ITV

Category: MAM

  • Relay Worldwide India GM Mahesh Ranka calls it quits

    MUMBAI: Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) India has announced that Relay Worldwide GM Mahesh Ranka will move on from the organisation.


    Ranka spent six and a half years at SMG‘s sports marketing practice. He is serving his notice period which runs till the end of February.
     
    SMG will announce in due course the way forward for Relay Worldwide.


    SMG India chairman CVL Srinivas said, “Mahesh has been leading the sports marketing practice at Starcom MediaVest Group under the Relay Worldwide banner for over six years. As he moves on from the organisation we wish him well in his future endeavours.”
     
    Ranka said, “I have spent the last six and half years of my career at Starcom MediaVest Group. I have had the good fortune of working with inspiring teams in creating memorable properties for our clients. I want to thank the leadership at Starcom MediaVest Group for believing in the power of sports, to market brands.”
     

  • Madhuri Sapru is co-owner of Encyclomedia Networks

    MUMBAI: Madhuri Sapru has joined Encyclomedia Networks as one of its co-owners. However, the percentage of her stake in the company couldn‘t be ascertained.


    As one of the directors of Encyclomedia Sapru said, “It is too early to comment but it‘s very encouraging with so many calls coming in from several quarters. We are looking to grow spaces within spaces in the coming days not just in India but abroad as well.”
     
    Encyclomedia has presence in Argentina, Australia, South Africa, Ukraine, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Guatemala. In India, the agency is well-known for its out-of-home work.
     
    Speaking to indiantelevision.com about her decision to join the company, Sapru averred, “I have been in discussion with Mukesh Manik , our company‘s man-in-charge, for a while and finally made the decision to move to Encyclomedia. Our thoughts truly resonate and we are looking forward to a very vibrant future.”
     
    Earlier, Sapru worked with Kinetic & Dialect (GroupM) as working as a managing partner. She quit the company in September 2010. Before joining Kinetic in 2006, Dapru worked with Tata Teleservices, as general manger. In a career spanning over two decades, Sapru worked with companies like BPL Mobile, Blowplast and Nestle.
     

  • MediaVest wins media mandate of Wiwo Mobiles

    MUMBAI: MediaVest Bangalore, a part of the Starcom MediaVest Group, has won the media mandate of Wiwo Mobiles. 
     
    Said Starcom MediaVest group general manager – Bangalore Sriram Sharma, “Wiwo is a brand that is launching in the market place and we are happy to have been selected by them as the media agency partner.


    “We were truly inspired with the straight forwardness, professionalism and ambition of the Client team and we hope to translate this into helping them build a great brand in the mobile handset business.”
     
    Wiwo mobile is a brand from Teleworld United, part of the United Telcoms group, a global business house with interests in diversified sectors like telecom, E-governance, steel, power, IT, real estate, manufacturing and education with operations spread across 13 countries.
     
    Averred Teleworld United Executive Director TC Sudhir, “We are a new brand from the house of an established player. We wanted to partner with a company that understands what it is to be differentiated and insightful. We have chosen MediaVest Bangalore and are proud of the fact that we are one of the first clients. We look forward to a solid partnership.”


    The United Telcoms group is known in the telecommunication network for its research and development, pioneering achievements and cost-effective technology solutions.

  • Mahindra’s new battle cry ‘Rise’ to whet global ambitions

    Mahindra’s new battle cry ‘Rise’ to whet global ambitions

    MUMBAI: The 65-year-old Mahindra Group is set to ‘Rise‘ as it embarks on an ambitious global journey.

    The $7.1 billion Group said Monday it would be using ‘Rise‘ as its umbrella brand, projecting a single image for its diversified businesses and varied market positions across the world.

    The company will invest Rs 1.2 billion over three years to promote the mother brand across television, print, online and social media platforms.

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Mahindra Group executive board member and EVP – corporate strategy, chief brand officer Ruzbeh Irani said, “We will be spending Rs 1.2 billion over the next three years around the world to promote the corporate brand. We will essentially use traditional media such as TV and print. However, we will also use online and social media effectively as they are going to be very strong communication tools in the future.”

    This is the first time Mahindra as a group will communicate with one brand voice and one face.

    Although, the logo of the group will remain the same, it will now be added with the word ‘Rise‘.

    “Everyone wants to connect with a brand that promises a bright future and that‘s why we have come up with Rise to bind our businesses across world. We strongly believe that the Mahindra brand epitomises what our customers want – a company that empowers them to Rise,” Irani said.

    The company will not get celebrities to endorse the campaign. “The spirit of ‘Rise‘ will be based on the three pillars – Accepting No Limits, Alternative Thinking and Driving Positive Change,” Irani added.

    Mahindra‘s new brand positioning is created by New York-based global advertising agency StrawberryFrog, which undertook an anthropological and semiotic research across India and around the world for this.

    “Rise is a simple yet powerful verb which defines our Group and succinctly sums up the aspirations of our stakeholders and employees. When we spoke to customers across the world, all of them without exception expressed a strong sense of optimism about the future and shared a common desire to Rise, to succeed and create a better future for themselves, their families and their communities,” Irani said.

    The preparation of the Group to conquer new markets across the globe is elaborated by Mahindra Group vice chairman and MD Anand Mahindra‘s statement: “Rise means achieving world-class standards in everything we do, setting new benchmarks of excellence and conquering tough global markets.”

    Mahindra further added, “Rise isn‘t just a word – it is a rallying cry which enables people to unify around shared ideas, values, principles, a way of life or a common goal. It is a call to see opportunities where others can‘t and to set an example for the world.”

    Mahindra has its presence in various industries including that of utility vehicles, tractors, information technology, financial services, aerospace, real estate, hospitality and logistics.

    “We want to drive a common goal of prosperity and optimism internally and externally. This is our long-term plan and not something that can be achieved overnight,” said Irani.

  • Euro RSCG CEO Suman Srivastava quits

    Euro RSCG CEO Suman Srivastava quits

    MUMBAI: Suman Srivastava has resigned as the CEO of Euro RSCG.
     
    Sources close to the development confirmed that Srivastava is serving his notice period.

    Prior to being promoted as the CEO in June 2006, Srivastava held various positions in Euro RSCG such as president and executive director.
     
    Srivastava started his career with Lintas India in 1987 and has also worked with SSC&B Lintas.

  • Priyanka Chopra and Shahid Kapoor to endorse HUL’s BRU brand

    Priyanka Chopra and Shahid Kapoor to endorse HUL’s BRU brand

    MUMBAI: Hindustan Unilever‘s coffee brand, BRU, appointed the Bollywood duo Priyanka Chopra and Shahid Kapoor as their brand ambassadors.

    BRU offers a range of products in instant coffee, conventional coffee and premixes. The brand has offers authentic coffee taste.
     
    Said HUL General Manager Beverages Arun Srinivas, “We are delighted to have Priyanka & Shahid on board as our brand ambassadors. We feel that the duo best brings alive BRU‘s philosophy of “Coffee livening-up every moment by stimulating conversation”. We constantly strive to bring the best products and coffee experience to our consumers. BRU knows coffee like no other when it comes to Indian taste palette.”
     
    Said leading Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra, “A great cup of coffee is my constant companion whether it‘s at work or at play! That‘s what makes my association with BRU that much more special. I am equally excited to be working with Shahid on this brand. It‘s a very interesting idea and I‘m sure it will be appreciated by one and all.”
     
    Shahid Kapoor added, “I am a coffee addict and this is a great opportunity to endorse something from the heart! I love the taste and aroma that BRU products offer. I am excited about this association, and am looking forward to working on the new campaign.”

    Ogilvy & Mather handles many of the HUL brands including, Bru, Lakme, Lipton Yellow Label and Dove.

  • Sakal ropes in Gaurish Pathare as head of Ad Sales

    Sakal ropes in Gaurish Pathare as head of Ad Sales

    MUMBAI: Pune-based Sakal Media Group has appointed Gaurish Pathare as its head of advertising sales for print business.

    Pathare will be in charge of national and local markets and will be reporting to print division business head LS Krishnan.
    The print business of Sakal includes Sakal Newspaper (Marathi daily), Saptahik Sakal (Marathi weekly), Agrown (Marathi agro daily), Tanishka (Marathi woman‘s magazine) and Premier (Marathi Film magazine).

    Pathare joins from Midday Infomedia where he was the national head of sales for print and digital businesses.
    Krishnan says, “Pathare is known in the media industry. We are delighted to have him in our team. I am sure he will use his varied experience and skill to achieve many milestones for us. He will lead our sales team in national and local market and be responsible for revenue growth for all the print tittles.”

    Pathare added, “I am excited to be a part of Sakal Media Group. Their brands set a high editorial standard and respected by the readers. I am looking forward to leverage that equity to deliver value to the advertisers and agencies and build a long term relationship with them.”

    Pathare comes with over 16 years of experience in the field of media. Prior to Midday, he was with GroupM, serving clients such as Onida, ICICI, Vodafone and HSBC. He was also with Mindshare Fulcrum for eight years, where he worked on Hindustan Unilever brands.

    He has also worked with BCCL‘s Magazine division for Femina and Filmfare and Reliance ADAG‘s media team as one of its core members.

  • Mudra South ropes in Vipul Thakkar as ECD

    Mudra South ropes in Vipul Thakkar as ECD

    MUMBAI: Mudra South has appointed Vipul Devji Thakkar as executive creative director, Mudra South. He will spearhead the creative work that comes out of Mudra South, including all three offices in the South region at Kochi, Chennai and Bangalore.

    Says Mudra South EVP and head Ranji Cherian, “We are delighted that Vipul is joining us. He brings with him strong creative leadership. His work speaks volumes about his gift. And he is a wonderful human being, full of life. Am sure he will add great value for our clients.”

    Thakkar joins Mudra from Ogilvy & Mather, Bangalore where he worked for over two years as senior creative director.

    Avers Thakkar, “The thing that impresses me most about Mudra is the consistency with which it has been creating innovative and effective advertising in the recent years. Obviously, this has been possible because Mudra, unlike any other agency, creates truly integrated communication solutions for its brands.”

    With over a decade and a half of experience in the advertising field, he has worked on brands such as, ITC Foods (Bingo), Titan Watches, Allen Solly, SABMiller and Vodafone amongst others.
     

  • LG to spend Rs 800 mn during World Cup and IPL

    LG to spend Rs 800 mn during World Cup and IPL

    MUMBAI: LG, an ICC partner, plans to spend Rs 700-800 million in marketing over the next three months coinciding with the cricket World Cup and the Indian Premier League (IPL).

    The marketing activities for the World Cup will kick off in a few days time, LG chief marketing officer LK Gupta said.

    The Lead XI initiative, which LG had carried out at other ICC events, will be expanded to include 1000 kids from India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The kids will walk onto the field with their respective teams at the start of their matches at the World Cup and sing the National Anthem.

    “Since the World Cup is taking place in the subcontinent, we are giving a chance to more children to be part of this programme. Earlier 50 children had to be flown. Among other things, we will have a school contact programme. It will also be using radio to spread awareness. Leaflets will be distributed at its stores and other retail outlets.”

    LG will also be launching a range of mobile phones and refrigerators to coincide withe World Cup. It will have promotions for the mobile phones including match tickets.

  • Pepsi launches ‘Change The Game’ WC campaign

    Pepsi launches ‘Change The Game’ WC campaign

    MUMBAI: Soft drink conglomerate Pepsi has announced the launch of a media campaign for the upcoming Cricket World Cup featuring five Indian players – skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli.

    The first of the television commercials featuring Indian cricket players will be launched on 15 January. Pepsi is an ICC partner.

    This ICC Cricket World Cup, Pepsi celebrates the new unorthodox yet immensely popular face of modern cricket with its high decibel and path-breaking campaign – ‘Change The Game’. Through the metaphor of cricket, it also salutes the Youngistaanis who within themselves have found the power to defy tradition, and pave their own way by not breaking the rules but by changing them.

    Pepsi says that Change the Game is not a notion but reality that is reflected in the way cricket is played, watched and enjoyed world-over and in India today. With this innovative campaign, Pepsi has become the official sponsor of everything that is unorthodox about the sport; whether it is Sehwag’s Upper Cut, Dhoni’s Helicopter shot, Singh’s Doosra, Tillakaratne Dilshan’s Dilscoop, Kevin Pietersen’s Switch Hit or Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina’s aggressive on-field spirit.

    PepsiCo Beverages India marketing director Deepika Warrier said, “Pepsi has always been closely associated with youth platforms such as cricket; and ICC Cricket World Cup is the single biggest event that unifies millions of passionate Youngistaanis. Our Change The Game campaign celebrates the same passion and the new age mantra of cricket, which is irreverent, unorthodox, fun, challenging and unmistakably Pepsi.”

    Featuring some of the cricketing world’s biggest superstars, the campaign includes a series of ad films that will showcase out-of-the-box moves that are not text-book and yet help achieve the ultimate goal. Irreverent and youthful in spirit, these films promise to bring alive the passion Youngistaanis share for the game, both on and off the field. The first film as part of the campaign revolves around Indian team skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s famous game changing move – the Helicopter Shot.

    PepsiCo India executive VP – marketing, Cola Sandeep Singh Arora said, “Change the Game is a big idea in the context of the game of cricket. With this campaign we will inspire the youth to ‘change the game’, be innovative, take risks, and do things differently even if it has not been done before. We are the official sponsors of the ICC World Cup, but with this campaign we also want to be the official sponsors of everything that is unorthodox, exciting, innovative about the game of cricket”.

    Dhoni said, “Change the Game for me is not about what you achieve, but how you achieve it. It is about the confidence to take risks and the courage to take the road less traveled. On field, it is about playing innovative shots or making game changing decisions at critical junctures of the play. Pepsi’s Change the Game campaign captures this thought in an exciting and innovative manner and I am sure Youngistaanis will strongly identify with it”.

    Supporting the on-air initiatives is the campaign with cricketers in a painted body look. The company adds that the new body painted look is youthful, fresh and symbolic of the individual player’s passion for the game. Covered only with a layer of colourful body paint, the cricketers’ images reflect their energetic and unique persona on the field. Each design and choice of colour palette has a story behind it which mirrors the athlete’s character.

    Taproot India creative director Agnello Dias said, “Pepsi has always been the fearless voice of uninhibited youth. A belief that needed to be interpreted even as the official partner of the event. Only Pepsi could turn this official status on its head by standing up for the brave new, unorthodox face of the modern game. The unplugged, organic face of contemporary cricket that is a reflective of everything that the youth of today live by. That it‘s not the textbook that matters but the result at the end of the day. Because the game can always change.”

    Prasoon Pandey of Corcoise Films who directed the TVCs said, “Change The Game is a powerful concept and we have tried to bring alive the same passion and excitement in the films as we would see during the World Cup. The idea was to communicate Pepsi’s celebration of cricketers’ innovative signature moves on the field in a never-seen-before manner. For instance, the first film presents an irreverent back story about Dhoni’s famous Helicopter shot to the thrill of him actually using it during the match.”

    The campaign is being launched across various mediums and channels to ensure complete 3D activation across all verticals. It will be supported by a 360-degree approach including thematic ATL and outdoor, consumer engagement programmes, special edition packaging, in-stadia amplification and digital engagement programmes.