ITV

Category: Media and Advertising

  • Razorfish appoints Charulata Ravi Kumar as new CEO for India

    Razorfish appoints Charulata Ravi Kumar as new CEO for India

    MUMBAI: Razorfish has announced the appointment of Charulata Ravi Kumar as the chief executive officer, India.

     Kumar will work from the agency’s Mumbai office, also responsible for the regional presence across Bangalore, Gurgaon and Pune. She will report to APAC executive chairman Vincent Digonnet.

     

    Previously, Kumar has held leadership roles in India, Middle East and Europe and has managed businesses and brands across US and South Asia. Her 25 year career includes stints with the WPP and Lowe networks as well as establishing her own successful innovation and leadership skills consultancy Coffee Kettle.

     

    Kumar said, “I’m honoured to lead Razorfish India’s business and to be tasked with taking the network to new heights, leveraging technology, social media, e-commerce, data services, experience, design and brand building capabilities to deliver transformational business experiences. My goal is to ensure Razorfish India remains to be the destination for smart, curious, creative and entrepreneurial-minded people and to further strengthen Razorfish India’s existing core competencies.”

     

    Digonnet remarked, “Charulata brings to this role true business transformation skills through a blend of innovation, integrated marketing solutions and entrepreneurship. She has diverse experience across sectors such as services, manufacturing and consumer products across leading multinational corporations and global brands.”

     

    He continued, “She is the perfect succession choice and her proven skills that help brands to bridge the gap between today’s business reality and tomorrow’s new opportunities, is a perfect marriage to Razorfish’s business model. She has in-depth understanding of the Indian market and her background is a perfect complement to the skills we have already developed.”

     

    Outgoing managing director, Kanika Mathur added, “It’s been a privilege to have worked within the Publicis Groupe, latterly at Razorfish, an iconic organisation with digital at its core, since 2008. I commence my new professional challenge assured that under Charulata’s leadership, Razorfish India will continue to thrive and progress an agenda, helping clients navigate the future and transform their businesses.”

     

    Kumar’s appointment is effective immediately.

  • Tata Global Beverages appoints Indigo Consulting to redevelop its corporate website

    Tata Global Beverages appoints Indigo Consulting to redevelop its corporate website

    MUMBAI: One of India’s leading digital agencies, Indigo Consulting and part of the Publicis Groupe announced that the agency has been chosen to work with Tata Global Beverages, a $1.4 billion company that unties the beverage interests of the Tata Group under one umbrella.

     

    With a brand presence across 40 countries, Tata Global Beverages is the world’s second largest tea company with growing interests in coffee and water. It has a portfolio of strong brands such as Tata Tea, Tetley, Eight O’clock Coffee, Himalayan water and Good Earth tea.

     

    Indigo Consulting has been tasked to evaluate and refocus Tata Global Beverages’ brand communication efforts towards more effective online experiences via the company’s website. The website revamp comes as a concerted effort by the group to amplify its brand awareness and use the channel to better communicate with the company’s key target groups – investors, media, employees and consumers.

     

    Commenting on the move to partner with Indigo Consulting from among the other international contenders, Tata Global Beverages global brands director Sushant Dash says that the website is a critical piece of its corporate identity and looks forward to the redevelopment resulting in an engaging and differentiated online experience for its stakeholders.

     

    The agency has already chalked out plans for the website overhaul and these plans will help build a differentiated online positioning for Tata Global Beverages, says Indigo Consulting SVP strategy and client services Priti Jhavar.

     

    She says, “Tata Global Beverages is such a dynamic brand in itself that to play it safe and stick to a stiff, corporate persona would be a great disservice not just to the group but also to its customers. This is a brand that is responsible for bringing magical beverage moments daily to people around the world and that’s the message that we are very excited to convey through new-age interactions and advanced technology on their website.”   

     

  • OgilvyOne Mumbai does India Proud in WARC100

    OgilvyOne Mumbai does India Proud in WARC100

    MUMBAI:  We are very pleased to announce that OgilvyOne Mumbai has featured in the global ranking by WARC100. OgilvyOne Mumbai is ranked the 5th Smartest Digital Agency in the World.  

     

    WARC100 has recently announced its worldwide ranking of The Smartest Digital Agencies in 2014 and OgilvyOne Mumbai is the only Indian digital agency to feature in the top 5. No other Indian agency featured even in the top 100!!

     

    Vikram Menon, President OgilvyOne Worldwide, India: We can’t help feeling a sense of immense pride at being ranked the 5th Smartest Digital Agency in the World among the WARC100. This is an extremely competitive space which is why this ranking is tantamount to an endorsement and recognition of OgilvyOne’s capabilities and talent in India; we are also grateful that our clients give us the opportunity to do quality work for their brands.

     

    Piyush Pandey, Executive Chairman & Creative Director, Ogilvy South Asia: This ranking is an enormous credit to OgilvyOne’s digital team in India. I am happy and proud of this achievement.  OgilvyOne India’s accolades in the past month have reinforced the Ogilvy India network’s brand building capabilities particularly in the digital domain.  The WARC100 ranking is credit to our creative reputation not just in India but also around the world.

     
    The WARC100 is a benchmark for commercial creativity, allowing agencies to compare their performance with their peers. It is an annual list of the world’s best campaigns, agencies and brands, based on their performance in effectiveness and strategy.

     

  • Diageo and NDTV partner to launch ‘Road to Safety’

    Diageo and NDTV partner to launch ‘Road to Safety’

    MUMBAI: Diageo and NDTV have joined hands to launch ‘Diageo-NDTV Road to Safety’ – a campaign aimed at addressing one of the biggest concerns for the Indian government and society today -the appalling state of road safety in our country. The campaign aims to make our roads safer and reduce the number of preventable accidents by encouraging citizens, specially the youth of India, to be more responsible behind the wheel.

     

     

    Bollywood actor Karisma Kapoor,, veteran cricketer Anil Kumble and Karnataka Transport Minister Shri Ramalinga Reddy all came together to lend their support to the ‘Diageo-NDTV Road to Safety’ campaign and inspire people to take a pledge to Never Drink and Drive. Also present were Dr. Rohit Baluja, President, Institute of Road Traffic Education and Praveen Sood, IPS, Additional Director General of Police and Principal Secretary, Home, Karnataka.

     

     

    Karisma Kapoor expressed her concerns on the state of road safety in the country and said, “I am proud to support the Road to Safety cause. So many lives are lost every year in India due to a casual approach and lack of knowledge about road safety. Initiatives like this will go a long way in educating people about road safety measures and in turn will help save lives.”

     

     

    Anand Kripalu, Managing Director of United Spirits (a Diageo group company) said “Diageo and USL are taking the lead to persuade consumers to take responsibility for their actions and put safety first.  Diageo’s Road to Safety initiative is a yearlong program of partnership with government, NGOs and educational institutes to cause a paradigm shift in people’s approach to Road Safety in India.”

     

     

    Union Minster for Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari, said that the Central government committed to improving national and state highways along with changing the law and bringing these in line with international standards. A new Motor Vehicle Act will be introduced in the next session of Parliament. He added that drivers and pedestrians have to take more responsibility for their actions and be aware of the rules of the road; and that suggestions from the public and the use of hi-tech equipment will also help in implementing a safer and healthier driving environment.

     

     

    Last year, over 1,37,000 people lost their lives on Indian roads, a number that is shockingly more than the fatalities reported in all our wars put together. Averaging an accident every minute, and a fatality once every 4, Indian roads are some of the most dangerous in the world.

     

    Launching the initiative Vikram Chandra, CEO, NDTV Group said, “The number of fatalities due to road mishaps is shocking and is a huge issue that we urgently need to address. NDTV has always been concerned about such issues and has tried to find practical solutions for these. We hope that with this campaign we are able to sensitize and educate citizens and create awareness about road safety.”

     

     

    The campaign aims to educate and inspire citizens to action by drawing attention to critical issues including lack of safety awareness, public apathy towards accident victims and a widening gap between legislation and enforcement. This campaign will be launched across the country and will address city specific road safety issues.

  • HUL gets a new independent director in Kalpana Morparia

    HUL gets a new independent director in Kalpana Morparia

    MUMBAI: Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has got a new independent director. JP Morgan India CEO Kalpana Morparia has been brought on its board effective 9 October 2014. She is also a member of the JP Morgan Asia Pacific Management Committee.

     

    Morparia is an Independent director on the boards of several companies including Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Limited, Bennett Coleman & Company Limited, Phillip Morris International and CMC.  

     
    Prior to joining JP Morgan India, Morparia served as vice chairman on the boards of ICICI Group companies.  She was the joint managing director of the ICICI Group from 2001 to 2007.

     
    Morparia will be a member of the Audit and Corporate Social Responsibility Committees of the HUL Board.

     
    HUL chairman Harish Manwani said: “Kalpana’s vast experience and proven track record of leadership will add tremendous value to our Board.”

         
    Morparia stated: “I am delighted to join the Board of this iconic Company. I look forward to my role as an Independent Director of one of the most respected consumer companies.”

     

  • Zee initiates campaign for Kashmir floods- “HUM HAIN… Umeed-e-Kashmir”

    Zee initiates campaign for Kashmir floods- “HUM HAIN… Umeed-e-Kashmir”

    MUMBAI: The entertainment industry led by the Event and Entertainment Management Association (EEMA), the Film and Television Producers Guild and the global mediaconglomerate Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd.(ZEE) has initiated a fund-raiser campaign, “HUM HAIN… Umeed-e-Kashmir” to raise funds and awareness for flood-stricken Kashmir. The recent floods in Kashmir have devastated and unhinged the lives of many leaving many casualties and loss of homes, property and livelihoods in its wake.

     
    Acknowledging our chance to be one, the relief campaign kicked off on Gandhi Jayanti and ZEE’s 22nd Anniversary – 2nd October,  with a message from youth icon Ranbir Kapoor calling on the nation to join hands and raise hope for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The message was released along with a thematic music piece composed by Gulzar & Vishal Bharadwaj and sung by Sukhwinder Singh.

     

    HUM HAIN: Umeed-e-Kashmir will strive to work alongside several NGOs, Government bodies, celebrities and civilians to give the cause a unified voice. The concert will include a list of celebrity performers will appeal and urge viewers to donate to key NGOs and specified Disaster Relief Funds in support of the Kashmir relief project. Many other stars and performers will be shortly announced.

     

    On 18 October, HUM HAIN…Ummeed e Kashmir is being hosted at the Indira Gandhi Indoor stadium in Delhi and features a veritable who’s who: Aamir Khan, Vishal Bhardwaj, Farhan Akhtar, Ranbir Kapoor, Sharmila Tagore, Gulzar, Ayushman Khurrana, Daler Mehndi, Sonu Nigam, Shaan, Sukhwinder Singh, Rekha Bhardwaj, Pritam, Shantanu Moitra, Kavita Krishnamurthy and Dr L Subramanium, Anupam Kher, Imtiaz Ali, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Mukesh Bhatt, Swanand Kirkire, Zaheer Khan, Boney and Sridevi Kapoor and multiple celebrities. More celebrities will continue to join as performers, as the build-up to the event begins. Tickets for the event and all proceeds, which will completely go to the charity United Way will soon be available on Bookmyshow.com and other outlets across the Delhi NCR region.
     

    The campaign’s highpoint is the creation of simultaneous live events on ground across 7 cities on 18th October with the main event at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi and simultaneous events being held in Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkatta and Jaipur.  The spread of events across the country will help demonstrate that India cares.

     
    Zee TV’s 10 News channels will come together to connect the multiple events being held simultaneously across the country. India will be one as the event management industry in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Jaipur, and Kolkata will feature their respective film and entertainment industries. Zee’s anchors and network will connect the cities and performers live from 3 pm onwards on 18th October.

     

    A total of 38 Zee channels will SIMULCAST this initiative on Sunday 26 October including Zee TV, Zee Cinema, & Pictures, Zee Classic, Zee Action, Zee Premiere, Zee Café, Zee Studio, ETC, Zing, Zindagi, Zee Tamil, Zee Talkies, Zee Bangla, Zee Bangla  Cinema, Zee Anmol, Zee Smile, Zee Salaam, Zee Jagran, ZQ, Khana Khazana, Zee TV HD, Zee Cinema HD, & Pictures HD and Zee Studio HD, Zee Kannada, Zee Telugu, Zee Marathi Zee News, Zee Business, Zee 24 Taas, Zee 24 Ghanta, Zee MP CG, Zee Punjab, Zee Sangam, Zee Marudhara, Zee Kalina and Zee Purvaiya.

        
    Studios will also be set up in both New Delhi and Mumbai where celebrities will also send across poignant messages, performances and showcase footage films that bring alive the devastation and relief work undertaken in an effort to strengthen the appeal. Concert tickets for the same will be sold, with all proceeds going to charity. A collection of celebrity memorabilia will also go on auction. ALL money generated through the fund-raiser through sale of tickets, donations, sponsorships, commercial time, auctions, etc. will be given to charities in Jammu & Kashmir and the most-recently hit Assam that the organisers will painstakingly select.

    Amitabh Bachchan speaking about the initiative said, “As human beings and as Indians we need to do all that we can to help our countrymen in need. The plight of the people of Jammu & Kashmir has always been a matter of concern and the floods have only made it worse. All that we do simply won’t be enough to meet the various challenges facing the people; but every drop counts. Hence we call on everyone in our country and from the world community to come forward and provide their support.”

     

    Punit Goenka, MD & CEO, ZEE said “As a nation, we have always treasured Kashmir the most, our precious crown that it has always been. In such a calamity, it is nothing less than a moral responsibility of every citizen and corporate in India to step forward and extend the best possible support towards the relief. As a global media company, with a wide bouquet of multiple channels across the nation, and a strong connect with over 730 million viewers, ZEE aims at offering a dual support to this initiative. Firstly, through the advertisement revenues generated from the broadcast, which would be entirely donated to the relief work, and secondly by offering a nationwide reach to the event. Committed to ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, which we espouse as our brand positioning, it is ZEE’s responsibility to step forward and work for its Family, of which the people of Kashmir are an integral part.”  

     

    Ranbir Kapoor speaking about the initiative said, “Kashmir has always been an intrinsic part of our film industry. The happiness and joy that the Kashmiri people brought me and my Rockstar crew was incredible. The people are peace-loving and love all of us from the entertainment industry. I am grateful to the EEMA and the Film  Producers Guild for initiating this project with Zee TV. It’s important that the country comes together to demonstrate our solidarity with them at this time”

     

    Sabbas Joseph, President of Event and Entertainment Management Association said today, “As we continue to plan the relief campaign, there is an optimistic energy building that we will be able to help rebuild Kashmir with a sense of solidarity that is representative by every film, music and sports icon coming together. The idea of creating multiple simultaneous live events showcases the strength, diversity and unity of our country; it also demonstrates the growing strength of the live and event management industry across the country. Bringing the country together, is at the core of the initiative that we are building.”

     

    Mukesh Bhatt, President of the Film & TV Producers Guild, said, “The land of ethereal beauty & purity is in tatters, devastated by nature’s fury. Kashmir, the embodiment of Indian culture & tradition, is crying for help from millions of fellow Indians. The Indian entertainment industry has shared a wonderful symbiotic relationship with the land of Kashmir over the years & the time has come to repay the generosity & hospitality of Kashmiris in their time of strife. The industry has forever pioneered charitable causes whenever India has been ravaged by tragedies & this time too, we would like to support our Kashmiri brethren & contribute in our own humble way to this gargantuan task of relief & rehabilitation.”Hum Hain ….. Umeed-e-Kashmir” will not only assemble industry forces on a common platform of compassion & nobility but more significantly appeal to the consciousness of the vast multitude of Indians to generously donate funds in our endeavour to provide some succour to the survivors in Kashmir.”

     

    This October, the Event and Entertainment Management Association, along with Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. and the Film and Television Producers Guild of India have come together in solidarity with the people of Kashmir and India, at large and is sending out a call-to-action.

     

  • ZenithOptimedia wins duties for Indiahomes.com

    ZenithOptimedia wins duties for Indiahomes.com

    MUMBAI: ZenithOptimedia has won the entire media mandate for Indiahomes.com after a selection process that involved a multi-agency pitch. The mandate covers all aspects of the company’s media planning, buying and digital duties.

     

    Indiahomes.com has also finalised its new positioning, “Aap Ke Saath” and is in the process of rolling out its multi-media campaign. With the new positioning and partnership with ZenithOptimedia, it is set to take on the online real-estate category, which has seen increased levels of intensity with several brands becoming active in the media.

     

    Commenting on the business win, ZenithOptimedia group CEO Anupriya Acharya said, “The proposition of professional property advisors fills a crying need and we are excited to be the communication partner of a company that is introducing this big change in the Indian market. It represents a big opportunity. We are looking forward to create innovative solutions for Indiahomes.com.”

     

    Indiahomes.com marketing VP Himanshu Arora, added, “We needed a partner who has a deep understanding of consumers and their ever-evolving relationship with media. ZenithOptimedia impressed us with their strategic framework and ability to execute with speed and accuracy.”

  • Laqshya Solution’s OOH campaign for Flipkart’s #TheBigBillionSale

    Laqshya Solution’s OOH campaign for Flipkart’s #TheBigBillionSale

    MUMBAI: It was going to be ‘India’s Greatest Sale Ever’. Therefore, Laqshya Solutions had 24 hours to devise and implement the campaign in such a way that it would take everyone by surprise. The group inundated Bangalore and Delhi with larger-than-life hoardings to grab the attention not only of Flipkart’s competitors but also of the national media.

     

    Laqshya Solutions, the agency division of the Laqshya Media Group, was given a brief by Flipkart, one of India’s leading e-commerce platforms, to create a radical and bold campaign across Delhi and Bangalore. Laqshya Solutions worked to develop and execute the campaign using as much as 70,000 square feet of branding space in the two cities. The media mix included a large format of billboards, mall facades, airport media and digital signages.

     

    Talking about the newly launched campaign, Laqshya Media Group COO Atul Shrivastava said, “We were honoured when India’s e-commerce leaders Flipkart approached us to work on what has been their biggest, boldest campaign ever! Since this was such a crucial campaign for the brand, we took great care in formulating and executing a plan that would create a powerful impact. The very fact that there has been a tremendous reaction from consumers and the media alike, makes us feel like we have definitely accomplished Flipkart’s brief of doing something novel and dramatic.”

     

    Laqshya Solutions has also executed several other campaigns for Flipkart before their Greatest Sale Ever campaign.

     

  • MEC appoints Marie-Claire Barker as global chief talent officer

    MEC appoints Marie-Claire Barker as global chief talent officer

    MUMBAI: MEC, www.mecglobal.com, today announced the appointment of Marie-Claire Barker as its first global chief talent officer. 

     

    She will work with the agency’s global CEO Charles Courtier with the aim to discipline leaders and people and culture teams around the world, to deliver a consistent talent strategy and approach as to how MEC attracts, evaluates, motivates and grows their people.

     

    Talking about her new responsibility, Barker said, “I want to be in a business with a palpable culture.  MEC’s talent manifesto, which encourages each employee to thrive within the context of work, is something that really intrigues me.”

     

    “I have a strong desire to change the face of talent management in our industry, so operating in an environment that encourages uniqueness and innovation in a culture where employees feel there are no barriers to reaching their potential is what has drawn me to MEC,” she added.

     

    Barker previously worked with Ogilvy Group for six years where she worked as chief talent officer, responsible for driving and delivering talent strategy for their 22,000 staff, globally. 

     

    Commenting on the appointment Courtier said, “Marie-Claire has an absolute passion for the growth and development of people, and I know that she’s looking forward to working with MEC leaders to drive a culture where each employee is able to contribute in a meaningful way to improve business results, and reach their own personal potential.”

  • Havas launches the world’s first ‘Meta DSP’

    Havas launches the world’s first ‘Meta DSP’

    MUMBAI: Affiperf, Havas’ programmatic pure player, became the first company in the world to offer brands the opportunity to operate seamlessly across multiple demand side platforms with one single point of contact with the launch of its “Affiperf Meta DSP” solution. This represents a significant leap forward in what is now called “the age of programmatic” as the topic continues to dominate the agendas of events such as this week’s Advertising Week in NYC.

     

    As technology, data and algorithmic complexity have increased; automation in the media industry has become the new norm. Despite this, the potential of automated programmatic methods for real-time buying have been limited by the fact that until now, agencies were limited to using inventory from different Demand Side Platforms (known as DSPs) in parallel. As the number of DSPs in the market exploded, this added a rather frustrating and inefficient complexity to the process of optimisation and data collection in programmatic buying.

     

    Algorithms data and advertising

    Following three years of research from Affiperf, a Fields Medal holder and renowned data scientists MFG Labs, the Affiperf Meta DSP solution offers for the first time, a way to unify and make sense of data sets across multiple platforms. It aggregates multiple assets using their APIs, i.e. data inventory, features and algorithms from a number of DSPs. It then uses modelling and decision engines to allow traders to recommend wider, more sophisticated strategic options and monitor them.

     

    MFG Labs co-founder and Fields Medal holder 1994 Pierre-Louis Lions commented, “Thanks to three years of extensive R & D we have been able to bring technical neutrality to the conception, implementation and optimisation of campaigns. This works both in the real-time bidding process as well as the design for even more integrated approaches that will enable us before the end of the year, to start managing our Affiperf Meta DSP solution for online and offline data and media.” 

     

    A unique answer to growing complexity

    The Affiperf Meta DSP is powered by enhanced proprietary algorithms that offer clients fluid digitalisation, optimisation and addressability across formats. This ability to collate results and information into one unified marketing statistic marks the end to complexity in this critical area. Although increasing in size, the competitive landscape is not dominated by one DSP, but a fragmented ecosystem of DSP display, mobile and video, rich media DSPs, each of them having different rules, inventories and features. This makes it increasingly difficult for brands to get consistent answers and to see the bigger picture.

    Technologically agnostic, this is the first solution that is open to all DSPs and all technologies. Through this platform brands can therefore take advantage of the best technology available to reach out to and relate to people with greater speed in a more tailored environment than ever before.

     

    Havas Media Group global managing partner and Chairman of Havas Media Group France and UK chairman Dominique Delport said, “In today’s world, media is code and digital campaigns are like software. The idea behind programmatic when it first started was to secure instant contact between traders and brands that would enable our clients to benefit from an infinite number of connections with consumers in real-time. The explosion of data and the significant rise in the number of DSPs on the market has meant that this promise of programmatic was lost to complexity and silos.

     

    Affiperf Meta DSP disrupts the market with the creation of one single tool that enables our clients to optimise choice across multiple platforms. As a result, our industry can finally take programmatic buying to the next level to help brands generate more tailored, more effective and more meaningful connections with people. This is programmatic without compromise.”

     

    A worldwide roll-out

    The initial roll out of the Affiperf Meta DSP includes, amongst others, the recently launched ONE by AOL, onto one open infrastructure. Accessible in over 102 markets, Affiperf will continue to develop the product in the coming months to increase the number of DSP platforms that can be analysed at the same time.