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Category: AD Agencies

  • JWT celebrates 150 years of Pioneering in Advertising

    JWT celebrates 150 years of Pioneering in Advertising

    MUMBAI: In celebration of the agency’s 150th anniversary, JWT today announced a yearlong program of innovative events and activations to highlight its pioneering spirit and rich history around the world.
     

    “JWT’s 150th is much more than just a birthday. This is a platform to galvanize our employees around our pioneering roots and spirit of inventiveness, and to share our mission with our clients and the world,” said Chairman and CEO Bob Jeffrey.
     

    J. Walter Thompson, the agency’s founder and the original ad man, paved the way for what is now known as modern advertising. Since the agency first opened its doors in 1864, Thompson’s vision as an innovator and pioneer has expanded into a global network of 10,000 employees, spanning 200 offices and 90 countries.
     

    “Every day is an opportunity to reinvent tomorrow, and together with our pioneering clients, we will continue to seize that opportunity for the next 150 years,” said Jeffrey.
     

    Over the decades, JWT has maintained a number of the industry’s longest-standing client relationships including: Unilever (109 years), Kimberly-Clark (84), Nestle (81), Kellogg’s (80), Rolex (68), Ford (67), U.S. Marines (66), Johnson & Johnson (51) and Shell (49).

    In celebrating the agency’s rich history of pioneering, JWT drives forward in its mission and vision for the future to invent pioneering ideas that people want to participate in and spend time with.
     

    “It is an honor to join JWT during such a momentous time. This is an agency with pioneering DNA – the brand, the clients and the people,” said Gustavo Martinez, Global President for JWT Worldwide. He added, “Our strategy for growth in the year ahead as a company will also draw its strength from our spirit of pioneering.”

     
    From hiring the first female creative director and pioneering magazine advertising to being the first agency to expand overseas and the first to send a Kit Kat into space, JWT has pioneered in the world of advertising with groundbreaking ideas that are bold and engaging, and introduced many of the world’s most memorable communications.

     
    In 2013, JWT’s innovative work won a number of accolades at global awards shows including the preeminent Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. JWT’s “Fakka” for Vodafone brought home numerous awards, including a gold lion and was also the most awarded piece of strategic work in the industry last year. Additional award-winning campaigns were JWT Beijing’s “Missing Children” app for Baobeihuijia.com and JWT New York’s “Yes, Virginia the Musical” for Macy’s.

     
    And, JWT’s work for Nestlé’s Kit Kat played a significant role in the brand being named one of the most influential candy bars of all time by TIME magazine.  

     
    To kick off the anniversary celebrations, Jeffrey and Martinez unveiled a commemorative logo that revives the original historical mark from JWT’s earliest visual branding: the Owl and the Lamp. The owl, long a symbol of wisdom in many cultures, and the lamp, an emblem of light and clarity of vision, together symbolize that experience and knowledge lead to success.

     
    Additional 150th celebrations underway for the year include:

    •The Commodore Challenge – an internal contest in search of the three most pioneering ideas for the world, with cash prizes

    •Cannes seminar on pioneering and innovation

    •Pioneering Influencer Series with clients, alumni and industry icons

    •Helen Lansdowne Resor Scholarship for female creatives

    •Interactive historical timeline

    •Historical content series highlighting JWT’s first and best stories from around the world

    •JWTIntelligence 150th Initiative

    In 2014, JWT will also continue to reinvent and bolster our digital capabilities. Actively managing digital change, JWT touts more than 2,000 nontraditional specialists dedicated to delivering digital work for clients. The agency will continue to acquire pure-play digital agencies, with a special focus on emerging markets — recent acquisitions include Thomas Idea in Thailand, Post Visual in South Korea, Designercity in Hong Kong and Lemon Sky in Poland — while expanding existing digital networks.
     

    New business growth is an important signal of JWT’s contemporary relevance, as it often involves attracting clients from newer industries. The agency was recently named global agency of record for PUMA, confirming JWT’s credibility in the booming sectors of sport and fashion. Other new business wins included Energizer personal care brands, Air Canada and The Singapore Tourism Board.

  • Global rebranding: Draftfcb is now FCB

    Global rebranding: Draftfcb is now FCB

    MUMBAI: Six months after becoming Global CEO of Draftfcb, Carter Murray is changing the agency’s name to FCB (Foote, Cone & Belding). In keeping with the global rebranding, effective 4.30 PM IST, March 10, 2014, the India operation will be called FCBUlka Advertising and it will have a new logo.

     

    The colours in the logo have been drawn from the colours of the flags of the world, symbolising the heritage, equity and flavour of the local advertising company and the wide network reach. The diagonal line through the letter B and the letter U of Ulka signifies the importance of the local brand name alongside the global name.

     

    Commenting on the new brand name and identity, Nagesh Alai, Group Chairman, FCBUlka, said, “FCB has a tremendous 140 years’ equity globally and in India Ulka has a 50 years plus great heritage. FCBUlka will continue to deliver on the integrated offering to its clients and stay focused on what it has been doing over the years – Making Brands Famous and Making Clients Rich.”

     

    “Two distinct brands, Draft and FCB, were merged together seven years ago,” said Murray in a global statement. “The entities have united and now have one seamless offering. It’s time to simplify our brand name as well to reflect our focused identity and direction.”

     

    Specifically, the global network will be called FCB (Foote, Cone & Belding), with an important local element celebrated market-by-market. Typically, each office will add the city in which they operate, for instance, FCB Shanghai, FCB Paris or FCB Chicago, using a diagonal line through the B and the first letter of the local moniker. In some markets we will add the name of an acquired company such as in London, where the office will be FCB Inferno, due to the local equity and relevance of the acquired company. In instances where there is an agency with specific expertise, it will take on that name, as with FCB Health. And, in rare cases, the name of a highly respected creative leader will be used to further enhance the office’s delivery and reputation. That is the situation in New York, where the agency is being renamed FCB Garfinkel.

     

    Starting today, offices will introduce the new brand name with a colourful logo design. It loosely depicts the colours of country flags from around the world, incorporating their local attributes while embodying the strength of our global network.

     

    Importantly, Howard Draft remains executive chairman and key advisor to Murray. “Howard has been incredibly supportive of me and the direction we are taking the company,” said Murray. “All of the capabilities that made Draft such an industry leader remain essential to the future of FCB, including CRM, analytics, retail and activation. We will continue to invest in and deliver on all of these while ensuring a strong overall creative product.”

     

    “I believe it’s a really great time for FCB. We have terrific talent and some early momentum. There’s a lot of potential here and I’m excited for our future,” added Murray.

     

    With nearly 140 years of communications expertise, FCB’s worldwide network spans 150 offices in 90 countries, with over 8,000 people, and is part of the Interpublic Group of Companies.

  • Havas Media Group India wins integrated media AOR of Yepme.com

    Havas Media Group India wins integrated media AOR of Yepme.com

    MUMBAI: The year has surely started with a good note for Havas Media group. After being graded at No.1 in YTD new business achievements in both the RECMA 2013 Compitches preliminary reports, the agency has won the Integrated Media AOR for Yepme.com India.

     

    The account is estimated to be upwards of Rs 50 crores annually.

     

    Havas Media Group, India and South Asia CEO Anita Nayyar explained, “We have just completed a successful year and Yepme.com has added another feather to our cap. It is a young and growing company and we gave them a differentiated and targeted approach to deliver the core message. We are extremely delighted to work with their forward thinking team.”

     

    “Yepme.com being the first win of the year is always special, we will continue with our effort to deliver value to our existing clients and keep growing the new business organization”, added Havas Media India MD Mohit Joshi.

     

    Speaking on the appointment, Yepme.com co-founder Sandeep Sharma said, “Havas Media had a keen understanding of our audience and business. They have specialist divisions like Mobext to handle the mobile advertising which is so very critical to us. Besides all this, the sheer passion of the team made us choose them as our media partners.”

     

    In December 2012, Forbes India magazine ranked Yepme.com as one of the top five start-ups to watch out for. In February 2014, Stylophane ranked fashion brands across the world on social index where Yepme ranked 19th worldwide.

  • RK Swamy BBDO wins creative mandate for Magicbricks.com

    RK Swamy BBDO wins creative mandate for Magicbricks.com

    MUMBAI: After a two-month long multi-agency pitch, RK Swamy BBDO has won the creative mandate for Magicbricks.com, the property portal from The Times Group.

     

    On winning to account, RK SWAMY BBDO senior partner Sunil Kuketri said, “This is an interesting category with a huge canvas available for creativity. We will make the most of this opportunity by creating interesting clutter-breaking work for Magicbricks.”

     

    Magicbricks.com is a property portal with a host of specially developed features and tools to aid the users in taking the right decision; making it the most comprehensive platform in the category.

     

    RK Swamy BBDO, part of RK Swamy Hansa, serves over 250 companies in India and the USA. With around 1200+ professionals, the Group offers Creative and Media services, Market Research, Direct/CRM & Advanced Analytics, Events and Activation, Healthcare Communication, PR, Social & Rural Communication and more.

  • McCann Worldgroup India announces key creative leadership

    McCann Worldgroup India announces key creative leadership

    MUMBAI: McCann Worldgroup has announced key senior creative leadership changes: promotions, and inclusion of senior level talent, for its India operations.

     

    Pradyumna Chauhan and Prateek Bhardwaj have been assigned the position of joint National Creative Directors. Both will report to McCann Worldgroup executive chairman and CEO and south Asia president Prasoon Joshi.

     

    Announcing the changes, Joshi said, “As an agency we are committed to our clients’ business and do everything possible to bring the best and most cutting-edge talent onboard. These are carefully selected professionals in whom I have great faithand high expectations. I am positive that they will further enhance our creative product and add yet another dimension to the McCann offering.”

     

    Chauhan has been with McCann for a year, and comes with over a decade and a half of experience across brands such as MP Tourism, Star Network, Airtel, ICICI Bank, Birla Sun life, Asian Paints and others.

     

    This is Bhardwaj’s second stint with McCann. He has extensive experience in the industry across agencies and brands such as Sprite, Kinley, Chlormint, MasterCard, HP and Reebok. Bhardwaj co-founded and ran an independent agency, Eleven Brandworks, and brings along this entrepreneurial mindset, together with the exposure to big brands.

     

    These two talents shall further bolster McCann’s creative prowess. “McCann has a stellar creative reputation, and I am excited with the new role. I look forward to taking the agency to greater heights,” said Chauhan. Bhardwaj added here, “Having worked here earlier and having seen the world I am certain that I can tangibly add value to our clients with the new responsibility entrusted to us.”

     

    Other senior creative leadership announcements include:

     

    Mumbai:

    Akshay Kapnadak and Abhinav Tripathi have been elevated to the role of Creative Heads of McCann’s advertising operations in Mumbai. Denzil Machado will now head McCann’s Craft Excellence for Mumbai. This trio will be responsible for the Creative Department in McCann, Mumbai.

     

    South region:

    McCann’s Creative Head for South, Anil Thomas, will now have extended responsibilities as his role expands across South Asia, where he shall provide creative inputs and vision on a need basis.

     

    New Delhi:

    ECDs Ravinder Siwach and Kapil Batra will continue to lead their respective responsibilities.

  • DDB announces acquisition of 22feet in India

    DDB announces acquisition of 22feet in India

    In a move to lead the development of the digital marketing solutions space in India,DDB Group Asia Pacific and Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC),today announced it has acquired 22feet.

    One of the most dynamic and leading digital marketing firms in India, 22feet will merge with Tribal Worldwide India creating a new entity known as 22feet Tribal Worldwide, and part of theDDB Mudra Group.

    Effective immediately, 22feet Tribal Worldwide will be spearheaded by Vineet Gupta, Managing Director,Brijesh Jacob, Joint Managing Director, and Deepak Nair, Chief Operating Officer. All three, originally from 22feet, will report directly to MadhukarKamath, Group CEO & Managing Director, DDB Mudra Group. They will alsowork closely withPatrick Rona, President, Chief Digital Officer, DDB APAC & President, Tribal Worldwide APAC Tribal Worldwide,and the rest of the Tribal World Wide network across 42 countries to deliver relevant International learnings to the local market

    John Zeigler, Chairman & CEO, DDB Group Asia Pacific, India and Japan, said, “We see this as a strategic move to continue evolving our capabilities in the fast-moving Indian market. DDB Group has accelerated its capabilities to offer clients the best-in-class local digital expertise at 22feet, coupled with best-in-class global knowledge of the Tribal Worldwide network. I believe this is a game-changing event for DDB Mudra Group in India.”

    22feet has become India’s benchmark company working with iconic brands such as Café Coffee Day, Fastrack, Lenovo, Heineken, Kingfisher, Red Bull and Axe.

    22feet Tribal Worldwide will offer its clients end-to-end digital and mobile branding and marketing solutions including strategy and consulting, web designing, web development, media planning, search engine marketing, social media marketing, mobile marketing solutions, mobile application development, mobile couponing and mobile UI.

    MadhukarKamath, Group CEO & Managing Director, DDB Mudra Group, said, “With digital at the heart of DDB Mudra Group’s agenda, we are extremely happy about joining forces with 22feet. I have tremendous respect for Vineet, Brijesh and Deepak, who are focused and determined in what they do. This energy flows into the organization’stalent pool and their work. Under their leadership, in just five years, 22feet has grown leaps and bounds. With this energy and Tribal Worldwide’s global reputation and reach, I’m excited to see what this magic of mergers can create.”

    Vineet Gupta, Managing Director, 22feet Tribal Worldwide said,“We are extremely excited to be a part of the DDB Group family. At 22feet, we share DDB’s passion for innovation and technology and look forward to delivering best in class digital solutions to our clients across markets, as 22feet Tribal Worldwide.”

    Brijesh Jacob, Joint Managing Director, 22feet Tribal Worldwide said, “The agencies I have often been in awe of are generally not part of the network(s) I admire. In this case both the agency and the network get double thumbs up from me. Tribal, purely as a name along with its body of work, over the years and across the globe, is truly inspirational. The mix of technology and creativity, which they practice is in line with the thinking we have at 22feet and therefore I think exciting times are in store in terms of the work, the learning and the exposure.”

    Deepak Nair, COO, 22feet Tribal Worldwide said, “22feet with its immense talent pool and client base is today at an inflection point and strategically very well positioned to leverage the shift towards digital. We are extremely happy with this opportunity to operate on a global canvas, and we look forward to very exciting times ahead, as 22feet Tribal Worldwide.”

     

  • Pressman PAT down in Q3-2014

    Pressman PAT down in Q3-2014

    BENGALURU:  Pressman Advertising Limited (Pressman) reported a (49.4) per cent lower PAT at Rs 1.01 crore in Q3-2014 from Rs 2 crore in Q2-2014. The company was listed at the bourses just a few months ago and the analysis is limited to figures reported by it for the quarter and the nine month period of this year and for FY 2013. PAT for 9M-2014 was Rs 5.03 crore, while the company has reported a small loss of Rs 0.05 crore in 9M-2013, PAT for FY 2013 was Rs 6.29 crore.

     

    Let us look at the Q3-2014 figures reported by Pressman 

     

    Pressman reported an (8.25) per cent drop in operating revenue in Q3-2014 to Rs 9.31 crore from Rs 10.15 crore in Q2-2014. For 9M-2014, the company reported operating revenue of Rs 28.86 crore and for FY 2013, the figure was Rs 43.96 crore. 

     

    Expenditure for Q3-2014 at Rs 8.7 crore was (2.2) per cent lower than the Rs 8.89 crore in Q2-2014. For 9M-2014, the company reported Expenditure of Rs 26.77 crore and for FY 2013 it reported Expenditure of Rs 39.1 crore. 

     

    The company reported a (3.1) per cent drop in Cost of services to Rs 7.26 crore in Q3-2014 from Rs 7.49 crore. For 9M-2014, this cost head was Rs 22.55 crore and for FY 2013, this cost head was Rs 34.09 crore. 

     

    Pressman’s Employee Benefits expense in Q3-2014 was up 10.8 per cent to Rs 0.70 crore from Rs 0.63 crore in Q2-2014.For 9M-2014, Employee Benefit expense was Rs 194 crore and for FY 2013, it was Rs 2.28 crore. 

     

    Notes: (1) The name of the company has changed from Nucent Estates Limited to Pressman Advertising Limited with effect from 22 August 2013. 

     

    (2) Current quarter/half-year’s figures are not comparable for those of last year on account of effect of amalgamation 

     

    (3) In Q1-2014, the company had released Rs 1.461 crore that had been earlier written off and this amount helped in inflating the profit for that quarter. This year the company has added Rs 0.6 crore to exceptional items – write back of liability provided for earlier year no longer required. 

     

    Please read the attached financial results.

  • AD Club to conduct ad review in Gurgaon, Delhi

    AD Club to conduct ad review in Gurgaon, Delhi

    MUMBAI: The Advertising Club is completing 60 years of its successful existence this year.  The Managing Committee with a view to celebrate this momentous occasion has planned a series of new activities.

     

    We kick start with the 2013 Creative Review, one of the most erstwhile popular programs of the Ad Club.  This event will happen on Friday, 28th February, 2014 at Vivanta by Taj – Gurgaon, NCR, Sector 44, Gurgaon-122 004 at 6.30 pm and will be presented in an interesting new format where two Creative stalwarts Agnello Dias (Chief Creative Officer), Taproot India Communication India Pvt. Ltd.) & Josy Paul (Chairman & CCO, BBDO India Pvt. Ltd.) will present the Review.

     

    COLORS have come on board as Presenting Sponsor where as Bharti Airtel Ltd.  & PepsiCo India Holdings Pvt. Ltd. will be the Associate Sponsors.

     

    The donor passes will be charged at Rs.850/- per head and will be available from 26th February, 2014 from 3 pm to 6 pm at the reception of DLF City Club, Moulsari Road, DLF City Phase – III, Gurgaon – 122002, Haryana Ph: +91 124-4999100.  The passes will also be available from 4 pm at the venue on 28th February, 2014.

     

    The event will be followed by Cocktails & Dinner.

     

    Further details can be had from The Ad Club at 23894091 / 23810213 OR www.theadvertisingclub.net 

     

    Kindly feel free to send an email at adclub@vsnl.com

  • Pubilicis acquires 51% of Law & Kenneth

    Pubilicis acquires 51% of Law & Kenneth

    MUMBAI: In December last year, when Publicis Groupe CEO Maurice Levy visited India, he was very clear about India being a strategic market for the company.

     

    Staying true to his words, the world’s third-largest advertising network has acquired 51 per cent of Law & Kenneth, a New Delhi-based independent agency led by adman Praveen Kenneth. 

     

    The acquired entity will merge with the group’s Saatchi & Saatchi in India and will be re-branded as L&K Saatchi & Saatchi (Law & Kenneth Saatchi & Saatchi), which will strongly reinforce the agency’s presence in India between its offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata. Kenneth will take over as the chairman and managing director of the combined unit. He will join the Saatchi & Saatchi Asia-Pacific board and will work directly into Saatchi & Saatchi Asia-Pacific Chairman and CEO Chris Foster. Kenneth was also the CEO of Publicis India from 1999-2003.

     

    The senior management team of Law & Kenneth including, Anil S. Nair (CEO and Managing Partner), Sandhya Srinivasan (Chief Strategy Officer and Managing Partner) and Anil K. Nair (CEO Digital and Managing Partner) will continue their respective roles in the new entity. Law & Kenneth’s CFO Vijay Agarwal will report to Saatchi & Saatchi Asia-Pacific Regional CFO Johann Xavier.

     

    “We are excited to be adding the breadth and depth of talent and resources of Law & Kenneth to the Saatchi & Saatchi network in India, a growing and important market for Publicis Groupe as a whole. Praveen has built an impressive network throughout the country, one that will provide a heightened added value and a mutually beneficial relationship for both existing and future clients. We are glad to be welcoming him back into the Publicis Groupe family,” said Levy in a release. 

     
    Kenneth remarked: “Law & Kenneth was born out of passion and has always focused on adding value to client brands and to the lives of people we touch every day. This has helped us become the largest independent agency in India in just over 10 years. Our story is an example of the Saatchi & Saatchi spirit of Nothing Is Impossible. The combination of Law & Kenneth’s stability, size proven success and experience in India’s dynamic market place, together with Saatchi & Saatchi’s iconic status and mystique, results in a creative powerhouse that is L&K Saatchi & Saatchi. Success for us will be to use the philosophy of Lovemarks to win the hearts of Indian consumers and grow our clients’ brands and reputations.” 

     

    Years ago, Kenneth along with Andy Law and investment support from Bodyshop’s Anita Roddick took over St Luke’s India operations to form Law and Kenneth. With this newly formed agency, he had wished to create an agency that gives creative freedom. Over the years, the agency only grew and presently counts over 285 professionals and boasts of clients that include Renault, Dabur, TATA AIG Insurance, Godrej, ITC, Reliance, Idea and Hero MotoCorp among others. 

     

    However, lately, the agency witnssed a number of exists including that of CEO Matt Seddon, besides Ramanuj Shastry, Kamal Basu, Nisha Singhania, Sourabh Mishra among others.

     

    This acquisition follows those of Beehive into Publicis Worldwide in October 2013 and Neev into Razorfish earlier in 2013.

  • Cannes Lions announces major changes in Cyber Lions category

    Cannes Lions announces major changes in Cyber Lions category

    MUMBAI: The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has announced significant changes that will be made to the Cyber Lions category ahead of the 2014 awards, in line with current digital trends.

     

    Three new sub categories; Social, Branded Technology and Branded Games, have been introduced to better reflect the industry and in turn spark a renaissance of the Cyber Lions category.

     

    Social will reward focused executions with social thinking at the core of the work. The jury will consider levels of engagement, social reach and the creative use of social networks and activity to successful commercial effect. Branded Technology will honour executions that utilise or harness technology in order to enhance or complement the brand, and Branded Games will recognise creative executions that have been specifically produced for a client in order to enhance overall brand experience.

     

    Commenting on the changes, Lions Festivals CEO Philip Thomas said, “The Cyber Lions have seen many changes since their launch back in 1998. More recently, with the ever-changing digital landscape and the introduction of the Mobile Lions category in 2012, it has become increasingly important to revise the structure and purpose of the category. We thank the many industry leaders who have helped shape the new-look Cyber Lions, and adapt them to the ever-changing world of creative communications.”

     

    Speaking about the changes to Cyber Lions, industry professionals say:

     

    Studio Heiss founder Flo Heiss who was in 2013 Cyber Lions Jury said: “At a time when the nature of digital marketing and advertising is changing by the day, the minute, the second, Cyber Lions are not playing catch-up, but leading the charge in modern awards categories.”

     

    Iris creative director Clarence Chiew said: “It’s clear, comprehensive and definitely sets the Cyber Lions apart not only for Cannes, but against other award shows.”

     

     “Both the breadth and specificity of the new Cyber Lions are equally impressive, and feel like a true reflection of the range of great creative work being done around the world,” sais CAA Marketing co-chief creative officer and co-head Jae Goodman.

     

    AKQA chief creative officer Rei Inamoto said: “Cannes Lions is introducing a newly revamped Cyber Lions category and it shows how vibrant Cyber is in our industry. I’m convinced that this is where the next big thing will come from.”

     

    Further endorsements have been captured in a video that pulls together some of the current industry leaders’ thoughts on the direction of Cyber Lions. The video is now online and available to view at http://youtu.be/S7K2h8pceK8.  

     

    Entries for the 61st Cannes Lions Awards open on 23 January 2014.