Category: Media and Advertising

  • IPL7 campaign: Chalo bulaava aaya hai

    IPL7 campaign: Chalo bulaava aaya hai

    MUMBAI: Remember the movie Exorcism? The same will happen to the whole country when the “bhoot” of cricket will enter the minds and hearts of the countrymen and women and children!

     

    If we go by the latest campaign, the IPL-loving “bhoot” in all of us has to wake up.

     

    The seventh season of Indian Premiere League (IPL) which will be aired on Sony Max has begun its promotion.

     

    As part of the excitement, the channel has started engaging people through e-mailers, social media and radio wherein the buzz was created with ‘sabse bada bulaava aa raha hai’ campaign. 

     

    RJs “prepared” people for an impending major announcement to be made soon while SMSes informed people to stand-guard as a bulaava will soon come for them.

     

    Today, the channel revealed the two TVCs on youtube. “From tomorrow, the TVCs will go on air on all the channels of our network,” informs Sony Max marketing head Vaishali Sharma, who is happy with the response generated so far. “We have got responses through SMSes and on social media from people, cricket-lovers and it is overwhelming.”

     

    The campaign conceptualised by Havas Media Worldwide is based on the thought that one has to come when the IPL calls. Unlike last year, this year the campaign will feature aam aadmi and not a popular face in Farah Khan which was used in season six campaigns by the channel.

     

    Nonetheless, staying true to its filmy style, the two TVCs are melodramatic and showcase how in the country where cricket is like a religion, everything else is forgotten when one hears the so-familiar IPL tune.

     

    The concept was chosen after various meetings between the various stakeholders with the focal point being entertainment. “It is as if you cannot refuse a call from the god. In the same way, when IPL calls, you have to be there,” is how Sony MAX and Sony MIX executive vice president and business head Neeraj Vyas had explained the thought behind the campaign for IPL7 to indiantelevision.com in an interaction last month.

     

    The tournament which will commence on 16 April and end on 1 June has already made headlines. Till a couple of days back, nobody knew where the matches will be played? Since the tournament clashes with the general elections, it will be now played the in UAE, probably some matches in Bangladesh and the matches after counting of votes on May 16 in India.

  • TBWAIndia Group appoints Vinnet Bajpai as CEO

    TBWAIndia Group appoints Vinnet Bajpai as CEO

    MUMBAi: TBWA today announced major management changes to its group of agencies across India. Vineet Bajpai, currently Chief Executive Officer of MagnonTBWA, one of India’s largest and most comprehensive digital agencies, will assume the role of CEO for the entire TBWAIndia Group with immediate effect.

     

    Meanwhile, Shiv Sethuraman, erstwhile CEO of TBWAIndia Group, has decided to move on from the company, triggering the changes. Sethuraman joined TBWA in 2008 as CEO, moving from Ogilvy Paris, where he was MD since 2005.

     

    Bajpai’s new responsibilities will encompass TBWAIndia, MagnonTBWA, Magnon E-Graphics, a digital outsourcing agency that serves clients across five continents, as well as The Integer Group, the network’s retail and shopper marketing arm, across the Indian continent.

     

    At the same time, TBWAIndia Group has established a new management board, which reflects the roles that key individuals have played in the agency’s growth over the past year. Nirmalya Sen is appointed President of Advertising for the TBWAIndia Group; Parixit Bhattacharya’s role as Chief Creative Officer will encompass the total creative product for the group, including MagnonTBWA; Nitin Naresh is appointed Managing Director of the domestic digital agency, MagnonTBWA; Vivek Merani is appointed Managing Director of Magnon E-Graphics; Ketan Desai is appointed Managing Director of The Integer Group India; and Manosh Mukherjee as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer.

     

    In order to more closely align the India Group with TBWAWorldwide, Philip Brett, TBWA’s President of South and Southeast Asia, is named Chairman of TBWAIndia Group.

     

    “We are now very focused on driving our integrated offering in India forward and accelerating its growth,” said Keith Smith, President – International of TBWAWorldwide. “We’re delighted that Vineet will be leading this offering. Over the past year, since we acquired the Magnon Group, MagnonTBWA has become a global digital offering, delivering world-class, innovative solutions for our clients.”

     

    Smith noted that the management restructuring in India is very much in line with TBWA’s structures in major markets around the world, where the leadership team’s responsibilities cover a range of different communication disciplines.

     

    Bajpai founded and led Magnon for 14 years before and after its acquisition by TBWA at the end of 2012 and has spent the last 15 months working closely with the network’s agencies in Mumbai, Delhi, Los Angeles, New York, Singapore and Dubai.

     

    Bajpai said, “I am very proud to be taking on this additional responsibility for the TBWA Group in India. My focus will be on providing the structure to help the group deliver the best, integrated offering of any agency group in India. We are extremely lucky to have such a skilled, professional and successful team in place, along with global network support, to make this happen.”

  • With 52 TVCs, DDB Mudra launches Big Bazaar’s biggest campaign

    With 52 TVCs, DDB Mudra launches Big Bazaar’s biggest campaign

    MUMBAI: Multiple creatives for a certain marketing initiative is nothing new today. Marketers come up with variants of advertising campaign to keep the target audience engaged, but the country’s largest hypermarket chain, Big Bazaar has launched its latest marketing campaign which will leave all others plain faced.

     

    Unlike the norm of doing a TVC which tries to establish the brand positioning and message thought through a single or a series of TVCs, the campaign from Big Bazaar will see 52 different TVCs which will go on to take one product every week from the hypermarket chain.

     

    DDB Mudra Group CEO and managing director Madhukar Kamath said, “It is an unique, never done before and a brave campaign which can only come from a leader like Big Bazaar. The brand has been at the forefront of innovation and leading change. This campaign redefines the step-change that Big Bazaar is making in its relationship with its current and prospective shoppers. It will further establish Big Bazaar as a company that sells products which enables and inspires every Indian to make their world look beautiful on the outside, as well as on the inside.”

     

    Each TVC is a light-hearted commentary on the changes that are happening in Indian society, and make for interesting stories of the role that products play in making people’s life more beautiful and enriching. These short stories also trigger positive social change like men lending a helping hand to household work, health consciousness, people becoming more stylish, society becoming more secular etc. This campaign strengthens the connection of Big Bazaar with its current customers, while appealing to new younger Indian consumers at the same time.

     

    DDB Mudra Group chairman & CCO Sonal Dabral said, “If it’s not engaging and insightful it’s not creative. That’s what we told ourselves when it came to the creative execution of these films. We looked at deep insights around each of the 52 products to come up with stories for each one of them. Our objective was to showcase the brand and its usage and yet convey the small change that the product has brought into the lives of new Indians through nuanced and closely observed insights. In terms of tonality, we have kept it real because that’s the voice of Big Bazaar.  These are not ad films they are closely observed 52 sparkling stories of the small changes Big Bazaar and its products are bringing to everyday India.”

     

    The campaign will be backed by OOH, radio and in-store visual merchandising.

  • JWT celebrates 150 years of Pioneering in Advertising

    JWT celebrates 150 years of Pioneering in Advertising

    MUMBAI: In celebration of the agency’s 150th anniversary, JWT today announced a yearlong program of innovative events and activations to highlight its pioneering spirit and rich history around the world.
     

    “JWT’s 150th is much more than just a birthday. This is a platform to galvanize our employees around our pioneering roots and spirit of inventiveness, and to share our mission with our clients and the world,” said Chairman and CEO Bob Jeffrey.
     

    J. Walter Thompson, the agency’s founder and the original ad man, paved the way for what is now known as modern advertising. Since the agency first opened its doors in 1864, Thompson’s vision as an innovator and pioneer has expanded into a global network of 10,000 employees, spanning 200 offices and 90 countries.
     

    “Every day is an opportunity to reinvent tomorrow, and together with our pioneering clients, we will continue to seize that opportunity for the next 150 years,” said Jeffrey.
     

    Over the decades, JWT has maintained a number of the industry’s longest-standing client relationships including: Unilever (109 years), Kimberly-Clark (84), Nestle (81), Kellogg’s (80), Rolex (68), Ford (67), U.S. Marines (66), Johnson & Johnson (51) and Shell (49).

    In celebrating the agency’s rich history of pioneering, JWT drives forward in its mission and vision for the future to invent pioneering ideas that people want to participate in and spend time with.
     

    “It is an honor to join JWT during such a momentous time. This is an agency with pioneering DNA – the brand, the clients and the people,” said Gustavo Martinez, Global President for JWT Worldwide. He added, “Our strategy for growth in the year ahead as a company will also draw its strength from our spirit of pioneering.”

     
    From hiring the first female creative director and pioneering magazine advertising to being the first agency to expand overseas and the first to send a Kit Kat into space, JWT has pioneered in the world of advertising with groundbreaking ideas that are bold and engaging, and introduced many of the world’s most memorable communications.

     
    In 2013, JWT’s innovative work won a number of accolades at global awards shows including the preeminent Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. JWT’s “Fakka” for Vodafone brought home numerous awards, including a gold lion and was also the most awarded piece of strategic work in the industry last year. Additional award-winning campaigns were JWT Beijing’s “Missing Children” app for Baobeihuijia.com and JWT New York’s “Yes, Virginia the Musical” for Macy’s.

     
    And, JWT’s work for Nestlé’s Kit Kat played a significant role in the brand being named one of the most influential candy bars of all time by TIME magazine.  

     
    To kick off the anniversary celebrations, Jeffrey and Martinez unveiled a commemorative logo that revives the original historical mark from JWT’s earliest visual branding: the Owl and the Lamp. The owl, long a symbol of wisdom in many cultures, and the lamp, an emblem of light and clarity of vision, together symbolize that experience and knowledge lead to success.

     
    Additional 150th celebrations underway for the year include:

    •The Commodore Challenge – an internal contest in search of the three most pioneering ideas for the world, with cash prizes

    •Cannes seminar on pioneering and innovation

    •Pioneering Influencer Series with clients, alumni and industry icons

    •Helen Lansdowne Resor Scholarship for female creatives

    •Interactive historical timeline

    •Historical content series highlighting JWT’s first and best stories from around the world

    •JWTIntelligence 150th Initiative

    In 2014, JWT will also continue to reinvent and bolster our digital capabilities. Actively managing digital change, JWT touts more than 2,000 nontraditional specialists dedicated to delivering digital work for clients. The agency will continue to acquire pure-play digital agencies, with a special focus on emerging markets — recent acquisitions include Thomas Idea in Thailand, Post Visual in South Korea, Designercity in Hong Kong and Lemon Sky in Poland — while expanding existing digital networks.
     

    New business growth is an important signal of JWT’s contemporary relevance, as it often involves attracting clients from newer industries. The agency was recently named global agency of record for PUMA, confirming JWT’s credibility in the booming sectors of sport and fashion. Other new business wins included Energizer personal care brands, Air Canada and The Singapore Tourism Board.

  • Global rebranding: Draftfcb is now FCB

    Global rebranding: Draftfcb is now FCB

    MUMBAI: Six months after becoming Global CEO of Draftfcb, Carter Murray is changing the agency’s name to FCB (Foote, Cone & Belding). In keeping with the global rebranding, effective 4.30 PM IST, March 10, 2014, the India operation will be called FCBUlka Advertising and it will have a new logo.

     

    The colours in the logo have been drawn from the colours of the flags of the world, symbolising the heritage, equity and flavour of the local advertising company and the wide network reach. The diagonal line through the letter B and the letter U of Ulka signifies the importance of the local brand name alongside the global name.

     

    Commenting on the new brand name and identity, Nagesh Alai, Group Chairman, FCBUlka, said, “FCB has a tremendous 140 years’ equity globally and in India Ulka has a 50 years plus great heritage. FCBUlka will continue to deliver on the integrated offering to its clients and stay focused on what it has been doing over the years – Making Brands Famous and Making Clients Rich.”

     

    “Two distinct brands, Draft and FCB, were merged together seven years ago,” said Murray in a global statement. “The entities have united and now have one seamless offering. It’s time to simplify our brand name as well to reflect our focused identity and direction.”

     

    Specifically, the global network will be called FCB (Foote, Cone & Belding), with an important local element celebrated market-by-market. Typically, each office will add the city in which they operate, for instance, FCB Shanghai, FCB Paris or FCB Chicago, using a diagonal line through the B and the first letter of the local moniker. In some markets we will add the name of an acquired company such as in London, where the office will be FCB Inferno, due to the local equity and relevance of the acquired company. In instances where there is an agency with specific expertise, it will take on that name, as with FCB Health. And, in rare cases, the name of a highly respected creative leader will be used to further enhance the office’s delivery and reputation. That is the situation in New York, where the agency is being renamed FCB Garfinkel.

     

    Starting today, offices will introduce the new brand name with a colourful logo design. It loosely depicts the colours of country flags from around the world, incorporating their local attributes while embodying the strength of our global network.

     

    Importantly, Howard Draft remains executive chairman and key advisor to Murray. “Howard has been incredibly supportive of me and the direction we are taking the company,” said Murray. “All of the capabilities that made Draft such an industry leader remain essential to the future of FCB, including CRM, analytics, retail and activation. We will continue to invest in and deliver on all of these while ensuring a strong overall creative product.”

     

    “I believe it’s a really great time for FCB. We have terrific talent and some early momentum. There’s a lot of potential here and I’m excited for our future,” added Murray.

     

    With nearly 140 years of communications expertise, FCB’s worldwide network spans 150 offices in 90 countries, with over 8,000 people, and is part of the Interpublic Group of Companies.

  • Haresh Nayak takes charge as regional head, Posterscope

    Haresh Nayak takes charge as regional head, Posterscope

    MUMBAI: Haresh Nayak has been appointed as the regional director for out-of-home (OOH) specialist Posterscope in Asia Pacisic by Dentsu Aegis Network.

     

    Nayak will report to global CEO Annie Rickard and Ashish Bhasin, who will take on the role of chairman of Posterscope and PSLive Asia Pacific, along with his other responsibilities as chairman and CEO, Dentsu Aegis Network south Asia.

     

    As managing director of Posterscope India, Nayak built it from a start-up to a market leading player in just six years, and a significant profit contributor to the Group’s Indian business. He will continue with his responsibilities in India, but will work across the region to ensure Posterscope has a consistent proposition with market leading products and a maximised trading position.

     

    On his new role, Posterscope Asia Pacific regional director Nayak said, “I am extremely delighted to take on this role. Posterscope in the region has a strong presence and I am looking forward to building on this and offering clients specialized and differentiated out-of-home offerings.”

     

    Dentsu Aegis Network Asia Pacific CEO Nick Waters said, “Haresh has a proven track record of success in his home market of India. He’ll now work to drive growth and continue innovating out-of-home for our clients across the region and I look forward to seeing how the business develops under his management.”

     

    “Posterscope is a real driver for the business in India and the appointment of Haresh to the role of Regional Director is a really positive step for the brand. Working closely with Haresh, we aim to really maximise our specialist advice and products to give great value to our clients,” added Posterscope and PSLive Asia Pacific chairman and Dentsu Aegis Network South Asia chairman & CEO, Ashish Bhasin.

     

    Nayak has spent over 15 years in the OOH and media industry and has broad experience in OOH, retail, research and management. He started his career at Prime Outdoors (a division of Primetime-IP Media Services). Prior to joining Posterscope India, he held the position of Business Director and National Buying Head at Aaren Initiative. Under his leadership, Posterscope Group launched Posterscope India in 2008.

  • Rana Barua promoted as the CEO of Contract Advertising

    Rana Barua promoted as the CEO of Contract Advertising

    Mumbai: Rana Barua has been elevated as the CEO of Contract India.

     

    Rana who is currently travelling will take charge with immediate effect.

     

    His elevation as the CEO is in recognition of the stability and growth that Contract has had in the last one year.  He has been able to successfully build a team of some of the finest talent in the industry, along with winning several new businesses for the agency and enhancing existing client relations.

     

    Announcing the development, JWT South Asia CEO Colvyn Harris said, “In Rana, we have a leader who has very ably carried the mantle of leading Contract to a renewed position of power that has made the agency a destination of choice for brands and talent.”

     

    Over the last twelve months, Rana has driven Contract’s diversification across mainstream, digital, design and other platforms of engagement marketing to ensure the best value proposition for clients.

  • ICC scouts for official spirits partner for World Cup 2015

    ICC scouts for official spirits partner for World Cup 2015

    MUMBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is inviting alcohol companies to submit proposals to become the official spirits partner of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in Australia and New Zealand.

     

    The successful applicant will receive marketing rights and benefits that will enable it to use valuable ICC intellectual property in association with its spirits brands. In addition to having the right to sell products through retail channels using the exclusive ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 event logo, the successful applicant will also supply product at all 14 venues of the event.

     

    ICC GM commercial Campbell Jamieson said in a statement: “Responsible consumption of alcoholic spirits while watching sport has long been a part of the culture of Australia and New Zealand. The opportunity to become the official spirits partner of ICC is a valuable marketing and business opportunity for any spirits brand.”

     

    The ICC is seeking companies with a proven track record in running national sponsorship marketing programs and supplying product at major sporting events, as well as sufficient human and financial resources to leverage the promotional opportunity.

     

     “Proposals should clearly set out how the company will leverage the marketing rights granted to them to maximise association with ICC and enhance the status of this prestigious global sporting event,” Jamieson added.