with an Indian Heart’. This is a brand that is close to the heart of flyers around the world, and the new Air India will be a manifestation of the aspirations of the global Indian. With McCann Worldgroup as a partner, we expect to transform the brand into one of the most admired and trusted brands in India and overseas.”

    Prasoon Joshi, CEO and CCO at McCann Worldgroup India and Chairman, Asia Pacific, led the pitch alongside a dedicated team of local and global partners.

    Prasoon Joshi

    Delighted about the win, Joshi said: “Air India is a brand that inspires us, and we are excited to partner with them as they chart a new course. Our McCann Global CEO, Daryl Lee, has genuinely supported and guided us. Also, support and input came in from Harjot Singh ( Global CSO) and John Wright who were an integral part of the pitch along with the stellar senior management colleagues Jitender Dabas, Alok Lall, Ashish Chakravarty, and their teams,” adding: “We look forward to collaborating with Air India and offering the best-in-class strategic and creative services that build on and take the brand to newer heights.”