Category: Marketing

  • KPMG and Imarticus add up skills with global finance prep programme

    KPMG and Imarticus add up skills with global finance prep programme

    MUMBAI: When it comes to finance careers, passing the exam is only half the equation. The other half is applying knowledge where it counts and that’s exactly the balance KPMG in India and Imarticus Learning want to strike with their industry-first Global Accounting and Finance Certification Preparation Programme.

    The collaboration, unveiled this week, is designed for aspirants chasing the world’s toughest credentials CFA, US CPA, US CMA, ACCA, and FRM. Imarticus, already India’s first authorised prep provider for all five, will now add KPMG’s global expertise to the mix. The goal? To upskill 25,000 learners by FY28, a fivefold leap from the current 5,000.

    What sets this initiative apart from conventional cram-and-pass coaching is its emphasis on applied learning. Learners will access a curated collection of 23 case studies developed by KPMG in India, delivered via live online sessions across the five certification tracks. Beyond that, the programme bakes in mentorship, mock exams, career-focused exposure, and even internship opportunities for top performers, the top three from every ACCA batch and the best candidate from each of the other four courses.

    For candidates facing syllabi that are notoriously dense with CFA alone spanning ten topic areas, from quantitative methods to ethics this blend of theory and practice could make the difference between rote memorisation and real readiness.

    Imarticus Learning founder & CEO Nikhil Barshikar framed it as India’s first true industry-academia partnership in certification prep: “We’re bringing learners an unmatched blend of academic depth and practical business insights. The goal isn’t just to help them pass exams, but to build the confidence and clarity to excel in global finance roles.”

    From KPMG’s side, the focus is equally clear. KPMG in India partner and finance advisory Gaurav Vohra,  noted that the sector demands more than textbook smarts: “The finance and accounting industry is evolving rapidly, demanding professionals who can apply insights in real-world scenarios. This collaboration empowers professionals to do just that.”

    With global finance certifications commanding prestige and pass rates often hovering below 50 per cent, the need for structured, real-world prep has never been greater. By combining KPMG’s expertise with Imarticus’ reach, the programme positions itself not just as an exam pipeline, but as a launchpad for globally mobile, industry-ready finance talent.

  • Cloudtv gives ads a new dimension with India’s first 3D CTV formats

    Cloudtv gives ads a new dimension with India’s first 3D CTV formats

    MUMBAI: Forget skipping ads now you might just stop and stare. Cloudtv, India’s first certified Smart TV OS, has switched on a bold new innovation in Connected TV: 3D Ad-Units. Rolled out across its OS-powered devices, the new format promises to shake up how brands pop on screen, offering advertisers a premium, non-intrusive showcase that sticks in the mind.

    Already powering 250-plus smart TV brands and reaching over 12 million users across Tier 1, 2 and 3 markets, Cloudtv is no stranger to scale. But with India’s Connected TV market projected to hit 25 million households by 2026, the company is betting that immersive, attention-grabbing formats will be the next frontier of advertising.

    Early tests suggest the gamble is paying off. In a collaboration with Aiyo, an AI-first content studio, Cloudtv deployed its 3D ads for nutrition brand Myfitness. The result? A 25 per cent higher completion rate compared to regular masthead video ads proof that audiences are more likely to stick with the story when the visuals literally stand out.

    For advertisers, the appeal is clear: a unique inventory that elevates campaigns beyond the flat, forgettable formats of traditional TV spots. For viewers, the difference lies in ads that engage without feeling like interruptions, creating a sleek, cinematic environment instead of clutter.

    Addressing this strategic announcement, Cloudtv COO and co-founder Abhijeet Rajpurohit said, “The launch of 3D ads positions Cloudtv at the forefront of CTV innovation, catering to the growing demand for premium, high-impact advertising solutions. As brands look for new ways to differentiate their messaging and drive deeper engagement, Cloudtv’s 3D ad inventory offers a compelling alternative that stands out in the CTV advertising space.”

    This isn’t the company’s only power play. Cloudtv has also rolled out a dedicated CTV advertising platform and struck a partnership with Magnite (NASDAQ: MGNI), the world’s largest independent sell-side ad company, to bring global heft to its marketplace. Alongside, a new website for brands, agencies and buyers now lets partners browse inventory, audience insights and campaign opportunities in one place.

    By pushing beyond the limits of flat formats, Cloudtv is essentially opening a new dimension in CTV advertising, one where brand storytelling is immersive, measurable, and hard to ignore. In a screen space that’s heating up fast, the platform may just have given itself the 3D edge.

  • Hisense renews FIFA World Cup tie-up, flaunts RGB-MiniLED might at IFA 2025

    Hisense renews FIFA World Cup tie-up, flaunts RGB-MiniLED might at IFA 2025

    BERLIN: Hisense, the Chinese consumer electronics and appliances giant, has confirmed it will continue as an official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup, extending a partnership first struck in 2018. The announcement came at IFA 2025 in Berlin, where the company also unveiled a raft of television and smart-home innovations designed to cement its position as a leader in next-generation display technology.

    For Hisense, football has become a stage for technology theatre. It began with logo visibility at Russia 2018, grew into content collaboration on FIFA+ in 2022, stretched to technology integration in VAR systems at the FIFA Club World Cup earlier this year, and will now culminate in sponsorship of the 2026 World Cup, the first to feature 48 teams across three host nations. Each milestone, the firm insists, has tightened its grip on global brand recognition.

    Hisense Group  vice-president  Catherine Fang said the strategy was rooted in four principles: being technology driven, user oriented, culturally grounded and smart-service focused. “Every unforgettable moment starts with the right experience,” she told the Berlin audience. “Our role is to help fans own that moment.”

    At the heart of Hisense’s display push is RGB-MiniLed — a technology it claims to have invented and now positioned as a rival to OLED. The firm has already paraded the world’s largest RGB-MiniLED set, a 116-inch television, and at IFA it showed refinements that deliver purer colours, sharper contrast and brightness levels beyond those of QD-Oled. The screens, it boasts, can achieve 100 per cent of the BT.2020 colour gamut, promising images that replicate reality.

    FIFA is sold on the promise. Romy Gai, the governing body’s chief business officer, called Hisense’s technology a way to bring “billions of fans” closer to the World Cup in 2026. For Hisense, the ambition is bolder still: to transform living rooms into front-row seats, ensuring households in Lagos, Lahore and London feel the same drama as fans in Los Angeles or Mexico City.

    IFA 2025 itself has become a proving ground. Under the banner “Own the Moment”, Hisense is staging a media showcase at City Cube Berlin and a larger product exhibition at Hall 23a, with television walls, AI-driven appliances and connected living systems all on display. The message is simple: Hisense wants to set the benchmark not just for picture quality but for how households interact with technology.

    Founded in 1969 in Qingdao, Hisense now operates in more than 160 countries and, according to Omdia, leads the world in sales of 100-inch and larger televisions in the first half of 2025. Its continued sponsorship of the World Cup suggests that, in the battle for consumer attention, football remains the ultimate shop window. For Hisense, the combination of sports spectacle and cutting-edge screens is designed to make sure that when fans cheer, they do so in front of a Hisense.

  • Prestige stirs up a clean start at Andhericha Raja this Ganesh Chaturthi

    Prestige stirs up a clean start at Andhericha Raja this Ganesh Chaturthi

    MUMBAI: Ganpati bhakti just got a dash of kitchen wisdom. This Ganesh Chaturthi, TTK Prestige has set up its immersive Prestige Svachh Shelter at Mumbai’s iconic Andhericha Raja, proving that devotion and clean living can go hand in hand. The installation, inspired by the spill-proof deep lid of the Svachh cookware range, is drawing thousands of devotees who are discovering that true blessings may well begin at home with cleaner kitchens and mindful water use.

    Partnering with Fever FM as the official radio partner, the initiative goes beyond festive décor to become a movement. Families, youngsters and even celebrities are stepping into the Svachh Shelter to click selfies, upload them on social media and take the Svachhlivingpledge. Each post adds to a growing collective voice for sustainable practices, while participants also stand a chance to win Prestige vouchers. The shelter has quickly turned into a buzzing hub where spirituality, community and conscious living blend seamlessly.

    To spice things up, the daily Modak Making Challenge has devotees rolling up their sleeves with Prestige’s Airfryer and multi-tasking Kadai. The fun, fuss-free contest has already seen spirited participation, with cheers and applause echoing through the pandal as winners walk away with Prestige gift hampers. Beyond contests and selfies, the presence of well-known personalities has added star power, amplifying the message of cleaner kitchens and responsible living.

    Explaining the thought behind the initiative, TTK Prestige chief sales & marketing Anil Gurnani said the Svachh Shelter was designed to marry celebration with purpose reminding households that festive joy can sit beautifully alongside conscious choices for the environment. As the campaign gathers momentum, the shelter is turning from an attraction into a movement, showing devotees that devotion shines brightest when it is paired with purity, awareness and a cleaner tomorrow.
     

  • Trilok drops high-octane spin on Ganpati aarti Sukhkarta Dukhharta

    Trilok drops high-octane spin on Ganpati aarti Sukhkarta Dukhharta

    MUMBAI: Ganpati has never sounded like this before. Trilok, the AI-led music collective known for stitching Indian roots with global sounds, has taken the classic aarti “Sukhkarta Dukhharta” and turned it into a festival headliner. Think rock riffs, electronic drops, desi dhols, and a raw devotional energy that feels equally at home in a pandal or a street carnival.

    The track isn’t arriving quietly either. It comes with collaborations from Zomato, Boat, and a starry appearance by actor-creator Neel (@justneelthings) in the music video. Together, they’ve added scale and sparkle to what’s shaping up as one of this year’s biggest Ganpati content launches.

    A Boat spokesperson summed up the vibe: “Ganpati is all about music and devotion, the very spirit that our collaboration with Trilok has captured. We’ve always aimed to give local talent a platform, and this initiative reflects just that.”

    The video itself is pure Mumbai: crowds dancing in processions, dhols thundering, colour explosions, and Zomato delivery partners joining the revelry. Trilok rides through it all on a decorated truck, jamming with live drummers and blending seamlessly into the chaos and joy of Visarjan. With Neel’s unmistakable presence adding charisma, the visuals match the track’s pulsing intensity.

    This is not just another remix; it’s a reimagining that places an age-old hymn in a 21st-century soundscape, without losing the bhakti at its core. The track is now streaming across platforms, with the full video live on TRILOK’s official channels proof that tradition and innovation can thump to the same beat.

  • Navneet’s ‘salute the tr’ wins hearts nationwide on teacher’s day

    Navneet’s ‘salute the tr’ wins hearts nationwide on teacher’s day

    MUMBAI: This teacher’s day, classrooms were quiet but the school grounds were full of heart. In a touching twist, Navneet education launched its newest campaign Salute the tr, swapping words of thanks for a powerful, silent salute that brought teachers to tears.

    The campaign film begins with puzzled teachers stepping into empty classrooms, only to be guided outside. There, waiting in rows of perfect discipline, are their students. What follows is a spine-tingling moment as every child raises their hand in unison, offering a crisp salute to the mentors who shaped their minds and lives.

    The gesture is as simple as it is profound. No speeches. No slogans. Just respect made visible.

    With Salute the tr, Navneet Education, one of India’s most trusted educational brands, is calling on schools across the country to make this tradition a part of every teacher’s day. It’s a move from individual gratitude to a nationwide movement, built around a collective show of respect that speaks louder than any bouquet or greeting card.

    Navneet education, director of marketing & sales, Devish Gala shared the vision behind the campaign,
    “Teachers are the real architects of society. With this campaign, we wanted to create a moment that captures their importance in a way that words simply can’t. A salute is universal, respectful, and unforgettable.”

    Kasperx marketing, co-founder and cbo, Ravi Sangtani summed it up perfectly, “Salute the tr. turns appreciation into action. It’s a moment that can become a movement. Just like uniforms or morning assemblies, let saluting teachers become part of school tradition, a small act that leaves a lasting mark.”

    Navneet has long supported India’s educators with learning tools and content, but this time, it’s handed the spotlight to the students, showing how a classroom of grateful hearts can say more with one salute than a thousand thank-you notes.
     

  • Shaking up brands in a jar, agency brews success with creative mix

    Shaking up brands in a jar, agency brews success with creative mix

    MUMBAI: When it comes to branding, Brandsjar has found the perfect recipe shake well, add creativity, and serve with a dash of personalisation. In just six years since its founding in 2019, the digital integrated creative agency has worked its way onto the radar of some of the biggest names in business, from Clean Slate Filmz and Monginis to Tourism New Zealand, Swiggy Packaging and even Maserati.

    What started as the brainchild of Shlokh Sanjay Sangtani and Sidhant Sanjeev Kakar has grown into a two-city operation, with branches in Mumbai and Pune, and a portfolio spanning branding, social media marketing, performance marketing, SEO, UI/UX design, and website development.

    The agency even managed to impress the notoriously tough panel of Shark Tank India with Ashneer Grover, Namita Thapar, and Aman Mittal praising Brandsjar’s smart and budget-friendly design for Inacan, a crafted canned cocktail brand. For a young shop competing in a crowded creative market, that sort of applause is worth more than a marketing award.

    “Our journey has just begun, but we’re delighted with the overwhelming response from partner brands,” said Shlokh Sangtani, pointing to the firm’s insistence on tailoring every campaign so brands achieve top-of-mind recall.

    Brandsjar co-founder Sidhant Kakar added that value for money and distinct brand appeal remain the agency’s guiding principles. “Being praised on Shark Tank India was a sign we’re on the right track,” he said, noting that the agency now wants to scale its formula for success to even more industries.

    For a company that prides itself on shaking up conventional brand storytelling at a time when attention spans are shrinking and engagement matters more than ever, BrandsJar has managed to create something rare, a blend that works for both start-ups and global giants. And if its trajectory so far is any indication, this jar is only just being opened.

  • Lehar sprints into sportswear with new Rannr shoe brand launch

    Lehar sprints into sportswear with new Rannr shoe brand launch

    MUMBAI: Lehar Footwear is lacing up for a big leap. The Jaipur-based company, best known for slippers and sandals, has announced the launch of Rannr, its new sports and athleisure footwear brand designed to blend comfort, durability and style for India’s mass and mid-market consumers.

    Backed by five manufacturing facilities in Rajasthan and Haryana, Rannr will hit the ground running with performance-driven shoes that promise everyday versatility at accessible prices. The target: young professionals, fitness buffs, students and lifestyle-conscious shoppers who want value without compromise.

    Lehar is rolling out the brand through its network of more than 520 distributors across 27 states, alongside e-commerce platforms and a new direct-to-consumer site. The company’s long-term play includes expanding into running, training and lifestyle footwear, while also scouting export opportunities in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

    Lehar Footwear, chairman and whole-time director, Raj Kumar Agarwal said, “With Rannr, our goal is to make reliable, stylish, and performance-oriented sports shoes available to millions of consumers looking for quality at the right price. This is not just about entering a new segment but shaping the future of footwear for India’s next generation.”

    Lehar’s expansion into sports shoes comes on the heels of strong growth. The company clocked its highest-ever revenue of Rs 277.2 crore in FY25, and Rs 142.2 crore in Q1 FY26. Having recently ventured into EVA footwear with brands such as Crozi, Hilux and Bliss, Lehar now wants Rannr to be the name Indians think of when they think of affordable sportswear.

  • ITV Network strikes a festive chord with Rasrang ad engagement platform

    ITV Network strikes a festive chord with Rasrang ad engagement platform

    MUMBAI: Festivals in India aren’t just about lights, laddoos and laughter, they’re also prime time for brands to shine. ITV Network has now rolled out Rasrang, a festive-special ad engagement platform designed to help advertisers hit the right note with over 100 million users across India. With Navratri, Diwali and Christmas just around the corner, the timing is more than auspicious.

    Rasrang blends data-driven targeting with editorial storytelling, giving brands both cultural resonance and measurable impact. Built on the scale of ITV’s flagship platforms including Newsx, Newsx World, India News, Inkhabar, The Daily Guardian and The Sunday Guardian the offering provides a multi-platform push across web, social, video and marquee live events. Brands can tap into 8,500 plus audience cohorts spanning entertainment, auto, BFSI, health, fitness, fashion, travel, sports and tech, while leveraging premium ad formats like Display, Video, Spotlight and AdTalk.

    What sets Rasrang apart is its promise to deliver not just eyeballs, but ROI with recall. According to iTV, its digital properties already generate 100 million impressions monthly across websites, social media, YouTube and events. This reach, paired with Rasrang’s precision, positions campaigns to ride India’s festive frenzy while staying relevant to regional cultures and consumer aspirations.

    The ethos remains rooted in iTV’s DNA of fearless journalism, incisive analysis and credible storytelling, now extended to brand partnerships. As the festive calendar kicks into high gear, Rasrang pitches itself as the stage where advertisers can not just be seen, but remembered, a platform where data meets diya, and campaigns celebrate alongside the country.
     

  • TVS shifts gears with NTORQ 150, India’s first hyper sport scooter

    TVS shifts gears with NTORQ 150, India’s first hyper sport scooter

    MUMBAI: TVS Motor Company has blurred the lines with the launch of the NTORQ 150, billed as India’s first hyper sport scooter. Unveiled in Bengaluru at a starting price of Rs 1.19 lakh (ex-showroom, all India), the NTORQ 150 promises to give riders more than just a daily commute. It offers acceleration, attitude and Alexa.

    Powered by a 149.7cc race-tuned engine, the scooter rockets from 0 to 60 km/h in just 6.3 seconds, topping out at 104 km/h. Add in ABS, traction control and a racy muffler note, and it makes a strong case as the quickest scooter in its class.

    Design-wise, TVS has gone full stealth mode. Inspired by fighter jets, the NTORQ 150 comes with Multipoint projector headlamps, aerodynamic winglets, a naked handlebar and a distinctive ‘T’ tail lamp. The forward-biased stance and arrowhead front give it the look of a machine always ready for take-off.

    But performance isn’t the only talking point. Riders get a hi-res TFT cluster packed with over 50 connected features, including Alexa and smartwatch integration, live vehicle tracking, turn-by-turn navigation and even social media alerts. The adaptive display, styled like a gaming console, underscores its Gen Z appeal.

    Safety hasn’t been left in the rear-view either. ABS, traction control, hazard lamps, theft alerts and an emergency brake warning all feature as segment firsts. Comfort is boosted with telescopic suspension, adjustable brake levers, a patented EZ centre stand and roomy 22-litre under-seat storage.

    The NTORQ 150 comes in two variants, with colourways like Stealth Silver, Racing Red, Turbo Blue and Nitro Green ensuring riders won’t go unnoticed on city streets.

    Speaking at the launch, TVS Motor Company, president of India 2W business, Gaurav Gupta said the new scooter combines “race-inspired performance, advanced connectivity, and first-in-segment safety features” to delight a new generation of riders.