ITV

Category: Media and Advertising

  • Snapdeal appoints Adobe’s Viraj Chatterjee as VP – engineering

    Snapdeal appoints Adobe’s Viraj Chatterjee as VP – engineering

    MUMBAI: Snapdeal has roped in Viraj Chatterjee as vice president, engineering. In his new role, Chatterjee will lead the technology development solutions to enrich the overall seller experience on the marketplace.

     

    Recently the company launched Snapdeal Plus and Capital Assist to further enhance the ability of small and medium businesses to sell on its platform. Chatterjee will play a pivotal role in strengthening the overall seller platform and introducing newer products backed by strong technology solutions.

      

    Prior to his appointment at Snapdeal, Chatterjee spent 16 years at Adobe Systems where he most recently served as director engineering leading the Acrobat and Flash Runtime line of products. His stint with the Adobe team was focussed on product management, engineering and building powerful products across Desktop and Mobile which included the Adobe Reader and Acrobat. 

     

    Snapdeal co-founder Rohit Bansal said, “Our vision is to build the most impactful digital commerce ecosystem in the country that creates life changing experiences for our buyers and sellers. With our entire ecosystem resting on technology, a robust infrastructure and team is critical to our success. Our goal is to create one million successful online entrepreneurs within the next three years and our seller interface will play a key role in enabling this. It is crucial to equip sellers with the necessary infrastructure and Viraj with his rich experience and deep understanding of consumer facing tech products will provide the right impetus to building the best products for our sellers. We are delighted to have Viraj on board and wish him a great journey ahead with the Snapdeal family.”

     

    Chatterjee added, “India’s growing internet economy presents immense opportunities for growth of small and medium businesses and I am particularly excited about the company’s vision of creating one million successful online entrepreneurs within the next three years. My main focus would be on strengthening the technology interface and building products that will enable our sellers to bring scale and efficiency in their business across the mobile and web platform.”

  • LIQVD Asia sets shop in Delhi; appoints Saurabh Gupta as biz head

    LIQVD Asia sets shop in Delhi; appoints Saurabh Gupta as biz head

    MUMBAI: Empirical multi-ethnic marketing company LIQVD Asia is setting up its office at Gurgaon in Delhi NCR. The company has appointed Saurabh Gupta as its business head.

     

    Gupta is entrusted with the responsibility to provide holistic digital solutions for all clients of LIQVD Asia in the region. Prior to this, he was in charge of the digital wing of Allied Media Corp.

     

    LIQVD Asia managing director Arnab Mitra said, “We’re thrilled to welcome Saurabh on board. Saurabh’s immense experience in the space and progressive approach to innovate aligns perfectly with our business plans. We are sure he is the right person for our commitments to our clients in the region.”

     

    Gupta added, “LIQVD Asia has been on an assertive and progressive path and I would only love to contribute my bit to its growth exploring the constantly evolving in the digital landscape. I strongly believe that with LIQVD Asia’s culture and leadership one cannot but eagerly look forward to a tremendous learning experience.”

     

    Gupta’s expertise lies in digital media brand solutions, online and mobile gaming, VAS, digital activation and online publishing. He has previously worked in companies like Wipro, Lakshya Consulting, Games2win India, Zapak Digital Entertainment and Allied Media Corp.

  • Jack in the Box Worldwide bags ‘Socialathon Independent Agency of the Year’ award

    Jack in the Box Worldwide bags ‘Socialathon Independent Agency of the Year’ award

    MUMBAI: The 120 Media Collective’s digital vertical Jack in the Box Worldwide has bagged the ‘Independent Agency of the Year’ award at the Digital Market Asia’s Socialathon Awards 2015. 

     

    The agency also won three Golds, two Silvers and a Bronze at the event. The media-agnostic integrated communications company pervaded the noise levels at the ceremony with shortlists in 12 categories. 

     

    DMA’s Socialathon Awards recognise work that not only taps the potential of digital platforms for marketing, but also produces a body of work that raises benchmarks and future trends for social media marketing.

     

    “Jack in the Box Worldwide has always been a pioneer in leading brands to create impactful campaigns. We’re overjoyed to have this fact recognized formally at Socialathon,” said Jack in the Box Worldwide executive vice president and national business head Abhishek Razdan.

  • Maxus spreads ‘everlasting love’ via Platinum Guild India campaign

    Maxus spreads ‘everlasting love’ via Platinum Guild India campaign

    MUMBAI: Maxus has created an exclusive microsite (www.oureverlastinglove.in) as part Platinum Guild India’s new ad campaign.

     

    The site allows couples to feature personalized videos of special moments of togetherness that make their journey extraordinary.

     

    Across the world, couples have been known for sharing their cherished moments over social networks. On the basis of this understanding, Maxus has launched a platform for couples where they can curate their most rejoiced memories and bring to life their special moments.

     

    “We found an innovative way of allowing people to use the content on their timeline to express their feelings to their partner and loved ones. Our Everlasting Love, is a way for everyone to look back on their special memories and celebrate their Platinum Day of Love, through a heartfelt visual representation of their unique love story,” said Maxus India national director – digital Vishal Jacob.

     

    Once a user logs in to the website and signs in via Facebook or email, all the images of the couple are collaged together to create a video montage. A feature to upload additional images is also available. Each of these videos can be shared on Facebook and Twitter and can be viewed by their friends.

     

    In addition to the unique video-making feature, the most romantic stories will receive special gifts and one lucky couple stands the chance to win Platinum Love Band. This unique initiative was part of Maxus’ campaign for the Platinum Guild, emphasizing on the Platinum Day of Love.

     

    Platinum Guild India managing director Vaishali Banerjee added, “Platinum Day of Love is about discovering true love and celebrating it with precious platinum. Building on the back of this campaign we wanted to give young couples the opportunity to celebrate not just their Platinum Day of Love but their entire journey of togetherness through a video. We feel social media is a perfect platform to interact with couples and their friends and encourage them to share their stories of everlasting love.”

  • Snapdeal appoints Amitava Ghosh as vice president – engineering

    Snapdeal appoints Amitava Ghosh as vice president – engineering

    MUMBAI: Snapdeal has appointed Amitava Ghosh as vice president – engineering.

     

    In his new role, Ghosh will lead the development of intuitive technology solutions for ease of accessibility and enhanced user experience on the marketplace. 

     

    Ghosh comes with over 17 years of experience in building scalable web based products and platforms for consumer internet and enterprises.

     

    Ghosh has spent several years working for a diverse set of organizations, both in India and USA, across Internet companies, medium strength organizations and Silicon Valley start-ups.

     

    Prior to his appointment at Snapdeal, Ghosh was the chief technology officer at Taxiforsure before the company’s acquisition by OLA Cabs. Previously, he headed the India Engineering team of Tribune Digital Ventures (TDV). He has also had a decade long stint at Yahoo where he was responsible for building platforms and user experiences for listings, media verticals, communities & Social products.

     

    Ghosh will work out of the company’s technology innovation centre in Bangalore.

     

    Ghosh said, “Snapdeal’s growth in the technology space has been unprecedented. The clarity of vision and rigorous effort behind strengthening the vertical is commendable. All our efforts are towards ensuring that we deliver best in class experience to our customers. My focus would be on in-depth analysis of consumer insights to develop best mechanisms for delivering delightful customer experience. I am excited to be a part of this dynamic team and look forward to a challenging but exciting journey ahead.”

     

    Snapdeal co-founder Rohit Bansal added, “Our vision is to build the most impactful digital commerce ecosystem in the country. We are building the strongest technology team at Snapdeal to create a future ready and innovative technology infrastructure. At Snapdeal, we believe that our business exists to serve our users and strongly feel that creating a frictionless buying and selling experience is key to our success. Customer service interface is one of the key verticals of our technology infrastructure and we are looking at strengthening it further to offer a superior experience to our customers We are delighted to have Amitava onboard and wish him a great journey ahead with Snapdeal family.”

     

    The technology team at Snapdeal is currently 1000 people strong and company looks at doubling it by the end of this year.

  • WPP to make tender offer for digital marketing co Syzygy.

    WPP to make tender offer for digital marketing co Syzygy.

    MUMBAI: WPP, which currently holds shares representing just below 30 per cent of the issued share capital in Syzygy AG, is planning to make a tender offer for the digital marketing firm. 

     

    WPP has been a long term investor in Syzygy AG and continues to believe in the future of Syzygy AG. With this tender offer, WPP’s management is keen to help the company expand and to work with WPP’s major clients in Germany and internationally. 

     

    “This would be easier if the Group had a greater ownership. WPP would also like to capitalize on Syzygy AG’s strong relationships with leading German multinationals and local companies,” the company said.

     

    WPP believes that its existing facilities can provide Syzygy AG with offshore capabilities in low cost locations, which are becoming increasingly important in providing the effective and efficient solutions needed by clients. 

      

    “All of these goals will be supported by a larger or potential majority shareholding,” WPP said.

     

    According to the company, Syzygy’s current valuation is at an advantageous level for share owners but is based on very low average daily volumes. The WPP offer will provide the market liquidity for share owners who wish to take advantage of the current price by tendering their shares.

  • Askme & Askmebazaar roll out new TVCs with Ranbir Kapoor & Farhan Akhtar

    Askme & Askmebazaar roll out new TVCs with Ranbir Kapoor & Farhan Akhtar

    MUMBAI: Internet platform Askme.com and its online marketplace Askmebazaar.com have launched two comprehensive campaigns. 

     

    While Ranbir Kapoor will be seen in the Askme commercials, Farhan Akhtar has been roped in as the new face for Askmebazaar. Both these campaigns aim to bring together Askme’s single proposition of ‘One stop destination’.

     

    Askme’s campaign, ‘Baap of all trends’ is in line with brand ethos of being ahead of the curve. Through this campaign, the company aims to position itself as the one stop destination that caters to diverse needs of a customer.

     

    In a move to connect with today’s youth, the campaign aims to fill the gap between a plethora of options available in the online space but lack of one credible source for the same. 

     

    Further, with the launch of the campaign by Askmebazaar.com, the company introduces a novel concept of online retail therapy. ‘One Click Therapy’ as the name suggests acts as the driving force for customers to lead a stress free life. Online marketplace in Askmebazaar is positioned as stress buster via retail therapy as it offers next day delivery on top brand with best deals.

     

    Conceptualized by JWT, both the campaigns use a comprehensive multimedia approach, compelling facts and vivid imagery designed to change consumers buying behavior.

     

    Askme group CMO Manav Sethi said, “Both these campaigns are built on consumer insights. Search has moved from discovery to aggregated opinions and hence Askme assumes that leadership position across India to communicate best places to eat, wear, and relax etc. The option to transact these products and be in the trend is made available by Askmebazaar where majority find platforms such as these an option full of choices, brands and best prices and hence ‘stress mein don’t go bizarre; shop on askmebazaar.’”

     

    J Walter Thompson senior vice president & executive business director Saurabh Saksena added, “Over the past few years the consumers are turning to the internet to see what choices they have to make, whether for eating-out, travel destinations, fashion, gadgets, plays, etc. While there are many destinations that offers them choice, few offer them advise. The poor consumer is left asking people who they know (and who may not be experts) for their advise about where to eat, where to travel to, which movie to watch, what to wear and what gadget to buy, etc.”

     

    “And these ‘advisors’ may not be the best people to ask. This forms the basis for our campaign, we have had most fun coming up with. ‘Don’t ask just about anyone, ask the Baap of all trends, askme.com’. Askme.com offers to satisfy this need to get advise/ recommendations from a credible source, through curated experiences,” he added. 

  • Dentsu Aegis Network wins big at 2015 DMA Asia Echo Awards

    Dentsu Aegis Network wins big at 2015 DMA Asia Echo Awards

    MUMBAI: WATConsult, the digital and social media agency from the Dentsu Aegis Network, bagged eight metals at the 2015 DMA Asia Echo Awards. The event was held at The Leela, Sahar in Mumbai on 6 August.

    The agency won a bronze for Kokuyo India’s Harinacs Stop Motion Animation Video campaign in the Animation category, a silver for its Nikon Cheatsheets campaign in the Illustration category, along with a silver and a gold for Sony Six’s Active Mornings On Six and NBA Mornings On Six campaigns respectively in the Publishing/Entertainment category.

    Further on, it bagged a silver for Bestseller Group’s Veromoda Marquee – Retail campaign in the Retail and Direct Sales category, a bronze for SAP India’s SAP ACE USie campaign in the Apps & New Development category and a bronze each for Peter England’s #ColourMorons by Peter England campaign and Bajaj Allianz General Insurance’s Can You Drive Like Your Dad campaign in the Branded Video category.

    The agency also earned special mentions by the Jury in the following categories:

    WATConsult founder and CEO Rajiv Dingra said, “Eight metals across seven distinct clients stand as a great testimony to the work that WATConsult is churning out across its clientele. We got 24 nominations and that surely showcases the level of our work across our portfolio. This shows that we are not a one-hit wonder agency but an agency with consistent and credible work across clients.”

    Additionally, iProspect, the global digital performance agency from Dentsu Aegis Network, bagged three awards at the DMA Asia Echo Awards. The agency won a silver for HDFC Life’s GDN Micro-Targeting campaign in the ‘Creativity-Interactive Search’ category and the Leader award for successfully working out the iLive Inventory Checker campaign for Koovs. The agency also bagged a bronze in the ‘Creativity, Interactive – Remarketing & Retargeting’ category for the iTarget campaign rendered for ShopClues.

    Under the effectiveness category, Dentsu Aegis Network’s Isobar bagged a bronze each for Reebok India’s ‘Reeboot100’ campaign and Phillips’ ‘India’s First Multi-Device Conversations’ campaign.

    Dentsu Webchutney won a bronze for Bacardi India’s ‘Bacardi Triangle’ campaign in the ‘Effectiveness’ category.

  • Dentsu invests $3 million in US social robotics start-up Jibo

    Dentsu invests $3 million in US social robotics start-up Jibo

    MUMBAI: Dentsu Inc’s corporate venture capital fund Ventures Global Fund I has made an investment of $3 million in US social robot development startup Jibo, Inc.

     

    Dentsu Ventures has acquired Series A preference shares of Jibo through third-party allocation of shares.

    Dentsu Ventures was established in April 2015 armed with a total fund capital of ?5 billion. The objectives was to invest in ambitious start-up companies with a focus on the US, Europe and Asia region, which will create an as yet unseen future and furthering open innovation across the Dentsu Group through collaboration with investees.

     

    In addition to funding, Dentsu Ventures will support businesses and entrepreneurs by providing problem-solving solutions and resources that are unique to the Group. Its first project is Jibo, Inc.

    Jibo, Inc. was founded by Dr. Cynthia Breazeal, professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and recognized as a pioneer of social robotics. The Jibo social robot incorporates voice and emotion recognition, natural language processing, machine learning and expressive display and movement, and is designed to achieve companionship and rapport among family members.

    Dentsu Ventures believes that Jibo will continue to develop into a new type of medium that will bring fundamental changes to the way information is assimilated, and that it has the potential to function as an infrastructure and communication hub in a smart home.

    Looking ahead, the Dentsu Group will also provide support for the development, promotion and spread of Jibo worldwide as well as the new business opportunities that Jibo will bring in the future.