Category: People

BBC Advertising appoints Alistair McEwan as SVP Asia & ANZ

MUMBAI: BBC Advertising has appointed Alistair McEwan as SVP commercial development Asia & ANZ.

McEwan will be responsible for the delivery of profitable advertising sales revenues from the Asia-Pacific region on BBC World News, BBC.com, BBC World Service, Top Gear, BBC Good Food and BBC Worldwide Channels.

Reporting to BBC Advertising EVP Carolyn Gibson, McEwan will also remain part of the ANZ leadership team under BBC Worldwide ANZ managing director Jon Penn, and join the Asia leadership team under EVP & GM Asia David Weiland.

He will play a strategic role in integrating the regional advertising teams and optimising opportunities across BBC Worldwide and BBC Global News Ltd’s portfolio, while building the business’ profile across Asia-Pacific. He will also provide sales and business leadership to his senior management team of sales vice presidents, whilst further developing the capabilities of the high calibre sales team across the region.

This builds on the announcement last September that BBC Worldwide is boosting its ad sales team in Asia to make the most of growth opportunities in the region. VPs John Williams and Katy Xu will continue to run sales and day to day line management of their teams in ASEAN & India and Greater China & North Asia respectively, while both reporting to McEwan. The current ANZ Ad Sales and Brand Partnerships team will continue to report to McEwan.

The role takes effect on 1 July, 2015 and McEwan will work from both the Singapore and Sydney offices.

Gibson said, “For this expanded, strategic role, which is responsible for the whole of BBC Worldwide and BBC Global News Ltd’s portfolio across the region, we were looking for someone who can lead and integrate the teams and drive new commercial opportunities. With his knowledge from working in markets across Asia and ANZ, as well as a mix of print, TV and digital experience, Alistair will be an excellent asset to the BBC Advertising leadership team.”

McEwan added, “Asia-Pacific is a dynamic and very important region for BBC Worldwide, where we are increasingly building audiences with our world-class content and services in both mature and fast growth markets. I’m incredibly excited by the scope of business opportunities across the region, fostering new and existing partnerships and leading a highly talented sales team.”

A key area of focus for McEwan will be driving opportunities around BBC.com and BBC World News. Sustained investment has resulted in an enhanced offering across TV, radio and online, run from a new 24-hour newsroom in London and supported by an extensive network of bureaux and correspondents around the world.

McEwan joined BBC Worldwide in July 2013 as VP for BBC Advertising ANZ. In 2014 he was appointed director of advertising sales & brand partnerships where he has been leading a cross media commercial department for BBC Worldwide ANZ, responsible for multi-channel advertising and sponsorship revenues for the portfolio of media brands and platforms in Australia and New Zealand. Additionally he has been managing the BBC Worldwide joint venture interest with Bauer Park Publishing for Top Gear Australia magazine and its website.

He joined BBC Worldwide from multi-screen media and marketing agency Modaliti and prior to this he was National Group Advertising Director at News Ltd. Before moving to Australia in 2010, he was international advertising director at The New York Times, with his first 12 years in media being with Paris based newspaper the International Herald Tribune where he worked in various commercial roles in Singapore, Johannesburg, London and Paris.

June 11, 2015
Susan Credle to join FCB Worldwide as global chief creative officer

MUMBAI: FCB Worldwide has appointed Susan Credle as global chief creative officer.

FCB Worldwide CEO Carter Murray and Jonathan Harries, who have served as FCB’s global chief creative officer since 2006, jointly began a search for Harries’ successor a year ago.

“The moment we met Susan, we both felt that she would be the perfect creative leader, given our ambition of being a true creative/business partner to our clients to help change consumers’ behavior. Susan is joining a group of talented creative people and her wealth of experience, perspective and leadership style will make us all that much better,” said Murray.

Harries will become chairman of the network and continue to inspire and counsel. “There is no one who has worked harder and cares more. The chairman title and role, at its best, should be held by someone with stature who commands respect in a company. I can think of no one who deserves that title more,” said Murray.

Credle was most recently chief creative officer at Leo Burnett USA based in Chicago. She joined in 2009 and is credited with spearheading a creative renaissance, creating a collaborative culture, shoring up existing clients and attracting new marketers to the fold. Allstate’s “Mayhem” campaign and P&G’s anti-bullying initiative “Mean Stinks” for Secret are among her acclaimed efforts.

Credle started her career at BBDO New York after graduating. She served as a copywriter and a creative director before ultimately being appointed EVP, executive creative director. During her 24-year tenure at BBDO, she reinvented the iconic M&M’s characters, helped turn Cingular Wireless from a small challenger brand into a category leader, and created award-winning work for clients including Bank of America, FedEx, Gillette, Lowe’s, PepsiCo, Pizza Hut and Visa.

Credle, who will be one of nine jurors charged with bestowing the inaugural Glass Lion at Cannes this year, applauded Murray for his unyielding dedication to finding an unfair share of the best-and-brightest talent.

“I believe what we do in the advertising industry makes a difference. And, I have learned that for us to make a difference, three elements must be present. People, place and purpose. These are the three reasons I am now joining FCB as part of the global leadership team. I respect legacy brands and that includes agencies. In March of 2014, FCB reclaimed its name. It’s a name that has a rich history of creating compelling work that has moved the industry forward. Today, FCB has the ambition and the scale to do this again,” said Credle.

Credle is passionate about how combining art and commerce can make an undeniable difference in the industry and the world. “The challenge of doing so globally is irresistible,” she said.

June 10, 2015
Videocon Telecom ropes in Gauahar Khan as brand ambassador

NEW DELHI: Even as Videocon Telecom plans to spend ten per cent of its gross revenue on brand and communication this year, the company has brought on board actor and model Gauahar Khan as its new brand ambassador

With Khan as the new face of the brand, the telco intends to connect with forward-looking, modern youth segment and extend its presence in the market. The company is also gearing up for its 4G rollout and is eyeing a pan India presence.

According to the company, Khan’s popularity and youth appeal will complement Videocon Telecom, which engages consumers via its innovative telecom services.

Khan made her Bollywood debut in 2009 with Rocket Singh, Salesman of the Year, followed by Game, and Ishqzaade. She also made her debut in a Punjabi film Oh Yaara Ainvayi Ainvayi Lut Gaya this year. Khan also made her presence felt on the small screen with her TV show Khan Sisters in 2011, and was also crowned the winner of the seventh season of the reality show Bigg Boss.

Videocon Telecom will leverage the association with Khan through various mediums including TV commercials, OOH, press ads and digital marketing.

Given its regional presence, the telco has been limiting its presence on television, but now with options being available on geo targeting on TV channels including Star and Sony, Videocon Telecom plans to leverage the option.

Videocon Telecom director and CEO Arvind Bali said, “Change is always good and refreshing and brings in vibrancy in the environment. We are pleased to add the noted celebrity, Gauahar Khan into our Videocon family. Gauahar signifies a positive vibrancy, bold attitude, sense of dedication and reflects our brand spirit- young, vibrant, and cool. She represents the youth of today who are independent, expressive, confident, and carefree and brand conscious. Going apt with the same, this association has been established to connect with the youth consumers at ground level.”

“The choice of bringing Gauahar on board was no brainer as she is a self-made youth icon with huge fan following in India and across the continent. She is a fantastic artist and we seek to use her charisma extensively in our forthcoming marketing initiatives, wherein she will be seen prominently across television commercials, newspapers advertisements, digital medium, billboards, retail front displays, and on-ground activities of the brand. We are confident that this association will go a long way in improving Videocon Telecom’s brand awareness and consideration,” he added.

Khan said, “Videocon Telecom is so young and vibrant with its approach that I can actually relate myself to the brand. Owing to its wide reach and consumer- friendly services, I did not have second thoughts in associating myself with Videocon Telecom. With this association, I see myself connecting with millions of consumers of the brand.”

June 10, 2015
Dentsu Creative Impact ups Narayan Devanathan as CEO

MUMBAI: Dentsu Aegis Network has promoted Narayan Devanathan as Dentsu Creative Impact CEO.

In his new role, Devanathan will lead the growth of the full service creative agency, Dentsu Creative Impact across qualitative and quantitative parameters. He will continue to be based out of Gurgaon.

As part of his expanded role, he will also head the agency’s two specialist units, Dentsu Mama Lab (dedicated to better connecting brands with mothers through original insights) and Citizen Dentsu (the social communications division).

Dentsu Aegis Network chairman and CEO South Asia Ashish Bhasin said, “Devanathan, with his tremendous experience in building brands, is now tasked with building Dentsu Creative Impact into a strategic and creative power-house that partners our global and local clients in the new, dynamic era of advertising that we are entering. Dentsu Aegis Network clients deserve the best talent on their brands and as a part of that commitment we have placed Devanathan, amongst our best managers, in the role of heading this operation.”

“There are a lot of words that are currently being bandied about in terms of where the future of advertising lies. I believe the road to the future lies in a return to simpler times. Where the focus is on creating a happy place that helps people generate fabulous ideas. That’s probably still the best way to deliver value to clients, and success to our people. And those are the two metrics I’m going to raise the bar on,” added Devanathan.

Dentsu APAC CEO Rohit Ohri said, “In his four years at Dentsu, Narayan partnered me in the agency transformation process in India as national planning director. Understanding client’s marketing problems and finding the most effective solutions for them has been Narayan’s core strength. Insightful and intuitive, he is a natural advertising person. I believe that under his leadership, Dentsu Creative Impact G will scale newer heights.”

His experience in the advertising industry spans over 20 years across two of the most distinctive markets in the world. He has worked across capacities in planning and creative with leading advertising agencies in India and the United States. Prior to Dentsu, he was CSO, Euro RSCG India (now Havas Worldwide) and senior planning director at Ogilvy & Mather India. Before he moved back to India in 2007, he had also worked with the US-based Cramer-Krasselt and Admerasia, New York.

June 10, 2015
RIP Mike Khanna: Ad man bids adieu forever

MUMBAI: Indian ad fraternity’s father figure Mahinder K. Khanna familiar as Mike Khanna, who captained the titanic transition of Hindustan Thomson Associates (HTA) into J Walter Thomson (JWT) breathed his last on 7 June, 2015 at the age 76. Khanna had been unwell for some time.

The entire business fraternity will speak highly about the numbers that he managed to secured as a leader of HTA first in Delhi and then in Mumbai but his achievements are way beyond those numbers.

Defining Khanna’s persona, HTA former national creative director Ivan Arthur writes, “And those who do not know him will have visions of a man like some others with similar achievements, men who draw attention to their success with big flourishes of the corporate wand and the abracadabra of individual style. With Mike there were no flourishes; no conjurer’s patter, no abracadabra showmanship. He almost seemed like a novice with a pack of cards, slowly dealing them out, stopping to spit-wet his fingers when suddenly you would notice: he has dealt you an ace. And then another and another. You looked in awe. And there he was, unimpressed with his own magic, intent on just dealing you those aces.”

Arthur further adds in his blog, “A creative director will tell you how, on the occasion of the global CEO’s visit, her presentation was delayed by an hour, and how Mike went up to her, put his hand on her shoulder and said, Relax. This is not the end of the world. I could have kissed him then, she said. But I went about getting the job done. An office manager narrates how on his wife’s birthday, he had invited Mike home for dinner, at which he demonstrated the five-finger-and-palm bhangra clap.”

In 2005 Khanna decided to hang up his professional boots and was replaced by Colvyn Harris as JWT India’s CEO. In January 2015, following Harris’ appointment as executive director for global growth and client development Tarun Rai was handed over the post of CEO of J. Walter Thompson South Asia.

Under Khanna’s leadership, HTA represented some of India’s biggest brands like Hero, Pepsi, several Unilever brands, and Air India.

“The freedom to try and fail. A strong sense of self-worth, fairness, integrity, leadership, challenge, A sense of fun. Aces that they hold close to their chest. Aces that have led them to where they are today. Many are now happily retired and a good number are CEOs, chairmen of companies and leaders in their fields. They are all of them echoing one line, I am what I am today because of Mike,” concludes Arthur.

We at Indiantelevision.com deeply mourn the passing away of this maverick ad man. RIP Mike Khanna (1939 – 2015).

June 8, 2015
R. Seshasayee named non-executive chairman of Infosys Board

NEW DELHI: R Seshasayee has been appointed as the non-executive chairman of the Infosys Board with immediate effect.

The Board approved his name in a meeting held earlier in the day in Bangalore.

On the other hand, K V Kamath is stepping down from his position as chairman of the Board and as an independent director of the company, consequent to his nomination as president of the BRICS New Development Bank.

Seshasayee has been an independent director on the company’s Board since January 2011 and is the chairperson of the Audit Committee. Seshasayee’s other board positions include non-executive vice chairman of Ashok Leyland and chairman of IndusInd Bank.

Kamath said, “I am proud to have served as a member of the Infosys Board and as its chairman. The Board has made the most appropriate choice in nominating Seshasayee as my successor, given his vast and varied experience in leading large public companies, and his strong contribution to Infosys, during the last four years of his association. Infosys will benefit greatly from his sagacity.”

Seshasayee added, “Infosys is an iconic company and I am thankful to Mr. Kamath and the Board for entrusting me with this privilege. In order to devote requisite time and attention to this responsibility, it is my intention to substantially disengage from my other current responsibilities in due course. I look forward to working even more closely with the Infosys Board and management team as we navigate this period of transformation for the company.”

“On behalf of all Infoscions, I would like to thank Mr. Kamath for his extraordinary contribution to Infosys over the years and wish him the very best. He has been a great mentor to me personally and I look forward to his continued guidance as a well-wisher of this company. I warmly welcome Mr. Seshasayee’s appointment as chairman. We have a lot to do and I am excited to work with him to accelerate our plans for the future,” said Infosys CEO and MD Vishal Sikka.

June 5, 2015
ZenithOptimedia names Gareth Mulryan CEO for Southeast Asia

MUMBAI: ZenithOptimedia has promoted Gareth Mulryan as the CEO of Southeast Asia.

Mulryan was until recently ZenithOptimedia head of digital for Asia Pacific.

In this newly-created role, Mulryan will work closely with ZenithOptimedia APAC chairman Gerry Boyle, and the local market leaders to further develop ZenithOptimedia’s communications offering across the Southeast Asia region.

Mulryan will use his digital experience to transform and grow these markets over the coming years. He will be responsible of integrating digital specialists within market and will work closely with local and regional publishers and technology partners to create innovative solutions for clients.

He will also work with ZenithOptimedia corporate development director Felix Cartoux to build the agency’s business in Southeast Asia through external growth opportunities on a local market basis.

Mulryan has been part of the ZenithOptimedia family for more than 10 years and has spent the last seven years in Asia. As well as leading ZenithOptimedia’s digital offering, he has been instrumental in the set-up of ZenithOptimedia’s performance arm, Performics across Asia Pacific.

Over the last four years the Performics brand has grown significantly and now has 12 offices in the region with more than 300 members of staff. Mulryanwill continue to support in the growth of Performics in the role of managing partner, Asia Pacific.

Boyle said, “Gareth has done a simply brilliant job in building Performics across Asia. All our markets in SEA are in transformational mode, and Gareth’s digital nous and unswerving client focus will help our market leaders to deliver new solutions and success for our clients.”

Mulryan added, “We have done a great job in transforming our product and talent in China, India and Singapore. Now is the time for us to build on these best practices, and I look forward to working with the local Southeast Asia leaders to shift to a smarter and more contemporary communications agency in the region, to provide the best possible value to our clients.”

June 4, 2015
Hero MotoCorp names Pawan Munjal as chairman

MUMBAI: Hero MotoCorp has named Pawan Munjal as chairman as his father Dr. Brijmohan Lall, who has been the company’s chairman since its inception in 1984, expressed his desire to relinquish his post.

The company’s board unanimously approved Munjal’s appointment as the chairman, managing director and CEO.

Accepting Dr. Lall’s offer to relinquish his duties as the executive chairman of the company, the board requested him to continue to mentor the company in the form of chairman emeritus, which he accepted.

Under the leadership of Munjal, Hero has remained the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer in terms of unit volumes sold in a calendar year by a single company since 2001 – the year he took over as the MD and CEO. Munjal has consistently demonstrated his visionary leadership to emerge as one of India’s highly respected business leaders.

Hero MotoCorp continues to command well over 50 per cent share in the domestic motorcycle market in India. The company sold record 6.63 million units two-wheelers in the financial year 2015 – its highest-ever annual sales.

June 2, 2015
WPP’s Brand Union promotes Toby Southgate to worldwide CEO

MUMBAI: WPP’s global brand strategy and design agency Brand Union has promoted Toby Southgate to worldwide CEO, effective 1 July.

Southgate will manage the growth of the global network while to continuing his responsibilities in the Americas. He will remain based in New York and will report to Brand Union and FITCH group CEO Simon Bolton.

“Toby is a true professional in our industry and a trusted adviser to senior clients all around our network. He has a unique thought process and leadership style that enables him to have compelling conversations with clients, prospects and talent alike. I have no doubt Toby has what it takes to step into this role on a worldwide stage and take Brand Union to the next level,” said Bolton.

In this new role, Southgate will be responsible for leading the growth of Brand Union across each of its 24 markets. He will manage all of Brand Union’s international teams and lead collaboration with other WPP agencies, delivering on the group’s ‘horizontality’ strategy.

“I love this business and I’m proud to be leading Brand Union beyond the traditional definition of branding. I’m delighted Simon has given me the chance to lead the network. Brand Union is all about creating brilliantly designed and beautifully connected experiences for our clients and their brands. There is much more to come,” said Southgate.

Southgate brings extensive Brand Union experience to this role, having joined the agency in 2008. He has held a number of roles including Brand Union Middle East managing director, Brand Union UK CEO and most recently, CEO Americas. In his latest role, he helped grow the agency’s footprint leading the acquisition of Epigram, a Brazilian brand and communications agency, in 2014.

He has been a key player in the agency’s business development over the last seven years, bringing in major clients like The Coca-Cola Company, Vodafone, Shazam, GlaxoSmithKline and CBRE.

CBRE global chief marketing officer Paul Suchman said, “Toby’s partnership and dedication to our business has been nothing short of outstanding. Under his leadership, Brand Union has helped us find a powerful global voice and significantly strengthen our brand equity in every market we serve.”

June 2, 2015
Dentsu Asia Pacific appoints Rohit Ohri as CEO

MUMBAI: In a strategic move, Dentsu Aegis Network has appointed Rohit Ohri as CEO of Dentsu Asia Pacific, where he will be covering all markets in the region except for Japan.

Ohri, who previously helmed Dentsu in India and Asia Pacific (South), will relocate from Delhi to Singapore as part of his new role.

With Ohri moving to Singapore, all agencies under the Dentsu umbrella in India namely Taproot Dentsu, Dentsu Webchutney, Dentsu Marcom, Dentsu Communication, Dentsu Media, Vizeum, iPorspect and Isobar will now come under and report to Dentsu Aegis Network chairman and CEO South Asia Ashish Bhasin.

On the other hand, Ohri will have a more regional role and will handle Dentsu’s Branded Agencies.

Dentsu Aegis Network Asia Pacific CEO Nick Waters said, “Rohit has done a fabulous job transforming Dentsu in India. Across Asia, Dentsu has an extraordinary track record of innovation and as the largest agency in the region has an unmatched depth and breadth of capabilities. Sano-san and myself are really looking forward to working more closely with Rohit to unleash the full potential of the business.”

Dentsu Branded Agencies CEO and Dentsu Inc executive officer Hiroaki Charlie Sano added, “Dentsu is an agency network with a long standing history and a strong footprint in Asia Pacific. Rohit shares our creative ambition and strong vision for Dentsu and the way we work with our clients. I’m delighted he will be taking on a more central position within the network to help guide the business outside of Japan.”

June 2, 2015