ITV

Category: Media Agencies

  • WPP acquires majority stake Belgian digital healthcare agency

    WPP acquires majority stake Belgian digital healthcare agency

    MUMBAI: WPP’s Wunderman Health has acquired a majority stake in ABS MM NV (ABS Creative) in Belgium.

     

    Founded in 1999, based in Brussels and employing 24 people, ABS Creative is a digital marketing communications agency with solid expertise in medical content marketing. ABS Creative has developed strong relationships with healthcare companies such as Abbott, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, MSD, GSK, Novartis, Boehringer Ingelheim and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

     

    This acquisition further strengthens Wunderman Health’s healthcare capabilities in Brussels, a key location in European health affairs.

     

    ABS Creative, led by CEO Michael Verschueren will operate as an integrated centre of excellence within Wunderman Health.

     

    ABS Creative’s consolidated revenues for the year ended 31 December, 2014 were approximately €2.8 million, with gross assets of approximately €2.6 million as at the same date.

     

    This acquisition continues WPP’s strategy of investing in fast growing and important markets and sectors and strengthening its digital capabilities. WPP’s digital revenues were $6.9 billion in 2014, representing 36 per cent of the Group’s total revenues of $19 billion. WPP has set a target of 40-45 per cent of revenue to be derived from digital in the next five years. In Belgium, WPP companies (including associates) generate revenues of around $130 million.

  • WPP’s Kantar Media invests in data analytics firm BIScience

    WPP’s Kantar Media invests in data analytics firm BIScience

    MUMBAI: WPP’s wholly owned operating company Kantar Media has invested in BIScience (2009) Ltd, a data analytics firm that specializes in platforms for cross-channel and multi-country digital media monitoring, planning and optimization.

    BIScience’s global coverage spans over 60 geographies, with competitive cross-channel intelligence and analytics for display, mobile, video, and programmatic media covering more than 500,000 publishers worldwide.

     

    Clients include Conduit, Digilant, Funbox, Matomy and the Media Initiatives Group. Founded in 2009, BIScience employs over 35 people and is based in Tel Aviv with an office in New York.

    Kantar Media’s investment in BIScience will enable the daily tracking of 22 million publisher pages and monthly tracking of 14.5 million campaigns in over 35,000 ad platforms. Together, Kantar Media and BIScience will collaborate on cross-media and digital solutions that will help global and national advertisers, agencies and media owners make informed decisions on media investments and strategic communications.

  • Dentsu acquires Brazil based digital agency

    Dentsu acquires Brazil based digital agency

    MUMBAI: Dentsu Aegis Network has acquired the Brazil based digital agency – Redirect Digital Marketing.

     

    The purpose of the acquisition is to strengthen and expand the range of digital services provided by the Dentsu Group in the largest advertising market in Latin America and enhance its presence in the region.

     

    Founded in 2007, Redirect Digital Marketing offers a range of services including the production of creative and content utilizing digital technology, the implementation of research and campaigns that leverage digital media and social media, performance marketing and search engine optimization (SEO).

     

    The Dentsu Group has to date provided services to its clients in Brazil through full-service advertising agencies NBS (acquired in 2014) and Dentsu Brazil, creative agency mcgarrybowen, full-service digital agency LOV Interactive Communications, and global digital brands Isobar and iProspect.

     

    The acquisition of Redirect Digital Marketing will enable the Group to further hone its competitive edge and accelerate its growth strategy through increased business from its expansion into Curitiba and enhancement of the digital services it provides in the Brazilian market. Post-acquisition, Redirect Digital Marketing will transition toward operating as part of digital performance marketing agency iProspect, one of the Group’s eight global network brands, in the coming months.

     

    In its March 2015 worldwide advertising expenditure forecasts, the Dentsu Group’s media communications agency Carat announced that digital advertising expenditures in Brazil grew 20 per cent in 2014 and are expected to continue to rise 10 per cent in 2015 and nine per cent in 2016.

  • Smart packaging, relevant marketing among key factors behind Pro Kabaddi League’s success

    Smart packaging, relevant marketing among key factors behind Pro Kabaddi League’s success

    MUMBAI: A game that was played in the inert Indian villages amidst mud and puddle garnered reach beyond expectations when telecast on television because of the way it was packaged. Quality non-reflecting mats replaced mud and puddle as the outdoor game was hosted in premier indoor stadiums and in turn offered fans a great viewing experience courtesy the Pro Kabbadi League (PKL), which was launched last year.

     

    Kabaddi being a native sports always had space in the heart of people and hence when clubbed with quality packaging succeeded to make an impact instantaneously in viewers’ mind. Moreover, the organizers in association with federations twisted and turned the rules of the sport to rope in more opportunities of monetization.

     

    To add to that, the who’s who of Bollywood were spotted cheering for their favourite team during Kabaddi matches in the first edition, which also drove their fan base into the sport. In the second edition, every game will start with a renowned dignitary singing the national anthem, the tournament kick started with Amitabh Bachchan singing Jana Gana Mana.

     

    To cut a long story short, no stones have been left unturned to popularize and market the game to the viewers.

     

    After detailed analysis, GroupM’s specialist business wing – GroupM ESP (Entertainment and Sports Partnerships) in association with IIM Ahmedabad released the key factors, which orchestrated the success story of Star Sports’ Pro Kabaddi League. In its debut year, PKL garnered a cumulative reach of 435 million. What’s more, in its second season, which is currently underway, Star and Mashal Sports expect it to be bigger and better.

     

    Fan Acceptability of League: Kabaddi as a sport didn’t enjoy the huge native fan base to start with but a high decibel marketing campaign ensured relevance and the media push built hype to ensure viewer interest. Top notch game quality, best-in-the world talent pool & crisp program packaging made the league ‘likable’ amongst the audience, finds the research.

     

    Choice of Sports: Choosing Kabaddi as the sport was a bold decision to start with considering player popularity being low in the country. But at the same time, Indian Kabaddi contingent has been immensely successful at the global stage over the years ensuring early survival of the league.

     

    Game Format & Scheduling: Instead of aping the successful home and away format of the Indian Premier League (IPL), PKL went for a caravan format keeping the league short and crisp ensuring the league getting over before the initial hype died down.

     

    Players: Being an indigenous sport, although the players aren’t well known names amongst the audience; the quality of talent pool participating in PKL has been the best in the world.

     

    Design of The League: In the first season, the right holders managed to keep the expenses from central as well as team perspective under check beautifully making the league commercially viable and ensuring deep pockets for the team to spend on players. This in turn ensured level playing field between the eight teams making the league competitive right till the end and exhilarating for the audience.

     

    Team Location: City based franchise enabled association with fans of that particular region resulting in captive fan base.

     

    Fan Experience:

     

    .   Kabaddi as a sport doesn’t demand major infrastructure making it easy to host the matches in equipped auditoriums/multipurpose stadiums. This makes the on-ground fan experience memorable.

    .   Seek on-air production and packaging with informative commentary in regional languages helps build greater audience connect.  

    .   Live streaming on Hotstar will add to the on the go audience.

     

    League Federation Relationship: Pro Kabaddi League is a privately owned league, which is controlled and run by the league and the franchise owners bringing in accountability and professionalism. However, the league is sanctioned by international and national sports federation allowing the best talent in the world to participate.

     

    Celebrity Involvement:  High profile celebrity owners ensuring stickiness to the sport. Celebrity owners also cashed in on their existing audience to build initial loyalty. Broadcaster capitalized on marquee sports properties by introducing Salman Khan and continuously associating with him and his movie Bajraangi Bhaijaan to build the buzz. Additionally, getting icons like Amitabh Bachchan to voice “Le Panga” anthem added to the celebrity fervor.

     

    GroupM ESP sports and live events national director Vinit Karnik said, “Pro-Kabaddi League is a fine example of how a nation that is largely cricket-hungry can have its fair share of adulation, growth and success in a short span of time. It is heartening and optimistic for the business and growth of a sporting economy like ours. As a front-runner in the business of sports, ESP through this initiative listed all possible parameters that has made Pro-Kabaddi League a success. These findings are backed by the IIM-A and GroupM ESP report, a comprehensive paper that examines identifying factors for successful sporting leagues.”

  • WPP & ISDI partner to launch communication school in Mumbai

    WPP & ISDI partner to launch communication school in Mumbai

    MUMBAI: WPP and the Indian School of Design and Innovation (ISDI) have joined hands to establish the ISDI WPP School of Communication in Mumbai. 

     

    Located on ISDI’s state of the art campus in Mumbai, the ISDI WPP School of Communication marks WPP’s first foray into the Indian education sector. The partnership will help create India’s first professional three-year undergraduate diploma program in communication based on a unique work-study model that will bring together a strong academic and creative curriculum combined with practical application.

     

    The admissions process is currently underway through an online application form. The school recently hosted its first Accepted Students day where students and their parents had an opportunity to interact with the leadership team and faculty. The inaugural batch will commence in August 2015 with the first cohort of 60 students.

     

    The ISDI WPP School of Communication is WPP’s second education initiative globally. In 2011, WPP in partnership with the Shanghai Arts and Design Academy established the WPP School of Marketing and Communications in China. The program has just successfully completed its fourth year with 220 students enrolled. 

     

    WPP and WPP companies, which are globally recognized for their in-house training and development programs, have worked closely with ISDI to develop the school’s curriculum and hire full-time faculty. ISDI founder and director Radha Kapoor will lead the school’s board of directors. 

     

    Additionally, senior staff from WPP companies will serve as part-time faculty and act as mentors. Internship and training opportunities will also be provided to students. An Executive Council has also been set up to oversee the smooth functioning of the three-year program. ISDI is represented by HR College dean Dr. Indu Shahani, ISDI directors Radha Kapoor and Siddharth Shahani and WPP India by country manager Ranjan Kapur, country finance director Paul Mower and Ogilvy & Mather vice chairman and country head of discovery & planning Madhukar Sabnavis.

     

    While the list of visiting faculty will be marked by Ogilvy & Mather executive chairman and national creative director Piyush Pandey, Encompass Events managing director Roshan Abbas the program directors will include the likes of Sabnavis and GroupM for South Asia CEO CVL Srinivas among others. 

     

    WPP CEO Martin Sorrell said, “Amid strong growth in the wider economy and, more specifically, in our sector, India is facing a pronounced talent shortage, one that is expected to become even more acute in the future. As the leading communications group in India and the world, WPP is committed to helping India to further develop the already high level of creative and professional talent in this sector.” 

     

    Speaking on the supply-demand gap for fresh talent in the industry, WPP India country manager Ranjan Kapur added, “We employ approximately 15,000 people (including associates) and on an average, we need 3,000 new recruits every year, including replacements and first timers and this school is just a small beginning. We hope to expand this to be able to cover a significantly large part of our requirements and turnout 400-500 young men and women every year from our school. Our first batch of 60 students is just the beginning.” 

     

    Committed to introducing a new education model, ISDI had welcomed its founding batch in July 2013. Founded by Kapoor in association with Parsons The New School of Design, New York, ISDI’s partnership with WPP will help create the right mix of design, innovation and effective communication that will shape the careers of future industry leaders.

     

    Kapoor said, “The joint establishment of the ISDI WPP school to nurture world-class creative talents and the development of a new model in the collaboration between colleges and companies is a new exploration on the path of higher vocational education for the ISDI. WPP and its companies are known for their world-class internal training programs. WPP will share its experience in developing such programs and making them relevant to ISDI and its students. Upon graduation, students will have a solid academic background and creative skill sets, providing them with good employment opportunities in our industry.” 

     

    The School will offer students a three-year undergraduate program, wherein, the first year comprises basic marketing and communication subjects and the second and third year offers students four major specialisations to choose from- Advertising and Communications, Media, Activation and Digital Marketing and Public Relations. WPP Lectures will run from Monday to Saturday, in the afternoons. Throughout the three years, students will be taught and mentored by top professionals from WPP and the industry, will work on live projects, build a portfolio, develop practical work skills, and have the opportunity to intern with WPP companies and get international exposure through student exchange and study abroad programs.

     

    Graduates will receive a three year Undergraduate Program certification from ISDI and WPP, in addition to a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from the University of Mumbai, IDOL (Institute of Distance and Open Learning).

     

    Going forward, Kapur says that it will hope to replicate this model in more cities. “We would like to take it forward and open another branch in New Delhi in the future,” Kapur said.

  • DDB Mudra and Thailand’s Chuo Senko end joint venture in India

    DDB Mudra and Thailand’s Chuo Senko end joint venture in India

    MUMBAI: Thailand based communications group Chuo Senko Group and India’s DDB Mudra have ended their joint venture (JV) in India.

     

    The JV company Chuo Senko Advertising India began operations in the country in the first half of 2013 as a full-service advertising agency, partnering with the DDB Mudra Group.

     

    From mid-year 2014, the agency began hiring for its team and saw some big wins including work for Daikin Airconditioning India, Panasonic India, Triumph Motorbikes, Woolmark and the Korean Cultural Centre India (part of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea) in the last quarter of 2014.

     

    The Chuo Senko Group and the DDB Mudra Group mutually decided to part ways in the joint venture they setup in 2013. However, in recognition of the growth opportunities and potential the India market offers, Chuo Senko is now investing aggressively in expanding capabilities and additional capacity in Chuo Senko Advertising India.

     

    The company said that it expects 2015 to be its best year yet and 2016 to be many times better. “It takes time to find the right mix of people, product and place, and it is a very exciting time for us as we get closer to that sweet spot each day,” the company said in an official statement.

     

  • GroupM acquires majority stake in Turkey’s directComm

    GroupM acquires majority stake in Turkey’s directComm

    MUMBAI: WPP’s GroupM has acquired a majority stake in directComm Marketing Group, a leading provider of integrated direct marketing services in Turkey.

     

    directComm specialises in digital marketing, customer relationship management, events and social media. Clients include Turk Telekom, Siemens and Sony Mobile. Founded in 2000 and based in Istanbul, directComm employs around 70 people. 

     

    Unaudited revenues for the year ended 31 December, 2014 were approximately $6.5 million, with gross assets at the same date of approximately $3.2 million.

     

    This acquisition continues WPP’s strategy of investing in fast growing and important markets and sectors and strengthening its digital capabilities. WPP’s digital revenues were $6.9 billion in 2014, representing 36 per cent of the Group’s total revenues of $ 19 billion. WPP has set a target of 40-45 per cent of revenue to be derived from digital in the next five years. 

     

    Turkey is one of the Next 11 growth economies where WPP companies (including associates) generate revenues of over $1 billion and employ over 10,000 people. In Turkey itself, WPP companies (including associates) generate revenues of around $120 million and employ approximately 1,300 people.

  • WPP signs landmark lease for Shanghai Campus

    WPP signs landmark lease for Shanghai Campus

    MUMBAI: Martin Sorrell led communications services group WPP has signed a landmark agreement with Nan Fung Group and B.M. Group to lease 20 floors and 41,000 sqm at 399 Heng Feng Road, Shanghai, representing one of the largest office leasing deals ever signed within the city’s central business district areas.

     

    The new building will house the WPP Shanghai Campus, one of the most ambitious co-location efforts ever undertaken by WPP. The WPP Shanghai Campus will bring together 26 WPP companies and more than 3,000 people, currently spread across 10 locations.

     

    WPP companies to be relocated include Blue Hive, GroupM, Hill+Knowllton Strategies, Millward Brown, J. Walter Thompson, Ogilvy & Mather, Sudler & Hennessey, and TNS. Move-in is expected to commence at the end of 2015. The office space housing the WPP Shanghai Campus is expected to gain LEED Gold certification.

     

    “China is now WPP’s third largest market, and our commitment to China is deeper than ever. We are proud to support the development of the city of Shanghai and provide our people with the best facilities,” said Sorrell.

     

    In Greater China, WPP companies (including associates) have revenue of $1.5 billion and employ 15,000 people. “One of WPP’s key objectives is horizontality – promoting cooperation across our group companies to improve outcomes for our clients — and bringing our people in Shanghai into this location is an important step towards this goal,” Sorrell added.

     

    399 Heng Feng Road is part of a massive three-stage redevelopment project in the Zhabei District, slated to include a 110,000 sqm shopping mall, six office towers, two luxury boutique hotels, and luxury residential sections and estimated for completion in 2017.

     

    “The Nan Fung Group is delighted that WPP has chosen our project as their campus in East China. Their decision illustrates the increasing attractiveness of the Zhabei District to the international business sector. We regard WPP as a long term partner and we look forward to further working with them throughout the region. We will strive to provide to WPP, as well as other tenants excellent service. Taking this opportunity, on behalf of Nan Fung Group and B.M. Group, our joint venture partner, I would like to thank the officials in the Zhabei District for their strong support in making this project a success,” said Nan Fung group CEO Antony Leung.

  • Dentsu acquires 20% stake in Singapore creative agency Mangham Gaxiola

    Dentsu acquires 20% stake in Singapore creative agency Mangham Gaxiola

    MUMBAI: Dentsu Aegis Network has acquired a 20 per cent share in Singapore based creative agency Mangham Gaxiola in order to expand the mcgarrybowen brand into Singapore. 

     

    The principal shareholders have also agreed to options that would make the agency a wholly owned Dentsu Aegis Network subsidiary in the future. 

     

    Founded in 2012, Mangham Gaxiola was last year voted Singapore’s most desirable independent creative agency in Marketing Magazine’s annual survey of over 1,000 marketers. The agency is known for premium quality creative work that spans the financial, automotive, fashion, electronics, beauty and FMCG sectors. The range of services provided include creative advertising campaigns in mass media, digital media and social media; creative content applications to increase consumer engagement with websites, which are marketing tools in themselves; and designs for the building of brand identities for stores. 

     

    Reasons behind the acquisition of a share in the agency include the growing importance of Southeast Asia as a market, and the increasing tendency of Dentsu Group clients to position Singapore as a regional hub. 

     

    mcgarrybowen, one of the Group’s eight network brands, has already established a presence as a leading creative agency in South America, Europe and China, and the new hub in Singapore will further develop its network across Southeast Asia. 

     

    Mangham Gaxiola will become part of the mcgarrybowen network and will operate under the name manghamgaxiola mcgarrybowen – A Dentsu Aegis Network Company. Leveraging the global human resources and services of the Dentsu Group, the agency will continue to provide innovative, high-quality services to its clients.

  • WPP launches MEC in Ghana

    WPP launches MEC in Ghana

    MUMBAI: WPP’s media agency has opened a new office in Accra, Ghana.

     

    This comes less than six months after the agency opened the doors to its Sub-Saharan network headquarter in Kenya. MEC Ghana will support and strengthen MEC’s offer in the region.

     

    MEC Ghana launches with a team of 10 and with Eva Nyakianda at the helm as managing director. She will work closely with the team in Kenya as well as with MEC’s international team, Global Solutions, in London.

     

    MEC Global Solutions client president Allison Coley said, “The new office in Ghana strengthens MEC’s position in the Sub-Saharan region. It’s an expansion of our offer that will provide consistency and continued growth for both our clients and our agency. Launching a new MEC office is always exciting and I welcome Eva and her team into our thriving MEC family.”