ITV

Category: Media and Advertising

  • Digital L&K Saatchi & Saatchi beefs up creative team

    Digital L&K Saatchi & Saatchi beefs up creative team

    MUMBAI: Digital Law & Kenneth (L&K) Saatchi & Saatchi has strengthened its creative structure with the appointment of Ashith Ballal and Divyesh Swamikutty as creative directors. The duo will be operating from the Mumbai office.

     

    Ballal said, “The support I get at Digital L&K Saatchi & Saatchi to try new things and pursue ideas that excite me is amazing. It is a hugely nurturing and supportive environment, which really helps bring out the best in everyone involved.”

     

    “New challenge and space is what I am looking for! When Anil Nair revealed L&K Saatchi & Saatchi plans and its journey in the digital space, I had no second thoughts. I am thrilled and excited to be part of an energetic and vibrant team, and I’m looking forward to create some great work in the digital space along with the team,” said Swamikutty.

     

    Digital Law & Kenneth Saatchi & Saatchi CEO Anil K Nair added, “Ashith comes from a digital and film making background and he brings with him great storytelling skill sets. Divyesh is one of the early pioneers of digital in India with lots of experience working across difficult markets and in start-up environments. They bring a fresh perspective to our creative team and will help raise the standard of creativity at Digital Law & Kenneth Saatchi & Saatchi and play an invaluable role not just for our clients but also for the agency.”

     

    Ballal previously worked at O4 digital, Channel V and Radio Mirchi along with taking up a lot of freelance assignments on brands such as Honda Mobilio, Ford, Reliance, and Volkswagen Polo.

     

    On the other hand, Swamikutty has worked with Rage Communications and D’zine Garage on brands like Royal Enfield, Moods Condoms, Cavin Kare, Sterling Holidays, Colorplus, Airtel Money, Ashok Leyland, Club Mahindra, Murugappa Group, The Hindu and Sify amongst others.

  • “We’ve come a long way from being WPP’s little known agency”: Samrat Bedi

    “We’ve come a long way from being WPP’s little known agency”: Samrat Bedi

    The year 2014 will go down in history as the year of Indian politics. The main contenders of the two-horse race, Bharatiya Janta Party and Congress, launched massive campaigns to woo voters and became the talking point of the year.

     

    The BJP campaign ran in series with ‘janta maaf nahi karegi’ and ‘achche din aane wale hai’ becoming the most popular taglines of the year. While some pulled a meme on them, others continue to strongly believe in them and hoped to see a better and brighter India.

     

    The agency behind the ‘political campaign that created history,’ Soho Square, won not only hearts and accolades from the ‘aam janta’ but the advertising fraternity as well. It won the Grand Effie at the Effies 2014, bringing it at par with the bigger agencies like O&M, Lowe Lintas and McCann Worldgroup India.

     

    Indiantelevision.com’s Meghna Sharma caught up with Soho Sqaure head Samrat Bedi for a quick freewheeling chat after the award function.

    Excerpts:

     

    After winning the mandate, what was the reaction of the team? Was there a lot of pressure to deliver?

     

    We knew that it was a challenging one as it was an uncharted territory for the entire team. We had never done anything like this before. When we started working on it, a day’s work felt like what one would usually do in a week’s time.

     

    We held meetings at 1 pm everyday where we were given a new brief. After watching a lot of news and reading papers, to gauge the nation’s mood, we would again meet around 2:30 pm or so and come up with new content/idea by night.

     

    We are very proud of the campaign and it was a huge learning lesson.

     

    Whom would you attribute the win to?

     

    It was a team effort. It might sound clichéd but the magnitude of the project was so huge that the whole team had to get involved. There was no senior or junior when we got down to working on the campaign as it was unknown territory and needed everyone’s support.

     

    One can say a benchmark has been created. So, what will be the next big thing for Soho Square?

     

    Tough question. (laughs) I would like to call it a springboard rather than a benchmark. One can always do better and create newer benchmarks. Nonetheless, it will work as a springboard for us and now help us grow pillar to pillar.

     

    In a month’s time, we will be launching the coffee table book on the BJP campaign as well. 

     

    What advice will you like to give other “smaller” agencies?

     

    Just because we won the BJP mandate doesn’t make Soho Sqaure an expert. We cannot give advise to anyone because we are sure every other agency has the best talent pool and the ambition to come up with fantastic work across categories.

     

    However, one thing is for sure that the campaign helped us from being the “little known agency of WPP” to an agency which can now be counted amongst the big leagues.

     

    Sometimes it takes just an idea to change people’s perceptions!

     

  • Keshet Productions gets on-board Simon Shalgosky

    Keshet Productions gets on-board Simon Shalgosky

    MUMBAI: The UK arm of Israel’s Keshet Media Group has appointed the former head of development at ITV Studios’ factual division Shiver – Simon Shalgosky – to lead its growing non-scripted team in London.

     

    Shalgosky’s appointment is a significant step towards Keshet’s push to develop original projects in the UK, in addition to representing formats from Israel.

     

    Shalgosky brings with him his multi-genre experience, having developed a range of entertainment, factual, and factual entertainment programs. Working in development posts at ITV from 2006 – 2014, Shalgosky and his team created and developed a wide slate of shows ranging from Britain’s Best Dish and Come Date with Me to Secrets from the Sky and The Men with Many Wives. Over the last 10 years he has had commissions with every major UK broadcaster and has gathered experience of delivering shows for daytime, access prime and prime time.

     
    Keshet UK COO Sammy Nourmand said, “Simon’s appointment underlines Keshet’s continued commitment to grow its UK Production arm. His versatility and passion for great television made Simon the ideal candidate for this role. We’re delighted to welcome him to the team.”

     
    Shalgosky added, “Keshet has a phenomenal reputation in format entertainment and I’m really looking forward to joining them at such an exciting time.”

     

  • Marico names Ashish Joshi as COO south east Asia

    MUMBAI: The consumer products company, Marico, has appointed Ashish Joshi as COO of Marico south east Asia.

     

    Joshi will oversee Marico’s personal care business across Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar and Cambodia.

     

    An alumnus of IIM Lucknow, Joshi with over 20 years of experience has been with Colgate Palmolive for the last 12 years. Before which he was with Hindustan Unilever for six years.

     

    At Colgate Palmolive, Joshi was leading the customer development function in Thailand at the management committee level. 

  • Foreseegame targets 500 brand tie-ups by FY16 end

    Foreseegame targets 500 brand tie-ups by FY16 end

    KOLKATA:Kolkata-headquartered Foreseegame.com, a digital media company for consumer engagement, which has tie ups with more than 70 brands like Emami, Rupa, Spencer’s, Airtel, and Citibank among others, is aiming to partner approximately with 500 brands by the end of next fiscal (2015-16).

     

    The engagement media company, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsec Enterprises, allows brands to integrate with advertisements on TV, radio, newspapers, on-ground promotional activities, direct communication and most importantly, social media and mobile platforms.

     

    Foreseegame.com chairman BL Mittal said, “Through our platform and engagement games like opinions and surveys question and answer sessions, the brand can engage with people in the age group of 18 – 45 years. By registering the brands in the minds of people, companies can see tremendous growth in online sales. Some of the major brands have already partnered with us and we are eyeing 500 brands by the end of next fiscal.”

     

    “It is the media, which covers the full cycle of engagement by providing solution of rich engagement, testing the product and ultimately making the consumers emotionally connected persons with the brand. Our platform provides a focused consumer engagement. Brands stand to gain undiluted consumer attention towards its products and offerings by the way of fun-filled interaction,” Mittal added.

     

    At Foreseegame.com people can play games of prediction and get rewarded. Through such engagement programmes, the brands can see these people converting into customers sooner. “The constant engagement with brands excites consumers to test the product and ultimately become the customer of the brand,” Mittal said.
     
    “Brand engagement is required, but that shouldn’t just be interacting with the customers. It should be more like a long-term affair with the consumers, wherein key consumer insights should also be taken into account,” opines Abhishek Sengupta, a city-based advertising expert.
     
    When asked if the company takes consumer insights into account, Mittal said, “Brand ideas are often the culmination of consumer insight and the brand offer.”

  • Global Advertisers appoints Archana Singh as senior business development manager

    Global Advertisers appoints Archana Singh as senior business development manager

    MUMBAI: Global Advertisers has appointed Archana Singh as senior business development manager. She will report to the company’s MD Sanjeev Gupta.

    Singh’s core responsibility will entail developing and managing new business at Global. She is a graduate of Mass Media Studies, and was formerly a business development networker correspondent.

    “Archana brings her knowledge of the media industry, her insights into the creation and broadcasting of content and her experience with business development to the table. We are confident that these qualities will help her in doing justice to the responsibilities that we have placed on her able shoulders,” said Gupta.

     

  • Razorfish brings on board Anushree Ghosh

    Razorfish brings on board Anushree Ghosh

    MUMBAI: Razorfish today announced the appointment of Anushree Ghosh as director, strategic planning who comes with a rich experience of 15 years. She will be operating from the Mumbai office but is mandated to lead strategy across key businesses for Razorfish India. She will be reporting in to Charulata Ravikumar, Chief Executive Officer Razorfish India.  

    Commenting on the appointment Charulata Ravi Kumar, CEO Razorfish India, “We are constantly seeking highly curious people who have the energy and a razorsharp mind to persistently look for lateral solutions for the clients we partner. Her ability to quickly cut through the million possibilities to get to that one clear insight will be a big asset for us.”

    On her appointment Anushree Ghosh – Director, Strategic Planning, Razorfish India, “I have admired Razorfish for long and have been closely following all their work in India and globally. The opportunity to drive Business Transformation for some of the most prestigious brands in India is a fantastic one, and I am really excited to be part of the same.”

    Charulata adds, “A planner who brings the synchronization of brand and digital strategy is unique and Anushree’s experience in both will help our clients to see the brand, not in pieces, but rather as a seamlessly integrated whole.”

    Anushree has worked with eminent agency networks like Law and Kenneth, JWT and SapientNitro. Over the years Anushree has driven strategy for brands such as e-Bay, Nestle, Horlicks, Smirnoff, Lipton, Marks & Spencer, Lux, Magnum Ice Cream, Lifestyle.

     

  • Tarun Rai to replace Colvyn Harris as JWT South Asia CEO

    Tarun Rai to replace Colvyn Harris as JWT South Asia CEO

    MUMBAI: Beginning early 2015, Tarun Rai will step into the shoes of Colyvn Harris as JWT South Asia CEO.

     

    Harris, who has had a longstanding tenure with the company, will assume the role of global growth and client development executive director and will report to J Walter Thompson Company CEO Gustavo Martinez.

     

    In the role of CEO, Rai will lead JWT, which includes India, Sri Lanka and Nepal, as well as JWT’s Indian companies, including Contract Advertising, Hungama Digital Services, J. Walter Thompson Mindset, Encompass and Social Wavelength. He will report to Martinez and will work closely with Asia Pacific CFO Nick Romas.

     

    “I am thrilled to welcome Tarun Rai back to J. Walter Thompson. Tarun has the global business acumen and pioneering spirit needed to lead J. Walter Thompson south Asia. He was an important part of our, and now he will be a critical part of our future,” said Martinez.

     

    Rai rejoins the company from Worldwide Media, where he held the role of CEO since 2008. Under Rai’s leadership, Worldwide Media (then a joint venture of The Times of India Group and BBC Worldwide) grew exponentially.

     

    “It’s wonderful to return home to J. Walter Thompson during this pivotal time in the company’s history. Being away for a few years has given me an invaluable ‘outside-in’ perspective of the advertising business. Having a chance to head J. Walter Thompson South Asia and work with Gustavo Martinez as he leads J. Walter Thompson into the next 150 years is a huge honour,” added Rai.

     

    During his tenure at JWT, Rai helped build some of the world’s most reputed brands; his clients included Hindustan Unilever, Diageo, GlaxoSmithKline, Pizza Hut, De Beers, ITC, Tata Steel, Nestlé, Hero, Godrej and Kellogg’s. Rai is an advertising and media professional with more than 25 years’ experience. He holds a business degree and is an alumnus of the London School of Economics.

     

    Harris, who has spent 35 years at JWT, has been Contract Advertising CEO and J. Walter Thompson Colombo managing director. He also holds various industry leadership roles and board positions, including Advertising Agencies Association of India president.

     

    Under his leadership, J. Walter Thompson South Asia has built a formidable reputation with a diverse spectrum of traditional, mainstream, activation, events and digital marketing services capabilities, including the acquisitions of Encompass, Hungama Digital Services, Mindset and Social Wavelength. The agency also won its first Cannes Grand Prix and first Titanium Lion under his leadership, and was the highest awarded Indian agency at Cannes 2014. The company has deepened the scope and scale of the services it offers in the market, from digital to events and activation, through organic growth and acquisitions.

     

    Harris said, “Every day has been an opportunity across my professional career at J. Walter Thompson. Building our capabilities to meet the ambition of our clients’ brands has been my relentless passion and purpose. I have worked with the most amazing and talented team one can ever hope for, and the bluest-of-blue chip clients across every category one can dream of. I am proud to have sustained and grown our client partnerships, and that our clients continue to be leaders in their respective categories for the ideas we have delivered for them. I look forward to being an integral part of the global client development team.”

     

    “I am deeply grateful for Colvyn Harris’ longstanding leadership and commitment to J. Walter Thompson. Colvyn has been a real asset and a great support during my first 11 months in the company. He will continue to help me further the growth of the company in this new role,” added Martinez.

     

    “2015 will be a big year, especially for J. Walter Thompson South Asia under Tarun’s leadership and vision,” concluded Martinez.