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Category: Media and Advertising

  • Dentsu Aegis’ Isobar wins JK Tyres’ digital mandate

    Dentsu Aegis’ Isobar wins JK Tyres’ digital mandate

    MUMBAI: JK Tyres has appointed Isobar – the global full service digital agency from the Dentsu Aegis Network, as its digital agency of record. The agency won the account of the automobile brand following a multi-agency pitch.

     

    JK Tyre general manager – marketing and industries Amitabh Prasad said, “We are glad to see the enthusiasm that the people at Isobar have for the JK Tyre brand. While digital campaign planning and implementation comes naturally to a reputed agency like Isobar, what we are really looking forward to is the passion that these digital pioneers will bring to the table.” 

     

    He added, “JK Tyre is one of the most innovative brands in its category. Therefore, we prefer associating with people who share the same values and vision. With the kind of work that Isobar has done in the recent past, we are confident that we will be able to accomplish some great work together.”

     

    Isobar India managing director Shamsuddin Jasani said, “We are privileged to work with JK Tyres. This win is a testament to the fact that we strive to provide innovative solutions and ideas without limits to our clients. It enhances our credentials as the leading full service digital marketing agency in India.”

     

    Isobar India vice president Gopa Kumar said, “We are very happy and excited to work on JK Tyres, It is an interesting  and a challenging category to work on and we are looking forward to do some great work together which will stand out on the digital stage.”

  • Housing.com CEO Rahul Yadav apologises; withdraws resignation

    Housing.com CEO Rahul Yadav apologises; withdraws resignation

    MUMBAI: It was on Tuesday morning that the news of Housing.com CEO Rahul Yadav resignation started making rounds. The reports had excerpts from the resignation letter written by the 26-year-old CEO on 30 April to the board members and investors, which denigrated their “intellectual capability.”

     

    The letter said, “I don’t think you guys are intellectually capable enough to have any sensible discussion anymore. This is something, which I not just believe but can prove on your faces also.”

     

    If media reports are to be believed, the investors of Housing were considering removal of Yadav due to concerns over strategy and his conduct.

     

    The board met later in the day to discuss the resignation and also chart a new plan for the newly launched company. During the meeting, the Housing.com board reconstituted to include all the main shareholder representatives. Post the meeting, through an official statement, Housing.com said, “After some good conversations the board has reaffirmed its faith in Rahul Yadav’s vision at Housing.”

     

    Yadav, who has now withdrawn his resignation, said, “After some frank and healthy discussions with the board I have agreed to withdraw my resignation and I apologise for my unacceptable comments about the board members. I look forward to staying on at Housing as CEO and building an even greater company, while working in full harmony with the board.”

  • GroupM & Dancestar to develop first global electronic music TV platform

    GroupM & Dancestar to develop first global electronic music TV platform

    MUMBAI: GroupM has inked a partnership with Dancestar Ventures to bring the Electronic Music Awards Show to Asia and other key television markets worldwide.

     

    Dancestar Asia will be the first project of the partnership and will be developed for TV distribution in the region. It will celebrate the achievement of Asian and international DJs and artists. Scheduled to be held in Singapore in December 2015, Dancestar Asia is intended to be a two-hour award ceremony featuring 21 categories of achievement.

     

    Winners for the 21 categories will be decided by public voting via several major social media channels across the region that will be announced shortly. Dancestar Asia will also feature 12 live performance collaborations from global artists in what is expected to be an epic night of music showcasing the best of the exploding electronic music scene in Asia.

     

    Dancestar CEO and founder Andy Ruffell said, “Dancestar is back and we are delighted to be partnering with GroupM to bring this show to Singapore in 2015. EDM is now a $4 billion global industry with with DJs earning $20 to $40 million a year, Asia is primed for an electronic music explosion. We are developing the Dancestar Awards Show Platform as a series of market specific televised events in Las Vegas, London and Singapore. GroupM provide unrivaled expertise that will enable us to bring electronic music culture and global brands together on TV.”

     

    GroupM Content APAC CEO Josh Black adds, “We are delighted to be working with Andy and his team at Dancestar Ventures. The EDM industry is exploding and we jumped at the opportunity to be part of the Dancestar Asia Awards Show and the other projects around the globe. Our team at GroupM Content will be helping Dancestar, drive a range of commercial opportunities from partnerships through to licensing, broadcast and content distribution.”

  • Chuck Robbins takes over as Cisco CEO

    Chuck Robbins takes over as Cisco CEO

    NEW DELHI: Telecom vendor Cisco has appointed an insider, Chuck Robbins as its chief executive officer. 

     

    The policy of upgrading an insider is very much like that adopted by Microsoft, which had taken Indian born Satya Nadella for the top job. Robbins will take over the CEO position from John Chambers, who led the rise of Cisco for the last 20 years. Chambers will assume the role of executive chairman on 26 July.

     

    Robbins, who joined Cisco in 1997, knows every Cisco segment, technology area, and geography.

     

    Cisco chairman and CEO John Chambers said, “Our next CEO needs to thrive in a highly dynamic environment, to be capable of accelerating what is working very well for Cisco, and disrupting what needs to change.”

     

    He recently served as Cisco’s senior vice president of worldwide operations, leading the company’s global sales and partner team that drives $47 billion in business for the company. He was formerly Cisco’s senior vice president of the Americas.

     

    He has helped lead and execute many of the company’s investments and strategy shifts, including building the industry’s most powerful partner programme, now worth more than $40 billion in revenue to the company each year.

     

    He was also a key architect of the company’s strategy for the commercial business segment, which grew eight per cent year-over-year last quarter, and now represents 25 per cent of Cisco’s total business. He has sponsored the security and collaboration businesses at the executive level and was a sponsor for the Sourcefire and Meraki acquisitions.

     

    As a member of the team that has led Cisco’s transformation over the more than three years, Robbins has driven the reinvention of Cisco’s sales organization, cementing its place as the envy of the industry. But the growth of Cisco in the last two years was not impressive due to tough market conditions.

     

    Chambers has served as CEO of Cisco since January 1995, having joined the company in 1991 as the head of sales. He has grown the company from $1.2 billion in annual revenue to its current run rate of $48 billion.

     

    According to a Cisco release, Robbins was also elected to the Board of Directors of Cisco, effective 1 May. 

     

    “This is the perfect time for Chuck Robbins to become Cisco’s next chief executive officer. We’ve selected a very strong leader at a time when Cisco is in a very strong position,” said Chambers.

     

    He added, “Today’s pace of change is exponential. Every company, city and country is becoming digital, navigating disruptive markets, and Cisco’s role in the digital transformation has never been more important. Chuck is unique in his ability to translate vision and strategy into world-class execution, bringing together teams and ecosystems to drive results. Chuck knows every Cisco segment, technology area, and geography, and will move the company forward with the speed required to capitalize on the opportunities in front of us. He is a champion of the Cisco culture and has an incredible ability to inspire, energize, and connect with employees, partners, customers and global leaders. Chuck’s vision, strategy and execution track record is exactly what Cisco needs as we enter our next chapter, which I am confident will be even more impactful and exciting than our last.”

     

    “I joined Cisco 17 years ago because I wanted to be a part of a company where I believed the possibilities were limitless. Today, I am even more convinced that Cisco is that company,” said Robbins. “Over the past 20 years, John Chambers’ vision and leadership have built Cisco into one of the most important companies in the world; a company fiercely committed to delivering for its customers, shareholders, partners, and employees. The opportunity that lies ahead for Cisco is enormous, and the ability to lead this next chapter is deeply humbling and incredibly exhilarating. I am focused on accelerating the innovation and execution that our customers need from us. Their success will continue to drive us. At a time when our industry is on the cusp of more disruption than we’ve ever encountered, I couldn’t be more confident in our ability to win, or more honored to lead this great company.”

  • Rediffusion Y&R appoints Suparna Mucadum as head of Kolkata ops

    Rediffusion Y&R appoints Suparna Mucadum as head of Kolkata ops

    MUMBAI: Earlier today, Rediffusion Y&R named Rahul Jauhari as the group’s chief creative officer. Now, in a ramp up at its top management, the company has appointed Suparna Mucadum as vice president to head its Kolkata operations.

     

    In her new role, she will be reporting to Rediffusion Y&R president Dhunji S. Wadia.

     

    On her apppointment Wadia said, “Suparna has a proven reputation as a leader and is enormously regarded by her clients and the industry. I am very excited that Suparna will now lead Rediffusion Kolkata and its presence in the East. I am certain that with her brand of entrepreneurial leadership, our operation will scale new heights.”

     Mucadum added, “I am thrilled to step into this role.  I love the energy at Rediffusion and I look forward to working with Dhunji and team. It is an incredibly exciting time to lead the agency.”

     

    Mucadum has over two decades of industry experience. Over the years, she has worked at JWT, Trikaya, Rediffusion Y&R, AMSI Radio, Polar Fans and lead operations at Genesis Advertising and Grey Group.

  • Huawei launches new ad campaign with RCB players

    Huawei launches new ad campaign with RCB players

    MUMBAI: Honor, Huawei’s smartphone e-brand for digital natives, has launched its first ad campaign to promote the newly launched Honor 4X in India. 

     

    The TVC, which will go on air later this month, is conceptualized by L&K Saatchi & Saatchi and features players from Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

     

    The TVC is an attempt to communicate with Honor’s existing as well as new customers. It talks about how the company is attracting newer audience with Honor 4X, which is ‘For the Brave’. The ad features the stars of the team, displaying their power and speed in line with the new Honor 4X. 

     

    Huawei India and Honor president, consumer business group Allen Wang said, “Huawei has maintained a long and healthy relationship with Royal Challengers Bangalore. Our first ad campaign for 4X emphasizes on the speed and focus of the players that goes hand in hand with Honor 4X. Our recently launched brand Honor resonate the philosophy of “For the Brave,” for the ones who dare to dream and follow their passion to achieve something, much like the team and players Royal Challengers Bangalore. With this ad campaign we want to reach out to the youth of the India who are our real ambassadors.”   

     

    As a long-term commitment towards the game and the team, Huawei has entered into an association for three years starting 2015. The partnership between Huawei and RCB is a continuation of last year’s collaboration. This partnership testifies Huawei’s commitment towards India and market localization.

     

    Royal Challengers Bangalore vice president, commercial, operations and Cricket Academy Russell Adams said, “We wish Huawei well with the new campaign and are excited about our renewed partnership with Huawei for the next 3 years. We thank them for the support and the faith shown in us as we look towards a mutually beneficial and fruitful association.”

  • Rediffusion Y&R India names Rahul Jauhari as chief creative officer

    Rediffusion Y&R India names Rahul Jauhari as chief creative officer

    MUMBAI: Rediffusion Y&R has appointed Rahul Jauhari as chief creative officer. The group will relocate Komal Bedi Sohal to Y&R Singapore as chief creative officer. 

     

    Jauhari is no stranger to the Rediffusion YR Group. His team created memorable work for the Tata Group on brands likes Tata ACE and Magic. His work was responsible for the successful repositioning of Kaya (Marico) and Onida, to name a few. Prior to Everest, in a seven-year-long stint at Rediffusion Delhi & Mumbai, Jauhari led the creative work on the agency’s biggest account – Airtel.

     

    Rediffusion Y&R president India Dhunji Wadia said, “Rahul has done a stellar job within the group. What I admire most is his passion and collaborative style of functioning and unending quest for creative excellence. Komal remains an ally within the network and we will continue to take full advantage of that and I wish her the very best in her new role.”

     

    Jauhari added, “Rediffusion YR Group is home to me. And I’ve enjoyed a great partnership with Dhunji over the last few years. Both Dhunji and I believe creativity is the pursuit of the entire agency and not just a department. For now, we’d like to put our heads down and focus on just that. The work comes first. Everything else will follow.”

     

    On the other hand, Sohal has spent the last two years as CCO at Rediffusion Y&R India, during which time the agency has undergone a resurgence, with a run of 16 new business wins and a return to The Economic Times’ list of India’s top 10 advertising agencies. 

     

    Commenting on her new role, Sohal said, “In the past two years Rediffusion has emerged as the top ten agency, won new business, awards and recognition. I am extremely thankful to our clients who have supported the creative and the teams who have tirelessly executed it. After two decades in India and Middle East, I am now ready to explore the exciting and emerging markets of South East Asia. I look forward to taking on new challenges at Y&R Singapore. I’m confident it will be equally thrilling and fulfilling.”

     

    Y&R Singapore managing director Melvin Kuek said, “Komal’s track record of both new business and awards success make her an ideal creative partner at the helm of Y&R Singapore. Having also ramped up the agency’s strategic planning team we’re very optimistic for 2015.”

     

    Over the past four years, Everest Brand Solutions under Jauhari’s leadership added accounts like SAB TV (Sony Entertainment), CNN IBN, Kotak Mutual Funds, India First General Insurance, Onida, Catch Spices (DS Group), Aditya Birla Retail & more. In addition to this, the agency added multiple brands from its largest account Parle Products. 

     

    Jauhari and his team helped building SAB TV from scratch to a powerful brand in the Indian GEC space. ‘Asli Mazaa Sab Ke Saath Aataa hai’ a line coined by Jauhari, was a campaign that has stood the test of time. Under his watch, Everest has rolled out significant work for Parle. From a most unusual set of five second TVCs for Parle G titled ‘Pehle Wali Baat’, to visible campaigns for Londonderry, Parle Marie and recently launched Parle Simply Good.

  • FFI secy Supran Sen on IIAS School of Management’s board

    FFI secy Supran Sen on IIAS School of Management’s board

    NEW DELHI: Film Federation of India (FFI) secretary general Supran Sen has been invited to come on board as an advisor in the Academic Council for Film & Media of IIAS School of Management, Siliguri, West Bengal.

     

    IIAS School of Management offers UG courses with an aim to develop industry ready professionals with high level of competence.

     

    Sen brings to the table over 30 years of experience in the M&E industry.

     

    In a statement, FFI said that it was confident that “students not only from Bengal but also from neighbouring states and countries like Nepal and Bhutan will benefit from his knowledge base.”

     

    Sen is also the executive committee member of Federation Internationale des Associations de Producteurs de Films (FIAPF), the apex body of film producers in the world, which has its headquarters in Brussels.