ITV

Category: Media and Advertising

  • Havas media bagged the integrated media mandate for BlueStone.com

    Havas media bagged the integrated media mandate for BlueStone.com

    MUMBAI: Havas media group has won the integrated media mandate of BlueStone.com, one of the leading online store for jewellery and accessories. The business of BlueStone.com is estimated at over INR 35 crore.

     

     “We are aggressively scaling up BlueStone. Havas media has the attitude, agility and skill to partner with us in this growth. We are glad to have them on board and see them as long term partners,” asserted BlueStone.com CEO Gaurav Kushwaha.

     

    BlueStone.com CMO Pushkar Jain said, “The Digital at Core philosophy of Havas Media is in line with our thinking. Their integrated media strengths further gave us the confidence that they know how to in navigate this territory.”

     

    “We were impressed with Havas Media’s passion and commitment towards BlueStone.com. We look forward to this association,” continued BlueStone.com VP marketing Ahshul Khandelwal.

     

    Speaking on the win, Havas media group-India and South Asia CEO Anita Nayyar asserted, “We are delighted at this win. Havas media has been growing at three times the market only because of our aggressive new business acquisitions. BlueStone adds another feather to our cap. We look forward to working with the very enterprising BlueStone team.”

     

    Havas media group-India managing director Mohit Joshi voiced, “Havas Media’s unique proposition focused on meaningful brands has given us an edge in acquiring new businesses. This win strengthens our new age client (dotcom) portfolio and further boosts our Bangalore operations.”

     

    BlueStone has received funding form Accel Partners, Kalaari Capital and Saama Capital, IvyCap Ventures, Dragoneer and Ratan Tata.

  • Dentsu Aegis appointed as digital agency for Hachette book

    Dentsu Aegis appointed as digital agency for Hachette book

    MUMBAI: Hachette book publishing India has appointed a digital agency, Isobar, from the Dentsu Aegis Network. 

     

    “As a part of our larger commitment to exploring newer ways of reaching our readers we’ve brought Isobar on-board to help us with our social media presence. Isobar’s pitch captured the heart of why books endure and how people connect with books. Their clear understanding of what we need and the enthusiasm of the team assures us that our brand and our books are in good hands,” asserted Hachette India managing director Thomas Abraham.

     

    Isobar India managing director Shamsuddin Jasani added, “We are very happy to be associated with Hachette India, as we are always looking at experiences across different sectors and different types of clients. This win adds a very important category of books and publications to our ever expanding repertoire.”

     

    “We recently instituted a focused business development unit to go after interesting brands. This win is just the beginning of many more to come. Happy to be working with Hachette India, it’s an interesting category and the team is excited to create innovative and creative work for them,” added Isobar India Vice President Gopa Kumar

  • Dentsu Aegis Network forms ninth global network brand MKTG

    Dentsu Aegis Network forms ninth global network brand MKTG

    MUMBAI: Dentsu Aegis Network has formed its ninth global network brand, MKTG, the lifestyle marketing agency it acquired in August 2014 headquartered in New York. 

     

    The agency’s transition towards operating as one global brand, MKTG will grow from 450 full time employees and 7,000 brand ambassadors in the United States, to nearly 1,000 full time employees in 14 countries, providing a truly global lifestyle marketing solution for clients. 

     

    The realigned agency will provide clients with an integrated through-the-line service offering including sports and entertainment consulting, experiential marketing, sponsorship identification, negotiation and activation, hospitality, strategy, research and insights, custom measurement, digital and creative capabilities, content development, design and retail marketing.

     

    “The tremendous growth and importance of lifestyle marketing made it clear that strategically it was time to unify our like-minded businesses as one single brand. As a network, we are constantly evolving to meet the demands of our clients, to be responsive to the needs and desires of consumers and to remain pioneering in the evolution of our industry,” said Dentsu Aegis Network CEO and Dentsu Inc. executive officer Jerry Buhlmann.

     

    In addition, out-of-home agency posterscope’s experiential arm, psLIVE’s offices across Europe and Asia Pacific, South Africa’s crimson room, Australia/New Zealand’s Apollo Nation and US-based sports and entertainment consultancy team Epic will be realigned as part of MKTG over the next 12 months.

     

    Dentsu Aegis Network chairman & CEO South Asia Ashish Bhasin said, “In India, the lifestyle marketing solutions market is growing at twice the rate of the ATL market. With Fountainhead, a leading player in India and MKTG, a leading global player, we now will have the best offering of global standards, through Fountainhead MKTG, which will make us the best lifestyle marketing solutions agency in India. This is another big step forward in helping us achieve our mission of being the second largest agency group by end 2017 in India, overturning for the first time the existing ranking which has historically been in place for over 80 years in India.”

     

    “We are truly excited about this next chapter and the opportunity to work across the network to deliver unrivalled lifestyle marketing solutions for brands. The realignment will also greatly benefit our current long-standing client base and our employees who now have the ability to plug into resources and opportunities around the globe,” said MKTG global brand president and MKTG USA CEO Charlie Horsey.

  • Grey group India hires Salil Inamdar as national head – digital

    Grey group India hires Salil Inamdar as national head – digital

    MUMBAI: Grey group India has appointed Salil Inamdar as the national head for digital content and creative, based in the Bangalore office.

     

    Inamdar joins from Interactive Avenues, where he was heading digital creative and content.

     

    He will spearhead his capabilities across all areas of digital communications for clients who avail digital services. Alongside he will also oversee work across all Grey group India offices.

     

    Inamdar will report to the agency’s president – digital services Leroy Alvares on the digital business and client needs; and creatively to chief creative officer Sandipan Bhattacharyya.

     

    Bhattacharyya said, “Salil straddles rich experiences across digital, television and mainline and that’s what makes him just right for re-purposing the digital offering at Grey. He will also be instrumental in pushing our mandate of famously effective integrated ideas that are served up in the consumers’ medium of choice.”

     

    “I am delighted to have Salil join us. I am sure with him on board the we will sharpen the digital practice and journey toward impactful communications that will make a difference to our clients business and consumer,” added Alvares.

     

    Inamdar said, “I strongly believe that advertising is changing and the future will be about brands and agencies working together to create meaningful impact on people and society. With a medium agnostic approach, brands and agencies will be evaluated on how they have been able to change people’s lives. This transformation is just around the corner, and I look forward to my new role at Grey to create a new structure where context, technology and consumer impact will be aligned together.”

     

    He has previously worked with companies like Saatchi & Saatchi, CNN IBN, Microsoft and Happy Creative.

  • Orchard Advertising names Sharmine Panthaky as VP & head of Mumbai ops

    Orchard Advertising names Sharmine Panthaky as VP & head of Mumbai ops

    MUMBAI: Orchard Advertising has appointed Sharmine Panthaky as vice president and branch head based in the Mumbai office.

     

    She joins from Interspace Solutions, where she worked as national head – retail and customer engagement.

     

    At Orchard, Panthaky will lead the relationship with key clients and work towards the agency’s growth.

     

    Speaking on their move to strengthen its leadership team with this new hire, Orchard Advertising COO Kaizad Pardiwalla said, “Sharmine joins us having had rich experience in business development and leading many national and multinational client relations. In her we found the unique ability to define the purpose for brands and devise business solutions that could unlock their true potential in the market. She will work with a multi-disciplinary team across The Leo Group India’s specialised offerings in digital, retail, activation, etc., thus helping to drive an integrated communication initiative on the brands we partner. I wish her the very best in taking Orchard to new heights.”

     

    Panthaky added, “Orchard has a legacy of great work on brands anyone would be proud to have on their roster. The leadership team has inspiring and exciting plans for the future. The opportunity to be part of this great journey was a no brainer. Since I’m joining mainstream advertising with Orchard after having spent many years in Out of Home, BTL and other disciplines, it gives me great joy and a feeling of being back home. I’m excited to partner clients and contribute hugely in getting great work out, thus helping to grow the agency’s business.”

     

    Panthaky is a marketing and communications professional with over 13 years of media and advertising agency experience across mainline advertising, out of home, engagement, news distribution and BTL.

  • Dentsu snaps up Brian Tellis’ Fountainhead; to merge it with psLIVE

    Dentsu snaps up Brian Tellis’ Fountainhead; to merge it with psLIVE

    MUMBAI: Dentsu Aegis Network has acquired Indian event and experiential agency Fountainhead Entertainment founded by Brian Tellis.

     

    It is envisaged that in 2016, Dentsu’s existing experiential offering of psLIVE, with 86 people in India, will be merged with Fountainhead, making the combined agency India’s largest experiential and activation agency business.

     

    As per industry sources, the acquisition is pegged in the region of Rs 350 – 400 crore.

     

    Fountainhead’s expertise and presence within the fastest growing sector of India’s advertising industry adds scale to Dentsu Aegis Network’s growing presence within the country.

     

    Founded by chairman Tellis, managing director Neale Murray and director Otis D’Souza, Fountainhead was later joined by co-directors Pradeep Guha, VG Jairam and Owen Roncon.

     

    Post-acquisition, Fountainhead will continue to be led by Tellis. The current management team will also continue as is. Tellis will report into Dentsu Aegis Network South Asia chairman and CEO Ashish Bhasin.

     

    This acquisition will be one of the largest in India within this sector.

     

    Established in 1994 and now with more than 205 experiential specialists, Fountainhead is headquartered in Mumbai and has offices in Delhi and Bangalore.

     

    Fountainhead supports its client base of more than 100 on all types of events, digital initiatives, product launches, brand activation and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions. The five brands within the business are: Fountainhead Events, Oranjuice Entertainment, Fountainhead Activations, Fountainhead Corporate Journeys and Fountainhead Digital. Together, they deliver in excess of 350 events annually.

     

    Dentsu Aegis Network Asia Pacific CEO Nick Waters said, “Fountainhead’s reputation in the event and activation market, and their extensive experience in both music and sports marketing, complements and strengthens our experiential offering in one of the region’s most exciting markets. This move represents a further step in our continued investment programme in the Indian market. We welcome Brian and the wider team to the network.”

     

    Bhasin said, “As the fastest growing network in India, we are continuing to expand our portfolio of diverse specialisations available to our growing client base. Fountainhead’s creative quality and reputation in the market make it the perfect addition to Dentsu Aegis Network India. Our unique ‘One P & L’ philosophy will help us bring their expertise to all Dentsu Aegis Network clients. This is another big step forward in helping us achieve our mission of being the second largest agency group by end 2017 in India, overturning for the first time the existing ranking which has historically been in place for over 80 years in India.”

     

    Tellis added, “Our vision is to deliver world class experiences to our stake holders. To set benchmarks in delivery through cutting-edge creativity, innovation, value pricing and practices and processes.  We are thrilled to join Dentsu Aegis Network. The sheer dynamism of the group will open up opportunities for us. Our values are well aligned and the potentially combined entity of Fountainhead and psLIVE will become the most comprehensive experiential offering in India. We are very excited about this opportunity and the growth potential it offers. Fountainhead, a full service experiential agency, will now start to align with an enviable spectrum of brands through the Dentsu Aegis Network.”

     

    Fountainhead will retain its identity and branding, working alongside the other specialist Dentsu Aegis Network brands locally: Carat, iProspect, Isobar, Posterscope, Vizeum, Amnet, Dentsu media, Dentsu branded agencies (Dentsu Creative Impact, Dentsu Marcom, Dentsu Communications, Taproot Dentsu, Dentsu Webchutney), WATConsult and Milestone Brandcom. 

  • Myntra to launch Deepika Padukone’s apparel brand

    Myntra to launch Deepika Padukone’s apparel brand

    MUMBAI: The m-commerce platform Myntra will be launching actor Deepika Padukone’s fashion brand for women called All About You.

     

    The brand will be launched in Delhi on 20 October. The entire range of apparel will be available exclusively on the Myntra app.

     

    Padukone said, “All About You, just as the name suggests encourages girls to just be themselves. I am eagerly looking forward to unveiling the brand on 20 October and am delighted to partner with India’s foremost fashion destination, Myntra. ”

     

    Myntra CEO Ananth Narayanan added, “Deepika Padukone is the epitome of style, fashion and elegance. Women across the country style their looks based on her fashion sense. We are delighted that Deepika is foraying into fashion designing with collections that will feature exclusively on Myntra. I am certain that All About You, will be an instant success across the country.”

  • MRUC elects Ushodaya Enterprises director I Venkat as chairman

    MRUC elects Ushodaya Enterprises director I Venkat as chairman

    MUMBAI: Ushodaya Enterprises director I Venkat has been elected as the chairman of Media Research Users Council (MRUC) for a period of two years.

     

    Venkat will replace GroupM South Asia CEO CVL Srinivas.

     

    The decision was taken by MRUC board of directors at its 21st annual general meeting held on 25 September, 2015.

     

    Additionally, HDFC Life senior executive vice president Sanjay Tripathy has taken over from Multi Screen Media president Rohit Gupta as the new MRUC vice chairman.

     

    MRUC CEO Shaswati Saradar has decided to move on after handling the Council for a span of five years and Radhesh Uchil has been nominated as the new MRUC CEO.

     

    DDB Mudra Group executive director N P Sathyamurthy, who earlier headed the Marketing Committee as the chairman, has replaced Paritosh Joshi as chairman of the Technical Committee. 

     

    Spatial Access CEO Nikhil Rangnekar has been named as the new chairman of the Marketing Committee. 

     

    Srinivas and Joshi will serve as mentors for the Council.

  • Amitabh Bachchan to endorse TVS Jupiter

    Amitabh Bachchan to endorse TVS Jupiter

    MUMBAI: TVS Motor Company has roped in Amitabh Bachchan as the brand ambassador for its two-wheeler brand TVS Jupiter. This is the first time that Bachchan will be endorsing an automotive brand in the two-wheeler segment.

     

    The company expects this association with Bachchan to add further value to the brand.

     

    A new commercial featuring Bachchan will soon be rolled out, which has been directed by Shoojit Sircar and built around the festive season.

     

    TVS Motor Company president and CEO K N Radhakrishnan said, “Amitabh Bachchan is held in high esteem in the hearts of India. He embodies the fact that success comes from talent that is nourished with great diligence, character and the spirit of wanting to do ‘Zyada’. This is the philosophy behind TVS Jupiter, ZyadaKaFayda, which we are confident will resonate across India, especially when it is propagated by Shri Bachchan himself. We are very happy to welcome him into the TVS family.”

     

    Bachchan added, “It is an honour to associate with TVS Motors, especially, with its flagship scooter brand – the TVS Jupiter. I felt very welcome, and at home here. While we are working on some very exciting things, the first campaign is looking very good and I am sure will be liked. I look forward to a fulfilling association with the brand. To all members of the TVS Jupiter family, I would like to convey my warm greetings for very happy and prosperous festive season.”

     

    The scooter is available in two variants – TVS Jupiter and TVS Jupiter ZX.

  • Dentsu buys Brazilian mobile solutions company Pontomobi

    Dentsu buys Brazilian mobile solutions company Pontomobi

    MUMBAI: In a bid to strengthen its presence in Brazil’s fast growing mobile advertising market, Dentsu Aegis Network has acquired the Brazilian mobile marketing agency Pontomobi Tecnologia Informatica, Ltda.

     

    The acquisition is, however, subject to approval by Brazil’s regulatory authority.

     

    Founded in 2007, Pontomobi provides a range of services including consulting and development related to mobile strategies for companies, products and services, website construction, the development of applications and games, the provision of a variety of solutions that utilise the proprietary mobile marketing platform developed in-house, and push notification promotions and vouchers that are sent via a short messaging service (SMS).

     

    Post-acquisition, Pontomobi will become part of full-service digital agency Isobar, one of the Group’s eight global network brands, and will be rebranded Pontomobi – Linked by Isobar. The agency will work in collaboration with other Group companies to further expand its presence in Brazil and deliver even more innovative solutions.

     

    According to US research firm eMarketer (March 2015 forecasts), mobile ad spending in Brazil is expected to grow from $250 million in 2014 to $3.34 billion in 2019.