ITV

Category: Media and Advertising

  • “It was friends & food that made Crash the IPL possible”: Nikita Deshpande

    “It was friends & food that made Crash the IPL possible”: Nikita Deshpande

    MUMBAI: The challenge was to seize the opportunity and uncork the creative genius in you. Nikita Deshpande, a budding film-maker from Mumbai, has done just that and has emerged as the first winner of Crash the Pepsi IPL campaign.

     

    Her film titled ‘Served’ beat over 400 films that were submitted by consumers from all over the country to become the first winner in the campaign. Deshpande’s film went on air on 12 April, 2015 as the official Pepsi television commercial during the match between Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Deshpande was awarded a cash prize of Rs 100,000 and has won seats for herself and her friends in the esteemed Pepsi VIP box for the match in Chennai.

     

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com Deshpande says, “It was in March when we sat and decided: let’s go for it. We had a nice and long brainstorming session amongst 12 of us and we came with the idea. The video was shot with Canon 5d Mark II and was edited by Prashant Ramachadran, who was also associated with Badlapur. The entire group was from the film fraternity and that helped a smooth execution. Quality VFX and sound engineering was also exhibited, which made the production quality allusive. The total expenditure of the film was close to Rs 3500 only. We may make a few more ads for the same campaign and in future also I aspire to make more ad films for different brands. I also have dreams of making a feature film… it’s always Dil Mange More.”

     

     

    Ranbir Kapoor had earlier said, “Crash the Pepsi IPL is a first-of-its-kind campaign in India, and I am excited to team up with Pepsi in judging the entries for this creative challenge! Crash the Pepsi IPL will give people a chance to really uncork their creativity and leave a mark. It’s awesome that Pepsi has put consumers at the forefront of something as big as the Pepsi IPL – it’s a really bold move and I would expect nothing less from Pepsi!”

     

    Congratulating the winner, PepsiCo India senior director marketing – social beverages Ruchira Jaitly said, “The ad film by Nikita Deshpande has hit the bull’s eye with the messaging. The film brilliantly portrays Pepsi as the perfect food accompaniment by weaving in a delectable trail of signature cuisines from the host cities of Pepsi IPL. The connection between cricket, food and fun-times with friends and Pepsi can’t be missed in the ad. We congratulate Nikita on being the first consumer to crash the Pepsi IPL. We look forward to many more such films over the next few weeks. Nikita is exactly the kind of talent we were looking for, as she displays a true reflection of Pepsi’s philosophy of seizing the moment now.”

  • Walmart India appoints Pankaj More as head of technology

    Walmart India appoints Pankaj More as head of technology

    MUMBAI: Walmart India has appointed Pankaj More as its head of technology.

     

    More will play a key role in strengthening Walmart India’s technology and IT infrastructure. He will report to Walmart India president and CEO Krish Iyer.

     

    Iyer said, “I am very pleased to have Pankaj as the head of technology at Walmart India. His depth of knowledge and global experience will bring a fresh perspective to our business. Pankaj is a strong addition to our Walmart India team.”

     

    More joined Wal-Mart in January 2013 and has been leading the ISD strategy for the Walmart Asia market (China, Japan & India) by driving financial transparency, creating technology roadmap, leveraging cost and implementing project governance.

     

    He comes with over 19 years of experience in IT spanning telecom, financial services, energy and now the retail domain. He has experience in technology development, engineering & ERP platforms, driving IT strategy for business, leading operations and providing leadership to cross-functional, diverse & global teams

  • Dulux launches new ad campaign featuring Farhan Akhtar

    Dulux launches new ad campaign featuring Farhan Akhtar

    MUMBAI: AkzoNobel India’s decorative paints brand Dulux has launched its ‘Fashion Trends for Walls’ campaign for Dulux Velvet Touch. 

     

    The integrated campaign featuring brand ambassador Farhan Akhtar turns the spotlight on the brand’s ability to translate fashion on to walls. Dulux Velvet Touch’s Fashion Trends is an offering of high-end emulsions (decorative paints). 

     

    Explaining the rationale behind the brand campaign, AkzoNobel India Decorative Paints director Rajiv Rajgopal said, “Being an international premium brand with a distinct legacy and lineage, Dulux’s strengths resides in its immense understanding of colours and maintenance of high standards of quality. The new campaign bases its ideology on the brand’s best in class interior solutions that support customers in making their homes stylish.”

     

    “With Dulux Velvet Touch being at the heart of the campaign, its brand ambassador, Farhan Akhtar has been featured who has given life to this television commercial. The TVC is strongly flanked by print and outdoor advertisement, and active engagement through digital touch points and in store solutions. As a brand ambassador, Farhan Akhtar embodies the Dulux Velvet Touch’s core position of self-expression and style,” he added.

     

    Akhtar said, “I am very proud to continue my association with Dulux Velvet Touch, a brand that brings international appeal and offers best in class performance in interior solutions. Like the product, the new TVC of Dulux Velvet Touch is stylish and will appeal to the next generation of customers who are searching for ways to transform their living space into something that they are truly proud of. I personally had lot of fun working with the paint and the finished wall while making of this TVC.”

     

    Taproot Dentsu Communications co-founder and CCO Agnallio Dias said, “The Fashion Trend for Walls campaign of Dulux Velvet Touch caters to an audience that is not afraid of flaunting style. Beyond the colours and vibrancy, there lies a hidden meaning in each colour at the core of Dulux. These colours define a person’s individuality and Dulux provides a medium of expression to these individuals. Just as fashionistas set trends in the world of fashion, Dulux Velvet Touch empowers consumers to discover their style and wearing it on their walls.”

  • WPP’s Cohn & Wolfe appoints new corporate practice leadership

    WPP’s Cohn & Wolfe appoints new corporate practice leadership

    MUMBAI: WPP’s brand communications agency Cohn & Wolfe has appointed Andrew Escott, formerly managing director of UK Corporate, as global corporate practice leader effective immediately.

     

    Escott takes over from Geoff Beattie, who last week was named global leader of Cohn & Wolfe’s new Strategic Consulting Unit.

     

    Helen Searle, formerly UK Corporate director, steps up to become managing director of UK Corporate.

     

    The Corporate Practice operates across Cohn & Wolfe offices worldwide, covering all aspects of Reputation Management including Crisis and Issues Management, Business-to-Business Communications, CSR & Sustainability, Employee Engagement, Public Affairs and Corporate Storytelling. 

     

    “Demand for our corporate reputation work has grown significantly around the world and Andrew has been a major contributor to our success. Under Andrew’s leadership, I see our Corporate Practice continuing to be a significant driver across Cohn & Wolfe markets,” said Cohn & Wolfe CEO Donna Imperato.

     

    The UK has been among the agency’s stand-out markets for corporate work. Over the past four years, the UK Corporate Practice doubled revenues, expanded its suite of services and added major global brands in the natural resources, financial services, healthcare and food and drink industries. Current clients include Warburtons, Twinings, Ferrero, Asia Pulp & Paper and Lloyds Banking Group. 

     

    Escott said, “The global business environment has never been tougher so our clients need a partner that can seamlessly both protect and promote their business. That’s what we have built in London and it has been a successful and differentiated model driven by a hugely talented team. Helen is a great leader, a critical part of our recent success and I have no doubt she will take the business even further.”

     

    Escott joined Cohn & Wolfe in 2009 to drive the UK office’s crisis management and corporate health capabilities. In 2010, he founded Cohn & Wolfe Political Counsel, the agency’s first public affairs service. Since then he has worked across service areas to create a fully integrated Corporate Practice able to advise clients on all aspects of reputation management. While managing director of the UK Corporate Practice, Escott’s client work included Danone, Warburtons and Asia Pulp & Paper.

     

    Searle joined Cohn & Wolfe in 2012 as a corporate director and now leads integrated corporate brand campaigns for clients such as Lloyds Banking Group, Danone and Make. Searle brings more than a dozen years’ experience at agencies such as Blue Rubicon and Weber Shandwick, where she delivered award-winning campaigns for Aviva, O2, RBS and Visa. Searle is a specialist in devising creative corporate campaigns that embrace both B2B and B2C audiences.

  • Caprese announces its 360 degree campaign with Alia Bhatt

    Caprese announces its 360 degree campaign with Alia Bhatt

    MUMBAI: Caprese, woman’s accessories brand, a symbol of international fashion, now unveils its 2015 Spring Summer Collection with its recently appointed brand ambassador-the bubbly Alia Bhatt. The TVC features the gorgeous brand ambassador Alia Bhatt romancing the stunning Spring Summer 15 collection of Caprese. This April 2015 the brand promises to woo its audience with a fresh campaign and collection of products which will be seen on TV screens, billboards, social networking sites, retail malls, etc.

     

    The new campaign is a creative piece of work by the curative minds of KB Vinod and Bhupal Ramnathkar, Managing Partners for Company. Filmed at enthralling and spellbinding locations of Europe, the gorgeous Alia Bhatt is seen flaunting the new 2015 spring summer collection.

     

    Expressing her views on the campaign, Radhika Piramal, Managing Director, VIP Industries says, “This campaign is a reflection of pure fashion with elegance and contemporary style which is aptly represented by the glamourous Alia Bhatt. We are hoping that through this campaign we are able to get every stylish woman to bring out her true sense of style.”

     

    Speaking about their marketing objective, Sudip Ghose, Vice President-Marketing, VIP Industries says, “We believe that this campaign truly expresses the real meaning of Caprese, which is international fashion. Alia Bhatt through her charm enhances the uber style that we plan to communicate to every woman. Our campaign will be successful if we are able to make one out of five women identify with Caprese.”

     

    Detailing his experience of shooting the TVC, KB Vinod, Managing Partner, Company says, “The Caprese girl is back. She explores the new Caprese spring summer collection in the magnificent Mediterranean. She continues to define style and good life for the girl next door. Our attempt was to strengthen Caprese’s European heritage and International fashion credentials.”

    The on-going campaign will witness a 360 degree marketing approach across all the mediums of print, radio, television and social media.

     

  • Dentsu launches corporate VC fund with $42 million corpus

    Dentsu launches corporate VC fund with $42 million corpus

    MUMBAI: Advertising behemoth Dentsu Inc has established a new corporate venture capital (VC) fund called – Dentsu Ventures Global Fund I, with a total capital of approximately $42 million (five billion yen).

     

    With companies in the US, Europe and Asia as its main targets, the fund will not only provide businesses with capital but will also focus on providing entrepreneurs with extensive business support that leverages the problem-solving resources cultivated by the Dentsu Group to date in order to help them bring innovation to the world.

     

    The changes in the business environment surrounding the Dentsu Group and the advertising industry itself are accelerating, and the importance of open innovation through business collaboration with promising external partners is increasing even more. Under such circumstances the Dentsu Group will, through this fund, promote investment in ambitious venture companies that will create an as yet unseen future as well as open up new areas of development through the provision of business development support to the investees.

     

    The Dentsu Group has to date made proactive investments in venture companies and promoted business collaboration through the Dentsu Digital Fund, a fund managed by its subsidiary Dentsu Digital Holdings Inc. Through investments mainly in venture companies outside of Japan as well as seed and early stage investments in Japanese companies, coupled with the building of a complementary relationship with the Dentsu Digital Fund, Dentsu will accelerate open innovation across the Group as a whole.

     

    The fund will have a seven-year period of operation from April 2015 until March 2022.

     

    Dentsu is looking at investing in areas that can change the marketing and communication business in a broad sense. The VC fund is interested in companies that look at new areas that have a high potential for innovation.

  • MobiKwik appoints Saurabh Srivastava as chief marketing officer

    MobiKwik appoints Saurabh Srivastava as chief marketing officer

    MUMBAI: MobiKwik, a mobile wallet with over 15 million users, has appointed Saurabh Srivastava as its chief marketing officer. He will be a part of MobiKwik’s core leadership team.

     

    Srivastava, previously ixigo.com VP – marketing & product strategy, has more than 13 years of experience in consumer centric businesses. He has worked with brands like Goodyear, Maruti Suzuki, Dainik Jagran, GroupM and DDB in the past.

     

    MobiKwik founder and CEO Bipin Preet Singh said, “Saurabh brings with him the experience of working with a variety of consumer brands both in the physical and online space and at different stages of their lifecycle. His experience of nurturing and growing brands, ability to understand consumer internet markets and drive data led consumer insights to achieve brand leadership are skills that will help MobiKwik reach the next level of growth. We welcome Saurabh on board and look forward to working with him to achieve our vision of creating the most preferred mobile wallet for customers and merchants.”

     

    Srivastava added, “Mobile wallets are fast becoming the payment instrument of choice for Indians from all walks of life and MobiKwik is at the forefront of this revolution. This role will give me an opportunity to shape the way Indians look at payments and make mobile wallets a household phenomenon. I am up to the challenge of helping create a consumer Internet brand that millions of customers across the country would love. I look forward to joining MobiKwik and working with great minds at MobiKwik to create the next generation mobile payments system for India.”

     

    MobiKwik is making a big offline push this year and has recently entered into a partnership with Cafe Coffee Day (CCD) to enable customers make payments through the MobiKwik wallet across all outlets in India. This is the first serious push that a mobile wallet service has made to enable digital transactions with an offline merchant of the size and scale of Cafe Coffee Day. Srivastava’s understanding of offline retail will be useful for the company in its bid to get more and more offline retailers to adopt mobile wallets.

     

    MobiKwik recently raised close to $25 million in a series B round from Tree Line Asia, Cisco Investments, American Express and existing investor, Sequoia Capital. The funds will be used for investments in technology/data analytics, brand building and growing the network of users and merchants. In 2015, the company aims to create a brick-and-mortar retail network of more than 100,000 merchants across India. These stores will serve both as points for cash loading into the wallet and for wallet payments acceptance.

  • WPP launches marketing foresight consultancy Gain Theory

    WPP launches marketing foresight consultancy Gain Theory

    MUMBAI: WPP has launched Gain Theory, a marketing foresight consultancy that will bring together data, analytics, technology solutions and consumer-insight capabilities.

     

    It combines WPP’s intellectual capital in media, marketing, data and technology to create a consultancy that will help brands make smarter, faster, predictive business decisions.

     

    According to a recent independent qualitative research study, marketers feel swamped by the sheer volume of data and technology solutions in the marketplace. Marketers also highlighted the need for a partner that would help them navigate this landscape, offering the insight and intelligence required to integrate, predict, plan and model marketing decisions effectively.

     

    Led by worldwide CEO Jason Harrison, Gain Theory will address this need by providing solutions that tackle a set of pain points faced by marketing and insight professionals today in achieving the desired ROI from their marketing activities. These pain points include:

     

    · Difficulty discerning actionable information from an expanding set of data and technology

     

    · Confusion around terminology and jargon

     

    · Multiple answers to a single business question

     

    · The need for faster, smarter predictive insights

     

    “At Gain Theory, our goal is to give clients the confidence to make the best marketing decisions now and in the future. Gain Theory’s predictive analytics and global team of specialists help simplify the process, distilling complex data and providing a holistic perspective to improve marketing results. I’m honored to lead such a dynamic team of smart problem solvers,” said Harrison.

     

    The Gain Theory team comprises 200 marketing effectiveness consultants, analysts, data experts and engineers. This team offers insight-backed recommendations so that brands can adjust their marketing programmes for maximum business impact.

     

    Gain Theory APAC CEO and worldwide chief strategy officer Sunder Muthuraman said, “At Gain Theory we will offer marketers thorough bespoke analytical solutions. Our solutions will bring intellectual capital in marketing analytics, big data, technology, media and customer relationship management to drive successful marketing decisions. Our goal is to create a new, independent and unbiased consultancy that will help marketers on the journey from data to outcomes and make smarter, faster predictive marketing decisions.”

     

    He further added, “Gain Theory service will include a number of new exciting products that will be launched shortly – marketing ROI management platforms;   visual analytics platforms, customer engagement management services, marketing forecasting and more.”

     

    With key hubs in New York, London and Bangalore, the global operations will be supported by Manjiry Tamhane as worldwide COO and CEO, EMEA and Muthuraman.

     

    “There’s no denying that technology today offers us more access to data than ever before but, in doing so it can also create paralysis for companies that need to act quickly. As an independent, third-party consultant, Gain Theory is a trusted partner that can help brands move forward confidently with the right marketing strategy,” said Harrison.

     

    Globally, Gain Theory serves a host of premier global businesses across multiple geographies.