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Category: Media and Advertising

  • IAMAI names FreeCharge’s Kunal Shah as new chairman

    IAMAI names FreeCharge’s Kunal Shah as new chairman

    MUMBAI: The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) has named FreeCharge co-founder and CEO Kunal Shah as its new chairman.

     

    The move was necessitated following Nishant Rao’s move to join Freshdesk as global chief operating officer, from LinkedIn.

     

    The Association has also named CCAvenue CEO Vishwas Patel as the new treasurer. Saavn Vinodh Bhat co-founder, president & chief strategy officer remains the vice-chairman of the association. 

     

    Shah co-founded FreeCharge in August 2010 with the aim to build a business that turned recharges into rewarding experiences for its consumers. In April 2015, FreeCharge was acquired by Snapdeal. Post acquisition, FreeCharge continues to be an independent entity under Shah’s leadership.

  • Dentsu India elevates four execs; eyes No. 2 rank by 2017

    Dentsu India elevates four execs; eyes No. 2 rank by 2017

    MUMBAI: Dentsu India is set to move towards version 3.0 of its India story.  The company has a two-fold aim to transform the creative reputation of the Dentsu brand in India, bringing it into the top 5 and contribute towards the objective of taking the Dentsu Aegis Network towards an ambitious No. 2 position by 2017.

    In line with this, the roles of four key professionals in the India leadership team of Dentsu have been upgraded.

    The current CEO of Dentsu Creative Impact Group and national planning director (Dentsu India – North) Narayan Devanathan has been promoted with immediate effect to the newly created role of Dentsu India group executive & strategy officer.

    In his role, Devanathan will be the chief steward of the Dentsu brand in India, ensuring consistency of vision and output, in line with Dentsu’s global philosophy of good innovation. He will also play the role of an integrator with the other members of the Dentsu Aegis Network, both within and outside India, helping leverage the power of the network.

    In addition, he will continue to helm the two specialist units of Dentsu Mama Lab (dedicated to connecting brands with mothers meaningfully) and Citizen Dentsu (dedicated to connecting brands with social purpose).

    Dentsu Marcom branch head Harjot Narang has been promoted with immediate effect as the company’s president. In recognition of Narang’s contribution to the agency’s turnaround over the last four years, and his continued drive to catapult the agency to be counted among the top 3 agencies in the Delhi / NCR market, Narang will be charged with driving the pace of growth at Dentsu Marcom.

    Dentsu Creative Impact brand head Amit Wadhwa has been promoted with immediate effect as the agency’s president. 

    Over the last four years, Wadhwa has grown from heading the account management function to overseeing the branch’s operations, and has grown the agency from strength to strength. His charge, with more autonomy, will now be to transform the creative reputation of the agency while achieving never-before scale.

    Dentsu branded agencies India group CFO C.P Arora will have an expanded role in the Dentsu Aegis Network in India as well. He will now, in addition to his existing responsibilities, take charge as Dentsu Aegis Network India (North) CFO.

    Commenting on the developments, Dentsu Aegis Network, South Asia chairman & CEO Ashish Bhasin said, “We are now at the forefront of our next phase of growth in our creative agencies and it is important for us to recognise the excellent talent pool that we have within the network and give them more autonomy to better service our clients. Narayan, Harjot, Amit and C.P. are amongst the best that we have in the network and I am sure that, they will drive the Dentsu Creative Agencies to new heights and help Dentsu Aegis Network become the second largest agency group in India by end-2017, overturning for the first time the existing ranking which has historically been in place for over 80 years in India.”

  • Wipro names Abidali Neemuchwala as new CEO

    Wipro names Abidali Neemuchwala as new CEO

    NEW DELHI: Information technology services provider Wipro has appointed Abidali Z Neemuchwala as the new CEO.

     

    Prior to this, he was group president and chief operating officer of Wipro for the past nine months. At present, he is not on the board of Wipro.

     

    A Tata Consultancy Services veteran, Neemuchwala worked for 23 years in leadership roles.

     

    The Bangalore-based Wipro said current CEO TK Kurien will become the executive vice chairman and will be a member of Wipro board till March 2017.

     

    A spokesperson of Wipro told Indiantelevision.com that the aim was to ensure smooth transition of executive powers to the new CEO.

     

    Neemuchwala will handle the mandate to take Wipro through the next phase of growth.

     

    Wipro chairman Azim Premji said, “As executive vice chairman, Kurien will enable Abid by leveraging his deep relationships with customers and chart out a new technology roadmap for Wipro.”

     

    Premji said Neemuchwala has effortlessly assimilated into the culture and ethos of Wipro in his nine months as the group president and chief operating officer.

     

    Kurien will continue to report to Premji and will remain a member of the Wipro Board until 31 March, 2017.

     

    “I am convinced that we are well positioned to seize new opportunities in today’s marketplace. I look forward to working with the thousands of Wiproites to take our company to greater heights,” said Neemuchwala.

     

    Both Kurien and Neemuchwala will be on the Board of the company. Both these appointments are effective 1 February, 2016.

     

    Neemuchwala came to Wipro as the group president and COO from 1 April, 2015 from TCS, He has been handling the service lines of global infrastructure services, business application services, business process services, and advanced technology solutions. He will also head business operations; the geographies comprising Continental Europe, Africa, and LATAM; strategic engagements, advisor relationships as well as the marketing function.

     

    An Electronics & Communication engineer from NIT, Raipur, with a Masters in Industrial Management from IIT, Mumbai, Neemuchwala has experience in business and technology operations, process, and consulting.

  • GroupM Malaysia names Robin Bach Kolling as head of Connect

    GroupM Malaysia names Robin Bach Kolling as head of Connect

    MUMBAI: GroupM Malaysia has appointed digital strategist Robin Bach Kolling to the recently revamped role of head of Connect.

     

    Bach Kolling has moved into the new role from the Netherlands where he has been in the digital industry for the past 15 years. As head of Connect, he will be responsible for overseeing all of GroupM’s paid digital media services, including Search, Performance, Paid Social and the agency’s rapidly growing Programmatic services.

     

    In the Netherlands, Bach Kolling has covered all corners of the digital field including content, social media, mobile, e-commerce, performance marketing and programmatic buying. He is an experienced digital strategist and has headed several digital units in previous roles. His last position before moving to GroupM was head of digital at strategic media agency M2Media, where he also was responsible for building the new programmatic specialist unit.

     

    GroupM Malaysia CEO Girish Menon said, “Our shared digital services were earlier hubbed under the brand name Interaction. Earlier this year, we restructured and grouped all paid digital media capabilities under the newly created umbrella of Connect. As the digital marketing space becomes increasingly complex, we recognise the need to build deep specialisations, but also synergise across these verticals to provide clients with as seamless a digital journey as possible. This is Robin’s key responsibility.”

     

    Bach Kolling said, “By having all biddable digital media consolidated in Connect we can provide synergy for our clients to fully adapt to the demands and opportunities of the fast emerging real-time media era. We can guide our clients in the opportunities that data-driven marketing can bring by combining our extensive shared digital experience with innovative tech solutions to reach our client’s business objectives. Connect will continue to focus on securing a ‘brand safe’ environment in the programmatic landscape by building Trusted Marketplaces with quality inventory from premium publishers. With the resources of GroupM and the capabilities of Connect and Xaxis, we will be able to maintain our market leader position in Malaysia by adapting inventory to the highest viewability standards and by pro-actively preventing ad fraud, which will clearly stay a fast growing industry challenge. As an industry we definitely have some exciting times ahead.”

  • Madison Media Plus appoints Anita Bose as COO

    Madison Media Plus appoints Anita Bose as COO

    MUMBAI: Madison Media Plus has appointed Anita Bose as chief operating officer. Bose will be responsible for driving the agency’s Delhi office.

     

    Madison Media and OOH group CEO Vikram Sakhuja said, “Today, business cycles have shortened, brand plans are more fluid, and the media environment is in a much greater flux. A person like Anita has the unique skills to lend stability to chaos. I look forward to Madison Media Plus rising to new heights under her leadership.”

     

    “It is an honour to be associated with Madison Media and work with accomplished industry veterans like Vikram Sakhuja and Sam Balsara, together. I am looking forward to empower the Delhi team so that we become an unbeatable winning team – committed & united, driven by client & industry needs – known to provide services that set industry standards,” added Bose.

     

    Prior to joining Madison Media Plus, Bose spent 13 years at WPP and GroupM agencies like Mindshare as business director, Team LG and MEC North as general manager. She has also had stints with agencies like Starcom MediaVest, FCB Ulka and McCann Erickson.

     

  • Legendari Group ropes in Leander Paes as Global Brand Ambassador

    Legendari Group ropes in Leander Paes as Global Brand Ambassador

    MUMBAI: 17-time Grand Slam champion, tennis superstar and India’s Padma Bhushan awardee, Leander Paes has been appointed as the Global Brand Ambassador of the LegendariGoup for a period of three years (2016-2018). 

    Legendari Group’s association with Paes will commence from 2016’s first tournament on the ATP World Tour, the Chennai Open. The move is made more significant with 2016 being an Olympic year. The Legendari Group will support Paes in every step towards achieving Olympic glory as he prepares to participate in the prestigious quadrennial event for a 7th consecutive time, a record for an Indian sportsperson and in tennis internationally, and an achievement held by very few world athletes. 

    In his role as Global Brand Ambassador, Leander will be part of #TeamLEGENDARIAthlete. The Legendari Group aims to utilize the power of brand Leander asa springboard to promote tennis and other growing sports across India and Asia. 

    Founded in 2015, the Legendari Group is based in Singapore with offices in Dubai and Tokyo. It made its foray on the world map with ownership of the Japan franchise, the Legendari Japan Warriors, in the recently concluded International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) 2015. Leander was an integral player of the team that played across five venues – Japan, Philippines, India, Dubai and Singapore, along with other team-mates that included tennis superstar Maria Sharapova, Kei Nishikori, Marat Safin, Mirjana Lucic, Philipp Kohlschreiber and Kurumi Nara. 

    Unveiling his tennis jersey that will now don the Legendari Group logo, Leander Paes said, “I am thrilled to growmy partnership with the Legendari Group and work closely with them as a Global Brand Ambassador. Having been associated with the Group as part of the LegendariJapan Warriors, I am excited to associate with them to promote sports, especially tennis. It is an honour to be the first #LegendariAthlete, and I look forward to utilizing my abilities to drive the growth of sports as a way of life.”

    Legendari Group was founded by sports entrepreneur and enthusiast, Shanthan Reddy. Reddy completed his MBA in Sports Administration from Switzerland, and went on to gain immense experience in the industry working across multiple countries in Asia, Europe and America. Having worked with national and international sports federations, Reddy’s astute business sense and passion for sports, especially tennis, cricket and hockey led him to start this new business. 

    Presenting Leander the new jersey, Executive Chairman & Managing Director, Shanthan Reddy said, “Leander has inspired many generations of tennis players and sportsmen in our country, and across the world with his game. We are absolutely delighted with this opportunity, and wish him success at Rio 2016 and through the year. Sports knows no boundaries and is gender agnostic. We at the Legendari Group are committed to sports, and will continue to identify and add similar such sports initiatives to our portfolio with an aim to emerge as a global leader.”

    The Legendari Group will have Navneet Sharma at the helm of affairs. With more than 23 years in the sports, media and leisure industries, Navneet comes with rich, varied strategic and operational experience and deep-rooted relationships in the global sports and media industries. 

    Speaking at the press conference, Group Chief Executive Officer, Navneet Sharma said, “Leander is a towering sports personality in the field of tennis in India and globally. With 17 Grand Slam titles to his name, he continues to be one of the fittest players on the Tour. His indefatigable spirit is infectious, and we are delightedthat he will partnering with the Legendari Group in its global initiatives.”

    The Legendari Group has interests in tennis, cricket, hockey, football among other sports. Its vision is to create a value-based sports culture and community eco-system that will promote sports with investments in talent and facilities development. Its key areas of focus will be sports management and marketing, media rights managements, athlete management, sports entertainment and event production.

  • Water Communications unveils new ad for Marshalls Wallcoverings

    Water Communications unveils new ad for Marshalls Wallcoverings

    MUMBAI: Mumbai based communications agency Water Communications recently unveiled a new campaign for Marshalls Wallcoverings – ‘Design Wala Colour.’

    The campaign reflects that design is indeed an important element in our lives. However, when it comes to our walls, we think only in terms of colours and not designs. The ad stresses on the point that by adding designs to our walls, we can make the world around us even more beautiful.

    Speaking on the new campaign, Water Communications director Vandana Sethhi said, “When we think of renovating our homes or offices, we immediately start thinking different colours for different rooms and walls but for everything else in life, we always think Colurs plus Design. So the idea is instead of thinking mere colour for our walls, we think design wala colour.”

    “Marshalls Wallcoverings has pioneered the concept of wallcoverings in India. With ‘Design Wala Colour’, we once again intend to highlight to our audience the fact that walls, like other elements that are part of the home décor need to be designed and not just coloured. Take for example – windows, they are an extension of our walls and we invest a lot of time and money to get the best patterns and designs for the curtains. Similarly, we need to change our outlook towards our walls as well and go beyond just colours,” added Marshalls Wallcoverings director Mona Menon.

  • TGB launches Tata Coffee Grand with disruptive campaign

    TGB launches Tata Coffee Grand with disruptive campaign

    MUMBAI: Known for inspiring campaigns like Jaago Re, Tata Global Beverages (TGB) has launched a new marketing campaign for its new premium product Tata Coffee Grand.

    Tata Global Beverages regional president- India Sushant Dash says, “We are excited to launch Tata Coffee Grand at a time when coffee consumption is poised to grow significantly in the country. We are launching an innovative product and in keeping with this, we decided on a marketing mix that is different and disruptive. This is a refreshing take using compelling storytelling that speaks to both existing coffee drinkers, as well as young, curious prospective consumers who are looking for a new beverage of choice. With this campaign, TGBL looks to challenge the category codes in a way that is uniquely Tata Coffee Grand.”

    Conceptualised by Mullen Lintas, the campaign will be supported by an extensive social media plan and media integrations. The advertisement will be aired in Hindi, Tamil and other languages.

    Mullen Lintas NCD Shriram Iyer adds, “With the launch of a new product in one of the oldest categories in the country but one that’s just beginning to see a surge in growth, came along an opportunity to do something really unique and interesting. We’ve tried to break away from the monotony of conventional advertising on coffee by enlisting the help of a South Indian grandmother who’s anything but traditional. Decked in hip hop gear and bling, through an integrated 360 degree campaign, she teaches consumers on what it takes to make great coffee and to stop drinking what has now begin to pass for coffee, by rapping it.”

  • CarDekho launches new ‘monu-mental’ TVC highlighting new feature

    CarDekho launches new ‘monu-mental’ TVC highlighting new feature

    MUMBAI: CarDekho’s recently released quirky TVC will strike a chord with auto enthusiasts who are ‘senti-mental’ about their car and if they believe that all the information, right down to the vehicle’s sound, is ‘instru-mental’ before making a purchase?

    Highlighting the new ‘Feel the Car’ feature available on the CarDekho app, the off-hand, humorous TVC highlights the unique approach undertaken to bring alive a car through the app feature that enables a truly immersive virtual car experience for users.

    Contrary to the normal video advertisements featuring “industry experts,” the entire TVC has been shot with real employees, with all the aspects such as shooting, editing, casting or post-production being handled in-house by CarDekho to maintain the integrity and clarity of the messaging.

    Speaking on the TVC, CarDekho CMO LK Gupta said, “We know how attached Indian consumers are to their cars, and we know how crazy our own employees are to develop product features to really bring alive a virtual car experience. This new TVC is the perfect way of defining the new feature, explained and demonstrated by the actual mavericks behind the development. We are confident that our new feature will enhance user experience and allow consumers to make the most informed car purchase decisions.”

    With a full 360 degree interior and exterior view, recreation of the sounds such as horn, ignition or revving, embedded video and text pop-ups to explain various car features, CarDekho’s ‘Feel the Car’ feature is a high-functionality development. With a unique confluence of video, text and audio stimulus made available for users to peruse, CarDekho has customised the feature for more than 40 popular car models.

  • Dentsu forms new company in Thailand

    Dentsu forms new company in Thailand

    MUMBAI: Dentsu’s wholly owned subsidiary Dentsu Tec Inc. has established a new company in Thailand called Promo Tec IHQ Co., Ltd., to oversee the operations of the Promo Tec sales promotion network across Asia.

     

    The establishment of the new regional headquarters was enabled by the government of Thailand’s new tax and fiscal preferential policies for foreign capital. Promo Tec IHQ will commence operations on 1 January, 2016.

     

    Promo Tec Pte. Ltd. was established in Singapore in October 2011 as the first step of the Dentsu Group’s sales promotion business in Asia, and Promo Tec subsidiaries have been established in five other countries across the region. Although growth has been significant in the eight companies that do business in these six countries (India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam), continued strong business growth is expected beyond 2016.

     

    Business has been particularly robust in Thailand, with Promo Tec Thailand, which was established in 2013, receiving orders for several large-scale projects. The strengthening and expansion of the services provided by the Promo Tec network has become an urgent matter.

     

    In light of these circumstances, and in order to take full advantage of the government of Thailand’s policy reviews, the Dentsu Group decided to establish its Promo Tec regional headquarters in Thailand.

     

    In addition to a reduction in costs that will be achieved by consolidating the supervision and management functions of all the Promo Tec operations, Promo Tec IHQ will continue to promote the further increase in sophistication of the “Japanese quality” services that are the strengths of the Promo Tec network.

     

    Promo Tec IHQ will work in close cooperation with other Dentsu Group companies in Asia to provide clients with fast, high-quality solutions that address their increasingly diverse and advanced sales promotion needs.