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Category: Press Release

  • ICLP announces Mark Spicer as new General Manager, India

    ICLP announces Mark Spicer as new General Manager, India

    MUMBAI: Global loyalty marketing and CRM specialist, ICLP is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Spicer as General Manager for its India operation.
     

    Based in Mumbai he will report to Dion Maritz, ICLP’s Regional Director for Middle East, Africa and India.
     

    Mark joins ICLP from Aimia in the Middle East where he managed the leading telecom loyalty programme for Mobily in Saudi Arabia. He has in excess of 20 years’ experience in the loyalty and incentives industry across all sectors with previous roles at Maritz, Grass Roots and Skybridge Group. With particular experience in the telecoms and financial services sectors he has managed and delivered programmes for clients including T-Mobile (USA), O2 (UK) and Vodafone (UK) in addition to Nectar and other pre-plastic card products.

     
    Mark will be responsible for managing existing client relationships and driving continued commercial growth in the country. The last few years has seen ICLP continue to invest in India and its comprehensive range of loyalty solutions and services will help develop the local loyalty market. ICLP provide loyalty solutions across varied sectors including Travel & Hospitality, Retail and Technology, Its client base has steadily increased to include both local and international brands such as Air India, Ethiopian Airlines and Café Coffee Day to name a few.  ICLP in India is also a regional centre of excellence across the Middle East, Europe and Africa for data analytics, insight and operational services, supporting international clients such as Hilton and Avios.

    Commenting on his appointment Mark Spicer, General Manager India, ICLP, said: “India’s vibrant market is going through considerable change and with consumers being even more aware and informed, competition between brands to acquire and drive customer loyalty is stronger than ever. ICLP research has shown that consumers are demanding greater value, instant gratification and choice, but also want communication that is more personalised. Brands have to adapt to the speed of the market to drive customer engagement on a more emotional level, but also to ensure the customer returns for that vital next purchase. Driving insight through data analytics is of vital importance in enabling engagement success and ICLP has a proven track record in analysing and understanding customer behaviour to increase loyalty and profitability for its clients.

    Dion Maritz, ICLP’s Regional Director for Middle East, Africa and India said: “Mark’s background and depth of international experience will be a real asset to ICLP in India as we invest more in the region. We recognise the value our product and service offering has for the region and we plan to leverage our group skills and assets to capitalise on the increasing demand of companies and brands for best practice loyalty initiatives in local markets.”

     

    Mark will be delivering a keynote presentation and is also a member of the judging panel at the forthcoming Loyalty Summit Awards on January 29-30th in Mumbai.

  • SONY SIX bags exclusive rights for FIFA till 2018

    SONY SIX bags exclusive rights for FIFA till 2018

    MUMBAI: SONY SIX, India’s premier sports and entertainment channel has won the exclusive broadcast rights to 2014 FIFA World Cup™ and 2018 FIFA World Cup™. The 2014 edition will be held in Brazil from 12thJune to 13thJuly 2014. 2018 FIFA World Cup™ will be held in Russia from 8th June to 8th July 2018. The deal also includes rights to broadcast FIFAU- 17 World Cup 2017 to be hosted by India.    

    This latest acquisition by Sony SIX comes on the back of broadcasting the UEFA and CONMEBOL matches from the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying rounds, in addition toacquiring the rights for qualifiers for UEFA Euro 2016 and UEFA Euro 2016. The line-up makes Sony SIX the home of International Football for the next 5 years with 17 landmark FIFA events including: 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil,FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017,FIFA Confederation Cup Russia 2017,2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.

    Mr.NP Singh, CEO, MSM India, said “We are extremely happy to build on our partnership with FIFA. It has been our constant endeavour to bring high quality sports content to our viewers. This acquisition is a testament to our commitment of popularising the sport of football in this country. Considering the rise of youth interest in the sport, football fans in India can look forward to the best International football experience on SIX”

    Mr.Niclas Ericson, FIFA Director of TV, said “FIFA’s mission is to develop the game everywhere for all, by staging international football tournaments on all continents, and supporting football development projects and our 209 member associations across the world. FIFA believes that Sony SIX and its commitment to high quality sport entertainment will deliver first-class coverage of FIFA U-17 World Cups, the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the 2018 FIFA World Cup and other FIFA competitions to this crucial audience. India already has a great passion for football and with the support of Sony SIX, FIFA looks forward to inspiring more fans of football and young players in India for the years ahead.”

     

    Mr. Prasana Krishnan, EVP and Business head, Sony SIX said: “We are thrilled to have acquired the broadcasting rights of the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and 2018. Popularity of football is growing in the country and with India bagging the rights to host the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 the interest levels are only going to go up.  We have focussed extensively on top international football and we are now proud to bring the best in the world to Indian viewers”

     

    The 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil schedule has been officially confirmed after the groups were drawn on 6th December, 2013. The tournament will be in two stages; group stage will feature 32 nations and will be played from the 12th June to 26th June. The knockout stage will start from 28th June and conclude with the FIFA World Cup Final match on 13th July.

     

    Sony SIX, India’s Premier Sports Entertainment Channel is owned and operated by MSM India. The company is well known to exclusively broadcast some of the world’s largest as well as renowned international sporting properties like The Pepsi IPL, UEFA EURO 2016, Qualifiers for UEFA EURO 2016 and the European Qualifiers for 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, TNA, The Australian Open Tennis Championship, The NBA and The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Since its inception, the channel has successfully managed to target the youth of India through a mix of sports and entertainment.

     

  • Simi Sabhaney joins Dentsu Communications as Chief Executive Officer

    Simi Sabhaney joins Dentsu Communications as Chief Executive Officer

    MUMBAI: Dentsu India Group today announced the appointment of Simi Sabhaney as the new Chief Executive Officer of Dentsu Communications. Arijit Ray to lead New Business Development at Dentsu India Group.

    Simi, former President (Bangalore and Chennai) at Ogilvy India, is an advertising veteran with more than 24 years of rich experience.

    Before joining Dentsu India Group, Simi was with Ogilvy, where she was President – Bangalore and Chennai. Simi has spent over 23 years at Ogilvy and has worked on diverse categories like lifestyle, FMCG, services, social sector as well as realty and on several accounts including Unilever’s F&B brands, Cadbury, Titan, Madura Garments, ITC Foods, SABMiller, The Hindu and many more. Her journey in O&M has taken her from Account Executive to President. While she was primarily based out of Ogilvy’s Bengaluru office, Simi also spent around four years in Ogilvy’s Mumbai office, where she worked on Unilever and Cadbury.

    A psychology graduate from Punjab University, Simi completed her post graduation in Mass Communication from Centre for Mass Media, Delhi. She will be based out of Dentsu Communications, Bangalore office and her mandate is to spearhead and strengthen the team and take DCPL to new heights of success.
    Welcoming Simi into the Dentsu India Group, Rohit Ohri, Executive Chairman of the Dentsu India Group, said, “It’s been great going for us at Dentsu Communications. I’m looking to Simi to now lead the agency into it’s next phase of growth. Simi’s vast experience on diverse categories will truly add value to our client’s brands and businesses. I love her passion for the business. This passion, I believe, is what will take Dentsu Communications to newer heights.”

     

    Speaking on her appointment as the new CEO of Dentsu Communications, Simi said, “Half an hour into my meeting with Rohit and I had made up my mind. I am ready to take the plunge and experience the unknown. I am ready for the adrenalin rush. I look forward to nurturing, consolidating and growing both internal and external relationships.”

     

    Arijit Ray, Chief Executive Officer of Dentsu Communications will move to the Dentsu India Group to lead the group’s new business initiatives. He will be working closely with Rohit Ohri, Executive Chairman, Dentsu India Group to plan and implement new business development strategies for the group.
    Dentsu Communications under Arijit’s leadership saw impressive growth. The agency won multiple businesses, expanded into new geographies and infused top notch talent across various locations.

     

    Commenting on Arijit’s move to the Dentsu India Group, Rohit Ohri said, “Arijit has been a great partner to me in Dentsu’s new exciting journey in India. I now wish to leverage his strengths in new business development for the entire group. I wish him all the luck in his new role. ”

    On successfully leading Dentsu Communications and on becoming a part of the Dentsu India Group, Arijit Ray said, “It was a pleasure working with Rohit and the journey across the last 20 months to grow Dentsu Communications across offices, into the largest agency of the Dentsu India Group, has been incredible. I now look forward to working closely with him to spearhead the New Business Acquisition strategy and efforts of Dentsu India Group. I wish Simi a great innings with Dentsu. With her vast experience on brands, I am sure she will leverage the momentum to chart out the next phase of growth for Dentsu Communications.”

     

  • The true stories of real life feral children on raised wild

    The true stories of real life feral children on raised wild

    MUMBAI: Stories of children raised by animals have fascinated us for many centuries; Mowgli from The Jungle Book, the myth of Romulus and Remus, and even Tarzan. Do wild children who have been reported to be brought up by untamed animals actually exist, or are they merely folklores or elaborate hoaxes? On Animal Planet’s RAISED WILD, discover the shocking phenomenon and horrifying truth of real life feral children who have actually been bred by undomesticated animals.

    A three-part special, join anthropologist Mary-Ann Ochota as she sets off on the trails of these extraordinary youths to uncover the actuality of their existence and unravel their remarkable stories. From the deep jungles of Uganda, to the rural heartlands of Ukraine, and to one of the most isolated places on Earth, the island of Fiji, follow Mary-Ann on RAISED WILD as her quest to separate fact from fiction takes her across three continents to disentangle the truth about these wild children, who live and survive on the very edge of humanity. RAISED WILD premieres on Sunday, January 26 at 7 pm. The episodes will repeat the following Sunday, February 2 at 11 am.

    RAISED WILD begins with the search for John Ssabunnya, the alleged ‘monkey boy’ of Uganda. Reported to be living deep in heart of these East African forests, it has been described that he not only moves and sounds like our cousins of the animal kingdom, but also displays numerous monkey-like characteristics such as his nocturnal behaviour, his fur-like, hairy body, and his ability to survive solely on fruits and plants, a diet that is highly identical to that of Africa’s native vervet monkeys. With Charles Darwin’s extensive study of men evolving from primates and centuries of research and scientific theories closely linking human beings to these creatures, is it possible that ‘monkey humans’ really do exist?

    RAISED WILD then continues with the investigation of one of the most infamous cases of feral children in Kiev, Ukraine, where a girl called Oxana Malaya has been reported to astoundingly exhibit dog-like behaviour; barking, panting, snarling, jumping and running on all fours amid a pack of untamed dogs, and feeding on dead animals when hunger strikes. Is this ‘dog girl’ a well-conceived fable or a fact? Just how did she end up in the care of these animals, picked up their habits and managed to survive for so long as one of them, away from civilisation for years? Follow Mary-Ann as she scours the country to unriddle the mystery, travelling far and wide from Kiev to Kherson to Odessa and even to Novaya Blagoveschenka, the village where Oxana is believed to have been born.

    RAISED WILD ends in Fiji with possibly one of the strangest tales of wild children. As a child, ‘bird boy’ Sujit Kumar was supposedly kept and raised in a coop full of chickens for a few years by his poverty-stricken parents, for reasons unknown, and was cited to have then continued living his life being tied to a wall in the corner of a home for the aged for almost 25 years. Having being amongst chickens for so long, he apparently started to behave like them; pecking on the ground for food, clucking, squawking, screeching occasionally and lashing out when people try to touch him. Who is this ‘bird boy’ and how credible is his story? Join Mary-Ann as she digs deep to delve into the truth of the mysterious and disturbing world of savage feral youths. What is the likelihood that these wild children are mere figments of imagination? Is it even possible for animals to raise human beings? Are these children so far gone that it is too late for them to blend back into society and lead normal lives? How many more of such youths are out there? Find out on the following episodes of RAISED WILD:

    MONKEY BOY OF UGANDA: Mary-Ann journeys to equatorial Africa to uncover the truth behind the rumour of young boy living with monkeys. In 1992, a young boy was discovered in the jungle acting disturbingly similar to a monkey. Rumours circulated that the boy screeched like a monkey, squatted instead of stood and was covered in hair from head to toe. Join Mary-Ann as she investigates to determine if this child really could have been raised by monkeys, and if so, how he survived in the wild.

    DOG GIRL OF UKRAINE: Mary-Anna journeys to Ukraine to uncover the truth behind the incredible story of Oxana Malaya, a young girl allegedly raised by dogs. Born during the Soviet era to alcoholic parents, young Oxana is said to have turned to the family dogs for warmth and love. Years later, she reportedly was acting exactly like a dog, a claim supported by compelling video footage. How might a child recover from such beginnings? Can her feral behaviour fade with time?

    BIRD BOY OF FIJI: Mary-Ann travels to Fiji to uncover the shocking truth behind the story of the Bird Boy of Fiji. Rumours circulate that police discovered the small boy while he was squawking, flapping his arms and pecking at his food. Villagers claim the child’s parents kept him locked under the house with the family chickens, and it was his years spent with the birds that affected his development. Can this child recover from such an upbringing?

     

  • Catch the Superheroes in action only on Movies Now!

    Catch the Superheroes in action only on Movies Now!

    MUMBAI: From comic books to the silver screen, these heroes have been role models for many. Starting 19th January, to entertain the audiences, MOVIES NOW brings back the lethal combination of science fiction andextraordinaryaction with Strike Force every Sunday at 9:00pm.

    Watch Bruce Wayne’s journey as the Batman, protector of Gotham City, in Batman Begins and catch a test pilot’s attempt to save earth when he finds himself as the first human to serve as the Green Lantern. One can’t imagine a world that doesn’t require superheroes! Likewise as Superman begins to tackle the fact that life on Earth has continued without him, he is forced to face his old arch-nemesis Lex Luthor and restore the life that was once his in Superman Returns.

    One of the most popular superhero teams in comic book history finally comes to the screen in this big-budget adaptation of the long-running Marvel Comics series – X-Men. Don’t miss watching the world’s most famous team of astronauts-cum-superheroes as they return in the effects-heavy sequel – Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.

     

    The Last Airbender, and action packed fantasy adventure film written, produced, and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, starring Dev Patel, will transport you in a world balanced on the four nations of Water, Earth, Fire, and Air. Watch this blockbuster as the hero embarks on an arduous quest to restore harmony among the four war-ravaged nations.

     

    Invincible, magnificent and downright incredible,these movies topped the charts all over grossing over $100 million dollars. Created by fascinating special effects, fabulous sets and visionary direction, watch these movies this January only on MOVIES NOW!

     

  • Bhauji No.1 season 6 – coming soon on Mahuaa TV

    Bhauji No.1 season 6 – coming soon on Mahuaa TV

    MUMBAI: Bhauji No.1 is a  reality talent hunt show to find the No 1 ‘Bhauji’ of the Bhojpuri heartland,through  various contests.This program provides a platform to humble housewives to display their confidence and hidden talent.Rising above their regular, mundane lives, these women set examples for several others to follow.

     

    After the grand success of five seasons,Mahuaa TV is back with “Bhauji No.1 “- season six which will be an extension of the earlier five  seasons of the
    hugely popular set based hunt show with all new fresh look & feel, to crown the number one Bhauji of  the Bhojpuri heartland.

     

    To add buzz to the show, the famous Bhojpuri Film and Television artist, Vinay Anand, will be hos ting the show once again.Gopal Rai,famous singer of Bhojpuri industry  & Vidha Lal, renowned Indian kathak dancer will be the judges of the show. According to Partha Dey, Vice President and Programming Head of Mahuaa Media Pvt. Ltd ,-“Bhuaji No.1 season six will be bigger than fore-running seasons & the channel’s desire to strengthen the relationship that it has formed with them.”

    The entire show will be packed with 52 episodes covering some interesting segments like  ‘Nach le yaara’ in which  Bhauji’s will groove on the floor and compete with each other .Another popular segment is ‘Sur Sangeet’  where Bhauji’s have to give solo singing performances.’Sabse Badh Khiladi’ will be a segment in which Bhauji’s are required to play various interesting games.

    The thrill and suspense surrounding the show will combine with many more fascinating segments including ‘Yaadon ke jharokhe se’  where Bhauji’s will share some unforgettable moment of their life.

    The All new Season 6 will be divided into various segments power packed with Dancing, Singing, refreshing Games & General aptitude Quiz.

  • Comedy Central announces its new year line up with four new shows

    Comedy Central announces its new year line up with four new shows

    MUMBAI: A brand new year calls for brand new reasons to smile and Comedy Central India, India’s only 24×7 laughter destination is bringing to its audience the perfect mix of humor that will set the ball rolling for a fabulous year ahead.

    Monday, 20th January 2014 will see the Indian premieres of – House of Lies,World’s Craziest Fools as well as the latest season launch of Arrested Development. Monday was never so much fun before!

    January also witnesses the premiere of Just For Laughsfor the first time on Comedy Central India starting 23rd January.

    Show synopsis

     

    House of Lies:
    This American drama comedy television series created by Matthew Carnahan follows a group of management consultants who stop at nothing to get business deals done. It is based on the book, House of Lies: How Management Consultants Steal Your Watch and Then Tell You the Time, written by Martin Kihn, a former consultant and is a subversive, scathing look at a self-loathing management consultant from a top-tier firm. Marty, a highly successful (played but Don Cheadle), cutthroat consultant is never above using any means (or anyone) necessary to get his clients the information they want.
    Don Cheadle has received the Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in 2013 and 2013 amongst other awards for best actor like Critic’s Choice Television Award. Tune in to Comedy Central India on 20th January at 10 pm every Monday-Wednesday and you will see why!

     

    Arrested Development

    Join Michael Bluth in the latest season as he juggles his job and the disruptive family his imprisoned father left behind. Since its debut in 2003, the series has received widespread critical acclaim, six Primetime Emmy Awards and one Golden Globe Award, and has attracted a cult following, including several fan-based websites. In 2007, Time listed it among the magazine’s “All-TIME 100 TV Shows”. In 2008, the show was ranked 16th on Entertainment Weekly’s “New TV Classics” list. In 2011, IGN named Arrested Development the “funniest show of all time”

    Catch up with the Bluth family frenzy on Monday-Wednesday at 10:30 pm as Comedy Central brings back the madness this year!

     

    World’s Craziest Fools

    This show features all sorts of silly accidents that people around the world have and in turn look like fools! From jumping off things they shouldn’t be on, parking in absurd places and indulging in a little too much magic water – this show will have you giggling forever.  Presented by Mr. T – it showcases clips, sometimes viral of people from all over the world. The more believable it is, the funnier– you could have been in a similar situation too!

    Tune in from Monday-Thursday at 11 pm to catch fellow humans in acts of silliness, on your favorite comedy channel – Comedy Central India!

     

    Just For Laughs

    Just for Laughs is a comedy festival held each July in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is the largest international comedy festival in the world. Each day, street performers and other acts both vocal and visual perform throughout the city, particularly in the “Latin Quarter” — an area known for its theatres, cafés and boutique shopping. In the evenings, the nightclubs and live venue theatres offer special programs supporting the performers.
    Thursday-Friday at 10 pm, tune in to Comedy Central India and experience the magic of this festival of laughs!

     

  • Shakira unveils brand new single featuring Rihanna

    Shakira unveils brand new single featuring Rihanna

    MUMBAI: Multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter, philanthropist, and global recording artist Shakira unveils today the worldwide release of her brand new single entitled “Can’t Remember To Forget You” featuring Rihanna available now via Sony Music worldwide. Shakira will also be releasing her forthcoming studio album on March 25, 2014. 

     

     

    “Can’t Remember To Forget You”feat. Rihanna was co-written by Shakira and Rihanna, John Hill, Tom Hull, Daniel Ledinsky, and Erik Hassle and produced by Shakira, John Hill, and Kid Harpoon.

     

    Both Shakira and Rihanna shared the news and cover art for the new single with their fans via Twitter and Instagram last week.

     

    Shakira is currently in the studio recording her brand new album working with a who’s who list of top collaborators including John Hill (Santigold, Jay Z, The Vaccines), Kid Harpoon (Florence + The Machine, Calvin Harris), Greg Kurstin (P!nk, Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry), Steve Mac (Kelly Clarkson, One Direction), Mark Bright (Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts), Busbee (P!nk, Lady Antebellum, Katy Perry), and The Messengers (Pitbull, Chris Brown, Christina Aguilera) set for release March 25th on RCA Records/Sony Latin Iberia.

     

    Over the course of her career, Colombian singer-songwriter and Grammy winner Shakira has sold over 60 million records worldwide and has won numerous awards including two Grammys, eight Latin Grammys, four World Music Awards, three American Music Awards and five Billboard Music Awards, to name a few. She is the only artist from South America to have a number one song in the US, and has had four of the 20 top-selling hits of the last decade. At the age of 18, she founded the Pies Descalzos (Barefoot) Foundation which currently provides education and nutrition to over six thousand impoverished children in Colombia and is expanding its work to other countries, including newly launched projects in Haiti and South Africa.  In October 2011, Shakira was named a member of President Obama’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics.  Shakira served as coach on the 4th season of “The Voice,” NBC’s hit reality vocal competition series that searches for the nation’s best voice. She will return to the show on season 6. 

  • Cold War returns to CNN

    Cold War returns to CNN

    MUMBAI: CNN has announced the return of acclaimed series COLD WAR, the critical exploration of the nearly half-century long military and ideological conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union. In a year which marks the 25th anniversary of a landmark event in history – the fall of the Berlin Wall – airing from January on CNN International, COLD WAR takes viewers on a journey through the most dramatic moments in modern history, revealing how these events changed the face of Europe and continue to define our world today. The series of 24 episodes will airs every other Saturday at 1630 & Sunday at 730, January 4 through October 26, then each subsequent Saturday, November 1 and 8 at 1630 & Sunday, November 2 and 9 at 730 IST

    “COLD WAR is an epic series that captures the dynamics of one of the most important eras of recent times,” said Mike McCarthy, senior vice president of programming for CNN International. “We are thrilled to offer viewers one of CNN’s most comprehensive and informative productions, in the year that marks the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.”

    Spanning 24 one-hour episodes, COLD WAR begins with the rise of the Iron Curtain and follows the flash points and global confrontations leading up to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union. More than 500 eyewitnesses and participants contributed to this historical narrative including a number of world leaders and notable figures like Mikhail Gorbachev, George H.W. Bush, Fidel Castro, Henry Kissinger, Robert McNamara, Sergei Khrushchev, Pierre Salinger, Eugene McCarthy and Jimmy Carter.

    Online at www.cnn.com/coldwar users will be able to watch videos from the series as well as view iconic Cold War speeches. The page will also include articles about how the world has changed following the turbulent times in the second half of the twentieth century, and what issues still resonate in the present day.

    COLD WAR is narrated by Kenneth Branagh and executive produced by award-winning filmmaker Jeremy Isaacs and former CNN executive Pat Mitchell.

     

  • Havas Media is awarded global media buying role for Iglo Group

    Havas Media is awarded global media buying role for Iglo Group

    MUMBAI: Iglo Group has hired Havas Media as its global media buying agency. This follows the appointment of Havas Worldwide as the Group’s global brand positioning and advertising agency in Q4 of 2013.

    Havas Media was selected after a competitive pitch process which included Iglo Group’s incumbent agencies. Havas Media presented a compelling proposal that best met the Group’s selection criteria.

    Commenting on the appointment, Iglo Group’s CEO, Elio Leoni Sceti said:

    “After a highly competitive pitch process I am delighted to announce the appointment of Havas Media as our global media buying agency. The appointment will give us the ability to have a fully joined-up approach to our creative and media communication. This new approach to our marketing and the Iglo brand is central to our new growth strategy that aims to double the size of the business by 2020.”

    Marc Schader Global Chief Commercial Officer, Havas Media Group added: “We are honoured to become Iglo Group’s partner across Europe and look forward to helping them achieve their exciting and ambitious targets.

    Having another trusted partner join the Havas Media network is a testament to its strength and the success of our new integrated, digital & data at the core structure and philosophy. With their strong ethos for sustainable growth, Iglo Group needed a partner to offer agility, strength and scale and we are delighted that the team saw how well this can be delivered within our network”.