ITV

Category: MAM

  • VivaKi Specialist Services launches in India

    VivaKi Specialist Services launches in India

    MUMBAI: VivaKi India has announced the creation of VivaKi Specialist Services (VSS).

    This entity will become a hub of several service units that are already part of Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG); they will combine with Solutions Integrated.

    Says VivaKi country chair–India Srikant Sastri, “VivaKi is an accelerator and aggregator of the media, digital and marketing services we offer clients.”

    The integrated hub will comprise Enhance (experiential and retail/trade marketing); Xpanse Asia (rural marketing); and Navia and Vector (out-of-home units). They will continue to be managed by their respective heads who will currently report to VivaKi country chair–India Srikant Sastri.

    Solutions Integrated executive vice president Barinder Bahadur Mathur has moved to the hub and will partner with both Kaushik and Sandip, to develop new businesses and maintain commercial compliance.

    Says Starcom MediaVest Group – India chairman CVL Srinivas, “Aggregating and scaling the specialty service structure will benefit clients and help them get closer to consumers in more ways than before. SMG created these units over the years, which are today brands in their own right. This realignment will help these units expand further within the VivaKi community. The mainstream media planning companies will continue to work closely with these units.”

    The small town and rural marketing arm [Xpanse Asia] will, continue to be led by Sandip Bansal as its country head.

    The retail/trade marketing and experiential marketing unit [Enhance] and out of home companies [Navia and Vector] will continue to be headed by Kaushik Chakravorty as the chief operating officer.

     

  • JWT ropes in Lubna Khan as AVP and strategic planning dir

    JWT ropes in Lubna Khan as AVP and strategic planning dir

    MUMBAI: JWT has roped in Lubna Khan as its associate vice-president and strategic planning director.

    At JWT, Khan will be working on the GlaxoSmithKline account. Previously, she was senior planning director at Cheil Worldwide for nine months.
      
    Khan began her career as a clinical therapist at Safdarjung Hospital in 1998. After working there for one year, she moved to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), where she worked for a period of nine months.

    For the next five years, she worked as a communication specialist in the health, wellness and fitness industry and in 2005, she joined BBC World Service Trust as communication specialist; she worked here for nearly three years.
     
    Khan then moved to Rediffusion Y&R as partner strategic, where she worked for one year and seven months, before joining Wunderman International as brand planning director and working their for one year–till May 2010. 
     
    With a career spanning over 15 years, Khan is a specialist in consumer insight, brand strategy, creative planning, integrated marketing, communications research and digital branding.

  • Scarecrow bags creative duties of Ackruti City

    Scarecrow bags creative duties of Ackruti City

    MUMBAI: Scarecrow Communications has won the creative mandate of a real estate company, Ackruti City.

    The duties will be handled out of the agency’s Mumbai branch.

    The mandate was awarded following a multi-agency pitch called by Ackruti, in which five agencies participated.

    Ackruti already works with Origin Beanstalk Creative Consultants. however, as the company Is growing, it has decided to split the portfolio between two agencies.

    Says Ackruti City head brand marketing and communications Gautam Maitra, “Our requirement for communication has grown over time. What Scarecrow offered was a fair amount of thought in their work. We were looking for the right creative thinking. Scarecrow impressed us as did their pro-active work.”

    Adds Scarecrow Communications founder director Manish Bhatt, “This is one category we did not have much experience in. However, you cannot ignore the real-estate category with the amount of buzz around it. We have touched projects in the category before, but when we met the people at Ackruti, we understood that they wanted something new and uncategory-like, and at the same time, exploit our knowledge of other categories.”

    Scarecrow Communications had recently bagged the creative duties of five Rupa brands: Frontline, Kidline, Euro, Thermocot and Bumchums. Also, the agency had bagged the creative mandate for DNA in January 2011 and created a mass campaign called ‘India Positive’.

  • Indo-Pak duel: ESS eyes Rs 1.7 mn a spot

    Indo-Pak duel: ESS eyes Rs 1.7 mn a spot

    MUMBAI: For telecasting the mother of all battles, ESPN Star Sports is looking at getting Rs 1.7 million per 10-second spot, substantially higher from the Rs 4-5 lakh it was charging in the early stages of the World Cup competition.

    As India takes guard against Pakistan in the semifinal contest on Wednesday, sources say the broadcaster has a little less than five per cent of inventory to sell.

    At Rs. 1.7 million, the spot would be around three times what ESS had earlier been selling for its India package.

    While declining to comment on inventory or rates, an ESS spokesperson said: “The price will be substantially higher than what it has been for the other matches. There is traction in the media for this match.”

    According to Dentsu CEO Sai Nagesh, the proposals have been put to clients and deals are likely to happen.
    “It is not just about CPRPs anymore. For an India versus Pakistan match, the dynamics are different. For clients that couldn‘t afford packages earlier for the event, this match is a good shotgun approach to get reach, involvement and brand awareness,” he says.

    Nagesh believes the World Cup has delivered beyond expectations. “It is not just about the India matches. Even teams like Ireland have surprised with their performances. This led to viewers wondering what would happen next and sustained their interests,” he avers.

    Lodestsr UM COO Nandini Dias feels that at this rate, a client would have to shell out around Rs 30 million to get the desired visibility on a single day.

    “It is a workable solution, though. It is an issue of outlay. A World Cup match at the final stages commands a premium. An India-Pakistan match would fetch an even higher premium,” she says.

  • Goafest 2011: Creative ABBY shortlist declared

    Goafest 2011: Creative ABBY shortlist declared

    MUMBAI: The Creative ABBY shortlists have been announced for the three categories – film, print and interactive digital advertising.

    In the print category, 281 entries have been shortlisted, while the film and interactive digital categories have shortlisted 105 and 65 entries respectively.

    Ogilvy India has 34 shortlisted entries in the category. The entries include Vodafone (Sanctuary Sinful Collection, Sanctuary Magic Beans), Pictionary campaign for Mattel Toys, Sour Marbels, and Pond‘s, among others.

    With 83 entries in the print category, Mudra has the maximum shortlists.

    Ogilvy has emerged as a leader in the film category with 34 shortlists for campaigns such as BlackBerry Boys, Vodafone Delights, Zoozoo, adidas, and the shadow campaign for Madhya Pradesh Tourism.

    In the Interactive Digital Advertising category, Webchutney has eight shortlists with Samsung Frrunch, MakeMyTrip.com (Amar Prem), Bharat Matrimony (Biwi Ho To Aisi), Airtel (Songcatcher Banner and Songcatcher Viral), and Saffola (Young at Heart application).

    Also, in the print categories, Ogilvy India has 34, while McCann Erickson has 24 shortlisted entries.

    The other agencies include JWT India (20 shortlists), Creativeland Asia (17 shortlists), Bates 141 (17 shortlists), Out of the Box (12 shortlists), Grey (ten shortlists), Contract Advertising (nine shortlists), Euro RSCG (seven shortlists), ideas@work (six shortlists), Rediffusion Y&R (six shortlists), Umbrella Design (four shortlists), Alok Nanda and Company Communication (four shortlists), Eleven Brandworks (three shortlists) and RK Swamy BBDO (two shortlists). 

    In the Film category, Ogilvy has emerged as the leader with 34 shortlisted entries. Campaigns such as BlackBerry Boys, Vodafone Delights and the Zoozoo, Aegon Religare Life Insurance, adidas and the shadow campaign for Madhya Pradesh Tourism have got the agency the highest number of entries.

    JWT is the next agency in line with 12 shortlists for various campaigns including the Airtel Mobile re-branding campaign and Airtel DTH‘s regional language pack campaign.
    Creativeland Asia follows closely with nine shortlisted entries for works such as Frooti, the Aborigine campaign for LMN and the Fight Hunger, Fight Evil film for Hippo Baked Munchies feature among the shortlists.

    The other agencies in the race are McCann Erickson‘s entries (eight shortlists), Bates 141 (six shortlists), Mudra (five shortlists), Contract Advertising (five shortlists), DraftFCB Ulka‘s (five shortlists), Leo Burnett (four shortlists), Capital Advertising (four shortlists), RK Swamy BBDO (three shortlists), ideas@work (three shortlists), Meridian (three shortlists), and Grey (two shortlists). Rediffusion Y&R and Stark Communications have one entry shortlisted each.

    The Interactive Digital Advertising category has witnessed a very close race, with almost all agencies lagging by very short margins.

    Webchutney has received the highest eight entries shortlisted for Samsung Frrunch, MakeMyTrip.com (Amar Prem), Bharat Matrimony (Biwi Ho To Aisi), Airtel (Songcatcher Banner and Songcatcher Viral), and Saffola (Young at Heart application).

    Mudra closely follows Webchutney with seven shortlisted entries. The campaigns shortlisted are Idea Cellular (Idea Roadie Mobile Challenge 3.0, Idea Language Barrier and Use Mobile Save Paper), and Volkswagen (Innovation for Everyone) among others.

    Hungama Digital Media has fetched six shortlists for campaigns such as PepsiCo‘s 7UP (You click, I dance), and Tata Sky+ DTH (Tata Sky+ Mobile Access).

    Interface Communications has five shortlisted entries in the category that include Mahindra Blues (www.mahindrablues.com), Tata Docomo (Tata Docomo 3G Life – The Day the Web got 3x slow and The Day YouTube got real slow, and Tata Docomo – a million fans monetised), and Kamasutra (Lounge).

    The list of other agencies include JWT India (four shortlists), BC Web Wise (four shortlists), Law & Kenneth Digital (three shortlists), Interface Business Solutions (three shortlists), Interactive Avenues (two shortlists), D‘Zine Garage (two shortlists), Ogilvyone Worldwide (two shortlists), Indigo Consulting (two shortlists), UFO Digital (two shortlists), Mindshare (two shortlists), Creativeland Asia (one shortlist), Maxus India (one shortlist), Quasar Media (one shortlist), Jack In The Box (one shortlist), Pinstorm (one shortlist), Resultrix (one shortlist), and Grandmother India Design (one shortlist).

    Last week, the Media ABBY shortlists were announced, which had 133 entries shortlisted. Maxus is leading the pack with 33 shortlisted entries, followed by Mindshare and Lodestar UM with 19 entries each, and Mudra Max with 16 entries.

    The other agencies on the list include names such as Mediacom (11 shortlists), Creativeland Asia (five shortlists), OMD (four shortlists), Madison Media Infinity 1 (four shortlists), Madison Media Plus (four shortlists), MEC India (three shortlists), McCann Worldgroup (two shortlists), Percept Media (two shortlists), Mates Madison (two shortlists), RK Swamy Media Group (two shortlists), Isobar (two shortlists), Dialog Factory (two shortlists), while Starcom Worldwide, Lintas Media Group and TELiBrahma Convergent Communication have one shortlisted entry each.
     

  • Arnab Mitra resigns from Media Contacts

    Arnab Mitra resigns from Media Contacts

    MUMBAI: Media Contacts India and South Asia regional director Arnab Mitra has quit the agency.

    Currently serving his notice period, May will be Mitra‘s last month at the agency.

    Mitra confirmed the news to Indiantelevision.com.

    With more than a decade‘s experience in digital media, Mitra joined Media Contacts, an interactive arm of Havas Digital – a division of Havas Media – in 2009 as India strategy head. In November 2010, he was promoted as regional director.

    Apart from India, Mitra was handling three other markets: Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

    Previously, Mitra was head of business development at Ignitee Digital. He has also worked with the UK-based agency Purple Media, Pinstorm and Indigo Consulting.

    In online communication experience Mitra as devised digital strategies for brands like Accenture, Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, Barclays, AXIS Bank, Reliance, HSBC, TATA AIG, Asian paints, VW, Hugo Boss, HDFC, ICICI Prudential and Skoda.

     

  • Pickle Lintas bags creative mandate of Daawat

    Pickle Lintas bags creative mandate of Daawat

    MUMBAI: LT Foods, producer of Basmati Rice under the flagship brand of Daawat, has awarded its creative duties to Pickle Lintas.
     
    LT Foods didn’t have any creative partner as yet.

    No official pitch was called for the account. According to sources close to the development, the company aims to promote the brand aggressively through traditional media, besides digital platforms.
     
    The company has recently launched four new variants of basmati rice – Daawat Biryani Basmati Rice, Daawat Traditional Basmati Rice, Daawat Super Basmati Rice and Daawat Pulav Basmati Rice.

  • Euro RSCG stages management reshuffle in India

    Euro RSCG stages management reshuffle in India

    MUMBAI: Euro RSCG India has announced a restructuring of its management team with immediate effect.

    Euro RSCG Delhi director Sushant Panda has been elevated to the role of managing partner and CEO of Euro RSCG India.
     
    Chief creative officer Satbir Singh has been promoted as managing partner and CCO of Euro RSCG India. Also, stepping up is Shavon Barua from director of Mumbai to the newly created position of president, west and south of Euro RSCG India.

    Said Euro RSCG Asia Pacific chairman Juan Rocamora, “Between Satbir, Sushant and Shavon we have brilliant talent that are poised to step up and lead us on our next phase of growth. During their time with us, Satbir and Sushant have worked closely as partners and we look forward to carrying this energy on to the next level. In the past two years we have doubled in growth in India and our aim is to continue to outpace market-growth.”
     
    Panda has over two decades of experience, having worked in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore as well as a stint in Colombo. He has worked at agencies such as Trikaya Grey, JWT, TBWA, Bates and has been at the helm of Euro RSCG Delhi for five years.

    Singh joined Euro RSCG six years ago, first as ECD of the Delhi office. Following a series of successes on the creative front and a string of new business wins, he was promoted to ECD and then made CCO of India. He has worked at agencies such as Trikaya, Leo Burnett, Contract, Equus, Ulka and Ogilvy.
     
    Barua has been leading the Euro RSCG Mumbai office since January 2010. This is her second stint at Euro RSCG; she was previously in the Delhi office running the Reckitt Benckiser business–one of Euro RSCG’s largest global accounts.

    Barua brings over 15 years of experience to the role and has led global brands such as Pepsi, Nestle, Colgate, Palmolive and Lakme Lever (Unilever) at various agencies such as JWT, Publicis, Y & R, and SSC&B Lintas.

    Euro RSCG India works with a range of clients, including IBM, Baskin Robbins, Max New York Life and HDFC Bank.
     

  • WC: 42 matches get 2.4 TVR in metros

    MUMBAI: The first 42 World Cup matches have fetched a rating of 2.4 compared to a TVR of 2.01 in the last edition played four years back.
     
    The non India matches got a TVR of 1.2 compared to a rating of 1.31 in 2007.
     
    India‘s match against the West Indies got a rating of 9.96 and a peak TVR of 16.69. According to data from Tam Sports (C&S4+ six Metros0, 27 million viewers watched the match.
     
    The encounter got a TVR of 6.24 on Star Cricket, 2.35 on Star Sports and 1.45 on Doordarshan.

  • Marico sells Sweekar to Cargill in brand restructuring plan

    MUMBAI: The Marico Group is restructuring its brands basket. As part of its plans to focus on beauty and wellness, the FMCG major has sold its refined sunflower oil brand ‘Sweekar‘ to food and agricultural products company Cargill India for an undisclosed amount.


    Under the deal, the trademark and copyrights of Sweekar will be transferred to Cargill with immediate effect.
     
    Marico will, instead, concentrate on Saffola as its wellness platform vehicle in the refined edible oils and health foods space.


    Said Marico consumer products business CEO Saugata Gupta, “In our focused journey of sustainable profitable growth, we recognised that Sweekar has limited fitment in Marico’s portfolio.However, with its legacy of a loyal franchise spanning two decades and the consumer connect that it commands, we believe it would be of value to Cargill, who can sustain and nurture it as a leading brand.”
     
    Added Marico chief finance, HR and strategy Milind Sarwate: “This divestment is a logical sub-set of a portfolio strategy aimed at sustainable profitable growth.”
     
    Cargill produces and markets sunflower oil locally under its NatureFresh and Gemini brands.