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Category: AD Agencies

  • Think Design signs MoU with IIT Mandi iHub and HCI Foundation

    Think Design signs MoU with IIT Mandi iHub and HCI Foundation

    Mumbai: Think Design, Havas India’s UI/UX specialist agency, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IIT Mandi iHub and HCI Foundation. The MOU aims to foster a beneficial collaboration between the Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) at IIT Mandi and Think Design (TD). The TIH, which focuses on Human-Computer Interaction, was established with the backing of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India (GoI), and is housed at IIT Mandi.

    The goal of the MoU is to provide a formal platform for Think Design and iHub to collaborate in mutually advantageous areas of Research & Development to support the adoption of solutions that have social and economic consequences. The partnership aims to raise public awareness and help build skills in the usage of technologies, such as those used to develop Assistive Technologies, Experience Technologies, and Device-led Technologies. The MoU will also result in the sharing of information and resources to increase the impact of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) collaboration for case-specific products and solutions.

    “IIT Mandi iHub envisions to be an internationally recognized hub that nurtures HCI research, enables technology translation for industry, and scales skill development,” stated IIT Mandi iHub and HCI Foundation CEO Somjit Amrit, speaking about the MoU.

    “In keeping with this resolve, we are eager to collaborate in addressing real-life problem statements through the integration of translational research that leads to industry acceptance. Industrial design is critical to the transition from prototype to product and commercialization. With that in mind, a collaboration with an industry leader like Think Design is expected to help the industry to incorporate the most recent and relevant research, resulting in a faster Go-To-Market with product-market fits, which would improve user experience,” he said.

    “As a pioneering design and research consultancy, our focus has always been to bring path-breaking ideas to the market,” said Think Design chief strategy officer Hari Nallan. “Our collaboration with IIT Mandi’s Technology Innovation Hub is critical and will help us further our mission. The partnership’s breadth and areas of involvement are cutting-edge and highly relevant to the market’s current needs. I’m very happy to launch this meaningful effort that will benefit not only Think Design and IIT Mandi TIH, but also society as a whole,” he further added.

  • Human bags branding and communications mandate for Co2Exist

    Human bags branding and communications mandate for Co2Exist

    Mumbai: Recently launched integrated agency, Human, by creative duo Chirag Raheja and Imran Khan, who are walking their independent path after a long stint in the advertising world, bags its first branding and communication mandate for Co2Exist.

    Co2Exist is an Indian startup that helps companies and individuals realize their climate commitments. Their goal is to help people across the world achieve a carbon-neutral status while generating revenue for their green efforts.

    Commenting on the partnership, Co2Exist director Menaka Pohani said “Human, founded by Chirag and Imran, was a logical choice for Co2Exist’s communications partner.

    Their approach, work ethic and professionalism stood apart and is what helped us make our decision to partner with them for our communications plan. Their innovative strategies and expertise in creating impactful marketing campaigns align seamlessly with our commitment to promoting sustainable practices and reducing carbon emissions.

    Our decision to appoint Human was driven by our mutual vision to raise awareness and take effective action in combating climate change. By engaging with Human, we aim to amplify our message, reach a wider audience, and inspire behavioural change on a global scale. We believe that this collaboration will enhance our efforts in building a more sustainable future.”

    The agency’s mandate includes working on the brand’s identity and digital communication strategy, and implementing clutter-breaking ideas that effect change.

    Pohani continued, “On the identity front, Human has already designed a logo for the brand – one that reflects the key aspects of sustainability – restoring our green cover and water bodies, and switching to sustainable power sources to reduce the burden of consumption on the planet.”

    Commenting on the logo, Human co-founder and director Imran Khan said “Sustainability is a very broad idea, and capturing the intent of the brand is always crucial. I’m glad we found a genuine depiction of the brand’s purpose, and hope to extend it in many different ways going forward.”

    Commenting on the partnership, Human co-founder and director Chirag Raheja said “Co2Exist is an idea whose time has come. Their business resonates deeply with our ethos of creating work that’s good for the people, and the planet at large. So when we were offered a chance to be their communications partner, we leaped at it. We feel honored to be their partner of choice, and intend to fully repay the trust placed in us through work that drives meaningful results.”

    Khan added, “Our goal is and will always be to work with purpose-driven brands. Co2Exist’s purpose is as big as it gets – they’re literally out there trying to save the world from the clutches of climate change. We couldn’t have asked for a better first client. I’m excited about the win, and look forward to creating work that drives positive change. “

  • BBH India onboards Himanshu Saxena as COO & MD

    BBH India onboards Himanshu Saxena as COO & MD

    Mumbai: BBH India, a Publicis Groupe agency, has announced the appointment of Himanshu Saxena as chief operating officer & managing director. Saxena will report to CEO, Leo Burnett-South Asia & chairman, BBH India Dheeraj Sinha.

    As BBH’s chief operating officer & managing director, Saxena will be responsible for developing talent, organisational tools, new services and steering these to acquire future-facing businesses.

    He brings over 29 years of experience across the communication spectrum, including advertising, marketing & sales, brand management, digital & social, PR, design, and market research.

    Saxena has helmed country and multi-office leadership for some of South Asia’s leading organisations, including Lowe, McCann, Trikaya Grey, JWT, Edelman, IMRB & Reliance Jio. Saxena’s passion for leading businesses to market excellence through powerful full-funnel solutions has led these agencies to win accolades at prestigious forums like APAC and India Effies, Cannes, Spikes, Adfest, Goafest, PRAXIS, and SABRE APAC. He has spearheaded creative solutions across iconic brands like Unilever, GSK, PepsiCo, Diageo, Asian Paints, Dubai Tourism, One Plus, Idea Cellular, Audible, and Starbucks, to name a few.

    Welcoming Saxena, Sinha said, “BBH India, with its legacy of modern, creative, and effective solutions that are well-entrenched in the modern Indian zeitgeist, has built a reputation as a creative firepower in the country. I am delighted to welcome Saxena onboard. A talented leader known for his deep client relationships, his commitment to business innovation, and his operational acumen, Saxena embodies the black sheep and zag philosophy that will further fuel this brilliant creative engine.”

    Speaking on his appointment, Saxena added, “I am both excited and honoured to join BBH. With its legacy of creating stunning work that has transformed not only brands but also categories, BBH India is truly built for the modern age of marketing. I am looking forward to scaling this further and bringing my experience and a fresh perspective to lead such talented individuals and ambitious clients.

    BBH India has grown into a creative powerhouse with offices in Mumbai and Delhi and a repertoire of highly effective, consistent, and modern marketing solutions spanning across advertising, design, digital, consulting, and experiential. The agency currently works with a diverse portfolio of brands like Marico, Red Bull, Nestle, Audi, Taco Bell, Mahindra Group, and L’Oreal, among many others. In 2022, BBH won mandates for Hitachi and Roposo and created campaigns like Disney+ Hotstar’s “Thoda Rukh Shah Rukh”; Mahindra Racing’s “Dance For Good” and Marico’s “Re-teach The Teachers.”

  • Dentsu Creative announces global leadership roles

    Dentsu Creative announces global leadership roles

    Mumbai: Dentsu Creative has announced the key members of its global leadership team. Andrea Terrassa has been named global chief operating officer; Iván Czwan Altobelli, global chief people officer; Julie Scelzo, global clients chief creative officer and Jon Dupuis is global clients president.

    Together they are tasked with building and sustaining a culture of creativity, through operational excellence, attracting and retaining world-class talent and ensuring seamless collaboration, to ensure that clients achieve the full potential of modern creativity, Dentsu Creative’s expanded capabilities and bold ambition.

    Dentsu International chief creative officer Fred Levron commented, “We are on a journey to design the creative network of the future. Terrassa is without doubt one of the best when it comes to engineering modern structures and processes, while Altobelli is top in the game to onboard the best next generation of talent. In Scelzo and Dupuis we have a unique driving force, who together will deliver the most compelling offer to meet the needs of, and attract more, global clients. They say, “If you don’t like change you will not like irrelevance”, and we are building for change.”

    Terrassa has acted as chief operating officer of Dentsu Creative Americas since 2021, where she was instrumental in the organizational and transformation efforts of moving from 11 agency brands to three, and joined dentsu International in 2018 as chief operating officer for 360i. Andrea will work closely with the Global Operations teams across all areas of the business, including media and CXM, led by dentsu International’s global chief operating officer, Nnenna Ilomechina, to help achieve the business’ ambition of offering Horizontal Creativity to clients and being the world’s most integrated creative network.

    Terrassa said, “The potential that can be achieved through harnessing the depth and breadth of our capacities, and the incredible talent at Dentsu Creative is immense. Pivotal to achieving this, and more, will be best-in-class operations, and I couldn’t be more excited to provide this to our people and clients. Every day I am impressed by the dynamism and smarts of our incredible community and am so happy to be part of Dentsu Creative’s ambitious journey.”

    As global chief people officer for Dentsu Creative, Altobelli will oversee all human resource functions, including an ambitious talent acquisition strategy. He joined dentsu International in 2021 from Accenture Interactive, where he played a key role in delivering its creative and digital agency integration for agencies including Karmarama, Rothco, Droga5, Creative Drive, MXM and PacificLink. Working with Levron, the two have been a driving force behind recent high-profile global hires at Dentsu Creative including Chicago’s chief creative officer, Pedro Perez and Italy’s chief creative officer, Riccardo Fregoso.

    Altobelli added, “An agency is nothing without its Talent and I am incredibly proud to be leading the People team here, where attracting, nurturing and championing the best Talent is such a priority across the leadership team. From supporting new joiners, to setting our leaders up for success, we are holding ourselves up to high standards at Dentsu Creative and have big ambitions in motion for our people, business, and culture.”

    In her new role, Scelzo will ensure creative excellence for global clients focusing on delivering modern creative ideas that create culture, change society and invent the future. Since 2018 Scelzo has served as global executive creative director for DentsuMB’s American Express business. Before that, Scelzo spent several years as a creative director at Leo Burnett, FCB and Meta. Prior to joining Dentsu, she was the executive creative director of Pandora Music. Using this experience, Julie will look to offer enhanced content marketing, entertainment and IP creative strategies, as well as ensure creativity delivers horizontally for the client, from content to commerce, media to CXM.

    Scelzo said, “Since we launched Dentsu Creative in June the energy to live up to our promise to the industry has been amazing. I am so proud to be in the position to set the bar for creative excellence across the network, lead our talented teams, and help our global clients transform their brands and business through the power of modern creativity.”

    Dupuis will work with Dentsu Creative’s leadership teams globally to ensure that clients are provided with powerful integrated solutions to achieve bold new executions that connect with the largest possible audience in contextually relevant ways. The key to this will be using data and technology to connect the right global talent around the right global client briefs and build teams that reflect the modern world. Dupuis has been with dentsu since 2017, when he joined as Global managing director for dentsuMB and was promoted to global president and CEO in 2019.

    Dupuis said, “While creativity that delivers business impact sits at the heart of our business, a focus on providing clients with a seamless experience globally is the engine at Dentsu Creative. It is with great pleasure that I take on this role and partner with Scelzo to provide success and satisfaction for our global clients.”

  • Hitachi onboards BBH as creative partner

    Hitachi onboards BBH as creative partner

    Mumbai: Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India Ltd, India’s premium air-conditioner brand Hitachi, has appointed BBH India as its creative strategy and advertising agency partner. With this appointment, Hitachi aims to create a high decibel brand awareness and strengthen its brand leadership amongst the new informed world consumer.

    The agency won the business as part of a contested multi-agency pitch and will manage full-service responsibilities for strategic creative design and advertising. As Hitachi’s agency of record, BBH India will now spearhead the development of both consumer-focused and business-driven marketing campaigns for Hitachi’s HVAC and refrigeration solutions.

    Hitachi senior vice president – business planning & marketing Nilesh Shah said, “At Hitachi, our brand communication is always focused towards the changing needs and preferences of the new-age consumers who aspire for innovative product offerings. We wanted a strategic creative partner who can help us in strengthening our brand positioning as an Aspirational Premium brand by bringing in a fresh perspective to our brand proposition.  We look forward to this creative partnership with BBH and further building on our track record of memorable, creative campaigns across the target audience.”

    Commenting on the win, Leo Burnett – South Asia CEO & BBH India chairman Dheeraj Sinha said, “Air conditioning has become a crucial part of modern life, and, Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India Limited is an undisputed leader in creating world-class air conditioning products. As a team, we are very proud and humbled to be chosen as a creative partner of India’s most aspirational and premium air conditioning brand. We have a big task in front of us, as the brand is known for its stunning consumer campaigns and has consistently rolled out great pieces of creative work over the years. We are excited to co-create the next chapter of the brand story and level up the brand salience.”

    With over 35 years of legacy in India, Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India Limited manufactures a wide range of products under the Hitachi brand, such as room air-conditioners (split & window ACs) to commercial air-conditioners including chiller, cassette air conditioners, ductable air-conditioners & VRF systems. A part of Publicis Groupe, BBH is a full-service global creative agency network offering strategic brand ideas, integrated communications, pure-play digital solutions, and much more to some of the world’s best-loved brands.

  • Agencies need to start leading and stop lagging: Dentsu Creative’s CMO report

    Agencies need to start leading and stop lagging: Dentsu Creative’s CMO report

    Mumbai: Dentsu Creative has released the results of its annual survey of CMOs in the UK, US, China, India, and Brazil. The survey, called “The Power of Modern Creativity: Insights for Today and Tomorrow,” identifies eight key themes that define the future of modern creativity and what clients most want from their agencies .

    According to the report, 85 per cent of clients agree that while consumer behaviour has undergone rapid changes in the last five years, the agency model is yet to adapt. 78 per cent say that the silo-ed agency model is no longer fit for purpose in today’s world. Clients are seeking a new agency model where creativity is a horizontal not a vertical, with 82 per cent agreeing they want to see creative solutions across every aspect of their business-media, commerce, and CXM-just as much as in campaigns.

    India is the market where CMOs are most likely to have invested in creating their own TV programming.

    China and India dominate the creation of branded entertainment and intellectual property (IP), with 53 per cent of CMOs in these markets investing here, and China is the global leader in creating branded characters and IP.

    Dentsu International global chief creative officer Fred Levron said, “We introduced Dentsu Creative to the world in the belief that clients want something new and different. That they are tired of artificial silos and complexity and are seeking modern, integrated creativity. This survey showed that today’s CMO’s are with us all the way on that. They don’t want creativity to stay in its swim lane; they want to see creativity across every aspect of their business-across media and CXM just as much as campaigns and content. That’s why we designed Dentsu Creative not only to bring together our amazing capabilities in entertainment, experience, storytelling, and innovation, but to integrate seamlessly with our media and CXM businesses. Clients are asking agencies to create culture, to invent new possibilities, to help reshape society and we care ready to deliver this.”

    Dentsu Creative chief strategy officer Patricia McDonald added, “Today’s CMOs are asking agencies to stop lagging behind and start leading again.  Our study confirms that today’s CMOs believe in the power of modern creativity to engage a new generation of consumers. They are asking their agency partners to think beyond legacy silos and bring the right talent around the table to deliver ideas big enough to live anywhere, bold enough to chart new executional territory and rich enough to make personal connections with millions of customers around the world. That requires us to connect our core skills in strategy and brand building with the ability to execute anywhere from gaming to entertainment, culture to commerce.”

    Dentsu Creative chief executive officer Amit Wadhwa commented, “We all know that the business landscape is rapidly changing and so are the expectations from agencies on how and what we deliver. It’s extremely essential for all of us to be in tune with the requirements and expectations in this changing environment. With this very objective, the CMO survey was conducted. What really excites me is that the responses augur extremely well for the direction we took when we launched Dentsu Creative based on the philosophy of modern creativity. Excited with the way we are moving ahead.”

    Eight key themes identified and unpacked in the report:  

    From complexity to simplicity: Today’s clients reject artificial divisions and binaries, seeking simple but powerfully integrated solutions to their problems.  

    73 per cent of marketers agree that the modern comms landscape, and by extension their roles, have become increasingly complex.

    Inventing the future: Investment in gaming, virtual technologies and social commerce continues as clients believe the online space is where their most meaningful customer interactions take place.

    84 per cent agree that an online store should feel as immersive as an offline store.

    Big ideas, boldly executed: The big organising idea is more important than ever but today big ideas must be executed in bold new ways, to connect in personal, contextually relevant ways.

    84 per cent agree that modern creativity creates culture, it doesn’t just interrupt.

    Radical collaboration: Delivering modern creativity means rejecting traditional silos and traditional definitions of scale, using data and technology to nimbly connect the right talent around the right brief.

    76 per cent want agencies to connect the right talent around the right brief, wherever it sits in their networks.  

    Creating Culture: CMOs across the globe are investing in content marketing, entertainment and IP as never before, building their own audiences and creating their own properties.  

    84 per cent of respondents are implementing or have implemented entertainment platforms and IP as a strategy.

    Horizontal Creativity: To thrive in the modern world, networks must embrace creativity across every touchpoint; content to commerce, media to CXM. Creativity is no longer a vertical or discipline but a horizontal.

    82 per cent want to see creative solutions across media, commerce and CRM, just as much as in campaigns.

    Changing society: CMOs speak with one voice on the vital importance of using their platform for good and the imperative to pivot their business model in response to the climate crisis.  

    84 per cent agree that real change is only possible through sustained collaboration between businesses, consumers and policy makers.

    Embracing difference: Designing for the modern world means investing in teams that reflect the modern world. Today’s agencies must embrace difference as the only true way to deliver work that makes a difference.

    95 per cent agree that it is a brand’s responsibility to change behaviour and change society.

     

  • Maitri Advertising Works wins agency of the year award

    Maitri Advertising Works wins agency of the year award

    Mumbai: Maitri Advertising Works announced that it has won the South Indian Marketing Award for Agency of the Year. The agency has bagged four gold and one silver.

    The first gold medal was for Mathrubhumi Daily’s 100th-anniversary anthology ad series under the category ‘Series Branded Media Content.’ The next gold was for Asianet Bigg Boss Malayalam season 4 promo featuring Mohanlal under the category of ‘Best Use of Television.’

    The department of women and child welfare won its third gold with the “No More Compromise” campaign. The recognition was given for the skillful use of social media and digital platforms, which included two music videos starring Arya Dayal, Sayanora, and Indulekha Warrier; digital videos produced by director Basil Joseph; and posters & videos made with the assistance of other social media influencers.

    The fourth gold was for the promotion of Netflix’s Christmas release, Minnal Murali. The print campaign, designated as a superhero comics series, was considered for the award. The silver medal is for the hoarding done by joining forces with the Kerala motor vehicle department, asking people to stop speeding.

    “You don’t need to live in big cities to do global-scale advertising and campaigns. The success of Maitri is evidence that Kerala has an abundance of resources for it. Our ability to capture the trust of international companies is an example of it,” said Maitri COO Jayakumar.

    Maitri director of ideation Venugopal Ramachandran Nair commented, “The space and trust our advertisers provide us are what motivate us to think differently. Our energy comes from their courage to embrace innovation. A name worth mentioning here is Mathrubhumi MD M.V. Shreyams Kumar. His support, when we pitched the concept of ‘anthology advertising’ as part of the centennial celebration of Mathrubhumi, is one example. Maitri has been associated with Mathrubhumi for more than twenty years.”

    “The biggest asset of our creative team is the youth who think differently. Behind Maitri’s successful campaigns are a group of hard-working young people. They are the real strength of the seniors leading Maitri,” added Maitri group creative director Francis Thomas.

    Maitri director of operations & Kerala Advertising Agencies Association state president Raju Menon said, “In earlier times, network agencies used to come to Kerala and bag brands. Today, the situation has changed. Now, international clients are coming forward, realising the power of regional agencies. This has opened the door for the creative geniuses of Kerala to prepare world-class campaigns.”

  • Jim Beam picks Leo Burnett as global agency of record

    Jim Beam picks Leo Burnett as global agency of record

    Mumbai: Leo Burnett has once again won the Jim Beam global creative account. The account was won following a multi-agency pitch. The agency is tasked with developing a new global positioning and creative platform for the historic bourbon.

    This is the second time Leo Burnett has been named AOR (agency-of-record) for Jim Beam. The Publicis agency previously received the designation in 2016, before the brand started working with DDB in 2018, according to AgencySpy.

    Speaking of this association, Leo Burnett Chicago president & chief Britt Nolan said, “Crafting the next chapter of an iconic brand like Jim Beam is a responsibility we don’t take lightly. We’ve been proud to deliver strong results for Beam Suntory’s small batch portfolio and couldn’t be more excited about this next stage of our partnership.”

  • Contract Advertising wins the mandate for Haldiram’s

    Contract Advertising wins the mandate for Haldiram’s

    Mumbai: In a strategic partnership with Wunderman Thompson, Contract Advertising has won the mandate for Haldiram’s, an Indian multinational sweets and savouries company headquartered in Delhi.

    The mandate was awarded to Contract Advertising India after a multi-agency pitch in which about 16 agencies participated. Contract Mumbai will handle the account.

    Haldiram’s has manufacturing plants in several states of India, including UP, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Bihar, J&K, and Guwahati. A plant is also located in the UK.

    The mandate includes brand strategy and creatives for the domestic market, the export market, and retail/QSRs.

    Welcoming Contract Advertising, Haldiram’s managing director Pankaj Agarwal said, “Haldiram’s has always been trusted for their quality offerings. As a key player in the snack, sweets, and restaurant sectors, we are known to generate excitement amongst the consumers. We, as a brand, are constantly innovating and trying to raise our high-quality standards. To make consumers aware of our wide brand portfolio, we needed an advertising agency that understood our constant rise and the consumer’s changing mindsets. And that is why we are excited to partner with Contract Advertising to build effective marketing communications and reach new heights.”

    Adding to this, Divya Batra marketing head Haldiram’s commented, “Over the years, Haldiram’s has expanded its range from traditional namkeens to western snacks, frozen snacks, ready to eat, ready to cook, chocolates, and many more food categories. To communicate the same to our consumers, we needed an agency passionate about reaching and engaging with consumers impactfully. After an extensive process and multiple pitch rounds, we are exhilarated to partner with Contract. Together with the data & consumer insights approach, we target to build effective marketing communication and increase brand footprint.”

    Started in 1937 in Bikaner, today, Haldiram’s is a household name across multiple states in India. It also supplies 400 plus SKUs internationally, with its trademark being registered in 80 countries, spanning six continents. The company is famous across the globe and is available at various international stores such as Walmart, Tesco, Spinney’s, Carrefour, Metcash, Costco, Woolworth, etc.

    “Haldiram’s is an iconic brand, and it is a household name in India. We are proud of being the agency that has been given the responsibility to craft the narrative for this brand in India and abroad,” added Contract Mumbai EVP and general manager Ayan Chakraborty.

    Contract Mumbai SVP and executive creative director Rahul Ghosh commented, “At Contract, we have a bit of history with Made in India powerhouses. Haldiram’s is one such global success story. Getting to work on the narrative of this iconic brand is the kind of challenge that is a part of our DNA.”

  • Dentsu India on-boards Bhasker Jaiswal as chief operations officer, media

    Dentsu India on-boards Bhasker Jaiswal as chief operations officer, media

    Mumbai: Dentsu India has announced the appointment of Bhasker Jaiswal as chief operations officer, media. As a member of the executive team, he will report to Dentsu South Asia chief executive officer, media, Divya Karani.

    In his new role, Bhasker will lead integration, transformation, and operational excellence agendas while driving innovations and excellence for Dentsu clients and businesses through its three media agencies: Carat, iProspect, and Dentsu X. He will work closely with Divya Karani to deliver business transformation, set up and standardise operations and systems, govern product leadership, and enable sustainable revenue growth.

    With over 24 years of experience in the media and advertising industry across APAC (India, Malaysia, China, and Singapore), Bhaskar specialises in building solutions for advertisers and media companies across monetisation, research, and media investments. His key strength lies in understanding the ecosystem of consumers, advertisers, and media owners, as well as the decision-making heuristic. He is passionate about disrupting the current thinking and has developed industry-leading proprietary products that bring efficiency and effectiveness across geographies and clients.

    Speaking on the appointment, Divya Karani said, “Bhasker joining the team here in India is another great step on our journey to become the go-to network of choice for brands in India. His impressive track record, savvy business judgement, operational excellence, and an innate understanding of people and their motivations make him ideal to lead our transformation and integration.”

    Bhasker Jaiswal commented, “I am excited to be joining Dentsu and being back in India, a big and complex market growing dynamically. I look forward to adding value by improving dentsu processes to impact client outputs as well as improving the lives of our biggest assets—our people.”