Category: Resources

Mumbai: Havas India has flagged off the third edition of its flagship internship programme, Havas SPARK. Launched in 2021, the programme set the bar high in terms of interest from applicants and outcomes as evidenced by the number of interns hired, which was 16 and 22 in 2021 and 2022 respectively. This year, the initiative aims to onboard 20 interns, putting greater emphasis on the specifics and rigour that each role brings, while simultaneously providing more opportunities for interns to work in tandem with the senior leadership team across the network’s various agencies & divisions.

A focused and hands-on approach helps Havas SPARK go beyond just being a means to identify and hire fresh talent to strengthen the talent pipeline and drive novel perspectives across the different functions within the network. The mentors and especially the senior leadership are heavily invested in the different aspects and milestones that round-off the entire SPARK experience. Drawing on the 3Ps that guide operations at Havas India – People, Product, & Performance – the programme addresses prevalent misconstrues of talent dearth and drain in the media & advertising industry.

Havas India Group CEO Rana Barua said, “Havas SPARK has become a standout program in our network and the industry. It embodies our commitment to making meaningful contributions to the community and advertising world. It has now become the definitive standard for nurturing and introducing new talent nationwide. This ensures that our legacy and future are in capable hands, as we not only build a successful business but also empower these young minds to become tomorrow’s leaders.”

Havas India Group CHRO Vandana Tilwani added, “I am extremely excited to launch Havas SPARK 3.0. This year’s edition has been meticulously crafted to provide our interns with the best possible exposure to the industry and familiarity with its working methods. By the time they graduate, we will already have a team capable of showcasing their finest abilities. Our structured and practical approach ensures that the interns will be the best-in-class in the industry. Interns from our previous batches are now firmly rooted in the Havas India ecosystem, and we are looking forward to the new pool of candidates to once again embark on this rewarding journey together.”

This year’s programme will include formal and on-the-job learning opportunities, working on challenging live projects with clients, and the opportunity to secure full-time employment within Havas India upon completion. Following a thorough screening process, the candidates are shortlisted and go through interviews for the final round. The selected candidates are then trained for 6 months by the network. In addition to their day-to-day assignments, every year, preceding their graduation ceremony, the interns also ideate and publish a whitepaper as part of their final evaluation. Following successful completion of the programme, these interns are recruited across various functions under the integrated One Havas model across creative, media and health.

For Havas SPARK 3.0, incoming interns will be role-matched to interns-turned-employees from previous batches who will serve as ‘buddies’ to help them acclimatize to a new working atmosphere and be a peer point of contact. Furthermore, the 23 interns-turned employees from SPARK batches 1 and 2.0, will help set the context for the whitepaper that forms part of the final evaluation for the incoming interns. In addition, they will also help take forward any innovative ideas the incoming interns come up with.

Mumbai: An agency isn’t simply defined by its size but by the work that it churns out. So proves Mixed Route Juice (MRJ), a 360 degree content and social agency that believes in innovation and ideation with creative punch.

MRJ believes in creating content that gets a brand buzzing. The boutique agency, which is in its eighth year of operations,has seen enormous growth and is confident about its year-on-year presence. MRJ is one of the fastest growing agencies and since the pandemic when most big agencies have slowed down MRJ on the other hand has been able to accelerate its pace with its effective campaigns and storytelling methodologies for its clients.

MRJ has quite an eclectic mix of clients ranging from consumer tech to real estate, beauty, hospitality, food and beverages, mobile and gadgets, automobiles and much more. Some of the brands that the agency handles include Vivo, Samsung, OPPO, Micromax, Airtel, THOMSON, Blaupunkt, White Westinghouse, BOSE, Sennheisser, DLF, Bestech, GMR, Dhara, Mother Dairy, Safal, Jovees, VLCC, Jaypore, Adidas, PNB Metlife, JK Tyres, Good Year, Maruti Suzuki, Chilli’s, PAUL, Its Just Wings and many others.

In a crisp conversation, Indiantelevision.com spoke to Mixed Route Juice director and co-founder Amrita Sharma about the agency’s journey, her learnings, the digital and social landscape, and more.

Sharma is the creative head and backbone of MRJ, she’s the one who brings out-of-the-box content and creative ideas and gets the team working. She is a seasoned media sales professional with over 25 years of experience in advertising, sales, brand solutions, IP creation and branded content solutions. During her stint so far, she’s handled numerous verticals like retail, auto, real estate, FMCG, decor, education, BFSI in India and international markets like North America, SEA, the Middle East, and East Europe.

Edited excerpts:

On the journey of Mixed Route Juice

We are now an eight-years-young, 50-member-small content hotshop that delivers campaigns through the line. It’s not been a smooth sail, but we’ve been nailing it quarter after quarter. What started as a three-member core team, is now 50. What started as 1 client on a project basis is now over 55 clients on a repeat mode. We started as a social media outfit and soon moved in to complete digital media followed by overall creative mandates for MNCs, startups and PSUs. Our client portfolio as of today includes BFSI, retail, FMCG, real estate, consumer durables etc.

On the challenges, lessons and learnings that you have gathered as a woman entrepreneur

As a woman entrepreneur, nothing. As an entrepreneur, everything. The same challenges as anyone else would face. Erratic work-life balance, lesser peace of mind. But the sense of achievement that comes with knowing that I’ve made it this far compensates for it all.

Learnings:

.   Keep at it, everything eventually falls into place. You can’t move a mountain in a day.

.   Work with heart. It beats everything else.

.   Always be up for change. It makes you better, more than anything else.

On competing with the biggies of advertising and marketing such as Wunderman Thompson, Havas, etc.

The core team at MRJ was once with the biggies. So we know how they work, what value they bring to the table and what moves they make. I feel if you give your best shot, whoever you’re competing against would be less of a worry. The competition is you yourself. That’s what we follow and work towards.

On digital becoming a hygiene component over the last few years

A product or service pulls a consumer. Advertising is what builds a connect between the consumer and the offering. Digital media has now become a crucial part of overall advertising. It gives the brand story piece by piece that lets the consumers also enjoy it with ease. It is the only medium that facilitates a real-time two-way dialogue between the brand and its consumers.

On the evolution of social media advertising in India

Social media has moved from just brand push to consumer pull content. Every day is a step closer to building consumer connect and agencies and brands alike are warming up to these stories.

On influencers and content creators leading the road for brands

Influencers are a media vehicle that beautifully humanise brand messages and give them more wings.

On the values and principles you have built MRJ on over the years

We’re a through the line agency. For us, it’s the strategy that builds brands from their core and takes them levels up. If the core is strong, the outer layers automatically hold tight. That’s the principle we treat all our

On the hirings and new accounts added

We’ve hired people at senior levels from the Adani group, Mudra DDB, Hungama. Some new accounts we’ve onboarded include Avis Car leasing, GRM Foods 10x, Zydus, PNB Metlife.

On your vision and way forward for MRJ

We want to make sure that for the employees and the brands we touch, we create a conducive system for everyone to grow. What’s the point of change without forward and progressive thinking?

Mumbai: Omnicom has announced that its media services division, Omnicom Media Group, has acquired Ptarmigan Media, a specialist agency that provides end-to-end media and marketing solutions to financial services brands.

Founded in the UK in 1993, Ptarmigan delivers a range of services including fully integrated media planning and buying, market research, search and social, as well as content and creative. The company specializes in serving financial services clients in the Asset Management, Life and Pensions, Banking, Trading and Platforms, Wealth Management, Fintech, and Insurance sectors across APAC, EMEA and North America. Ptarmigan is headquartered in London and has several office locations around the world, including Hong Kong, New York, Singapore and Sydney for its 100+ media professionals.

“Ptarmigan and Omnicom Media Group have a shared understanding of the complexities of today’s media marketplace. Together, we can help our clients effectively navigate the market to drive business growth by combining the global strength, tools and technologies of Omnicom Media Group, and the deep category expertise Ptarmigan has built over its three decades working in the financial sector,” says Omnicom Media Group CEO Florian Adamski. “The combined capabilities that will result from this acquisition will enable an unprecedented and singular depth of financial services industry expertise and media buying scale, translating to better outcomes for our clients, increased professional opportunities for our people, and accelerated growth as Omnicom Media Group and Ptarmigan join forces.”

“Ptarmigan has always put clients at the centre of everything we do – and becoming part of Omnicom Media Group continues that commitment,” says Ptarmigan CEO Matt Ball. “Combining our expertise with the scope and scale of Omnicom Media Group’s industry leading tools and technology will have an exponential impact on the value we deliver to the world’s leading financial brands, bringing next level purpose, planning and performance to the challenge of connecting our clients to the world’s financial decision makers.”

Ptarmigan Media will continue to operate as an independent brand within Omnicom Media Group and will be led by its current management team.

Mumbai: In Cannes, top creative leaders from across Edelman, IPG, Omnicom, Publicis and WPP joined forces on stage to deliver one of the most high profile briefs the industry has seen, impacting the lives of up to 4 billion people. The ask? To create a culture-defying programme, experience, campaign that could erase the stigma and insecurity of cancer at work.

The Big C brief officially opens for entries.

The brief invites the entire industry and beyond, as individuals or duos within one agency or cross-agencies, to create a campaign that will launch on World Cancer Day 2024, in a global multi-media campaign supported by $100m.

Powered by Cannes Lions’ world class judging systems, judging will be led by senior creative and strategy leads across the five holding companies including: Susan Credle (global chair & global chief creative officer, FCB), Chaka Sobhani (global CCO of Leo Burnett), Luiz Sanches (CCO of BBDO NA), Judy John (global CCO of Edelman) and Debbi Vandeven (global CCO of VMLY&R).

The submission deadline is Friday, 15 September. Judging will take place throughout October, with the winner announced at the end of that month. The winners will also receive a delegate pass to attend Cannes Lions 2024 from the Festival.

Mumbai:  Vivanta, owned by Indian Hotels Company Ltd., has associated with By Design (formerly IBD), a creative agency to launch their new property in Jammu, the winter capital of Jammu & Kashmir. By Design has worked on the entire creative strategy for Vivanta Jammu, City Centre to create strong brand awareness and subsequently encourage bookings.

With its recent advances in renovation and its unique distinction in the city, Vivanta Jammu, City Centre puts you right in the heart of Jammu. It boasts of 90 well-appointed rooms and suites, four banquet halls and can accommodate up to 500 guests.

By Design has been associated with the Taj Group of Hotels, including their brand Vivanta, for over two decades now and has handled the entire creative communication for properties like Taj Exotica Resort & Spa Maldives, Taj Exotica Resort & Spa Maldives, Taj Land’s End, Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences, St. James’ Court, Vivanta Miramar Goa, Vivanta Sikkim Pakyong, Vivanta Meghalaya Shillong and many more!

“As the name suggests, Vivanta Jammu City Centre is strategically located in the city centre, a short driving distance from the airport as well as all major tourist attractions and commercial districts. By Design we are well-versed with our brand and what it needs and we are confident that with their strategic and creative inputs, we will be able to appeal to our target audience,” said a spokesperson from the Vivanta Jammu City Centre team.

By Design CCO & founder Rahul Gupta expressed his excitement about the launch of Vivanta Jammu, City Centre, stating, ” Through our partnership with Vivanta Jammu City Centre, we aim to create a space that embodies the bold new vibe of this remarkable city. Our design approach highlights the blend of contemporary luxury and local craftsmanship reflected in the property and pays homage to Jammu’s heritage through a truly immersive experience for guests. We are thrilled to have been associated with the brand for this launch and look forward to all that is in store.”

Mumbai: Interbrand, the world’s leading brand consultancy, has launched its 2023 Breakthrough Brands Report-with the metaverse, AI, and sustainable tech brands leading the way in disrupting the global market, shifting our understanding of the world, and shaping consumer behavior.

In partnership with Vox Media, Interbrand’s influential Breakthrough Brands Report reveals the 30 most innovative brands that are breaking through a crowded landscape and building bold identities rooted in a clear vision. The top 12 names, in particular, are making iconic moves to become the next generation of legacy brands.

Interband has identified an additional 18 brands which represent the emerging trends across evolving beauty & wellness, merging sustainability & style, shaping new tastes around food, and brands that are bringing a next-gen approach.

This year’s report has grouped brands into ‘Arenas,’ each of which outlines the core human needs and cultural shifts brands are equipped to deliver against. Today’s brands have infinite potential to expand and evolve-they no longer fit into just one category or industry.

The brands in this year’s report include OpenAI, which gained 1 million users in just five days via ChatGPT; Neko Health, an affordable health-tech experience from Spotify founder Daniel Ek; Zepeto, Asia’s largest metaverse platform; Betterhalf, a matrimony app used by 100 million professionals in India; and Fishwife, a chic canned fish brand.

This is the 6th edition of the report, which in previous years has successfully predicted challenger brands set to become famous names and achieve impressive growth, including Mythical Games (2022), Athletic Brewing (2021), Maven Clinic (2020), Slack (2017), and Headspace (2016).

For the second consecutive year, more than 50 per cent of 2023’s Breakthrough Brands have founders or C-suite members who are women or people of color.

The three emerging trends from this year’s Breakthrough Brands report are:

Brands have sharper identities: Brands need to know who they are and have a clear stance on their purpose. Brands including Fishwife and CAKE have maintained a clear set of convictions and beliefs from the outset to create a strong brand.

Brands are looking to engage with customers in the new world of AI and the metaverse: Brands such as Obsess and Zepeto are experimenting with new and exciting ways to connect with consumers online. Interbrand’s research with Vox Media found that when an AI tool is paired with a specific objective, such as eating well, interest increases dramatically.

Brands are working in new ways to differentiate themselves in a crowded market: The world has become overpopulated with brands, making it difficult to break through. To become a differentiator in a saturated market, brands need to bring something new to the table. Brands such as OpenAI and Eight Sleep are providing consumers with offerings that reshape the way we live.

Interbrand New York global chief growth officer and CEO Daniel Binns said, “This year’s analysis of brands represents what’s happening in society and culture today. Most industries are becoming crowded, with a multitude of brands providing similar things. Brands making bold moves to stand out have the best chance of being successful.”

Betterhalf co-founder and CEO Pawan Gupta said, “Being nominated as one of Interbrand’s Breakthrough Brands is indeed a proud moment for Betterhalf. We’re going beyond traditional matchmaking apps by supporting our users to make strong emotional connections and using advanced AI algorithms and extensive verification. We’re honored to be recognized for our distinctive approach to helping urban professionals in India find their perfect match.”

Interbrand India & South Asia CEO Ashish Mishra said, “Breakthrough brands use technology better. Technology helps understand customers better, address their needs better and faster. As an Indian breakthrough brand, Betterhalf is boldly attempting to deploy technology to benefit a mainstream societal need and showing promise.”

Mumbai: Berger Paints, a paint major in India and among the frontrunners in the paints & coatings industry globally, has awarded its media mandate to dentsu X, the media agency from dentsu India. Berger Paints currently has media spends of around 200 crores. The account was won following a multi-agency pitch and will be serviced from the agency’s Kolkata office.

Under the direction of dentsu South Asia CEO media Anita Kotwani the team will collaborate to develop cutting-edge strategies that improve the brand’s commercial success. The agency will oversee media strategy, planning, buying, and execution to increase brand equity through offline media including print, television, and radio, nationally.

Speaking on the achievement, Kotwani said, “The inclusion of Berger Paints to our portfolio holds massive significance. It represents a new chapter in dentsu India’s journey, characterised by a renewed sense of purpose and a clear direction. Our network has been actively engaging in competitive pitches, with an intrinsic focus on securing remarkable victories that propel us toward an exciting future. We firmly believe in driving meaningful transformations, embracing change, and nurturing our talented workforce to deliver client-centric solutions and exceptional services.”

Kotwani added, “Dentsu has played a pivotal role in propelling numerous brands towards a growth trajectory, leveraging our distinctive data-driven, consumer-centric design thinking, and strategic expertise. We have been at the forefront of deploying innovative media and content concepts to establish brand equity, ensuring sustained brand growth. However, efficiency and effectiveness remain paramount in our approach. The win of Berger Paints symbolises the recognition of our strategic approach, and we are privileged to form a partnership with such a formidable brand.”

Berger Paints senior VP & head – decorative division KK Sai who chaired the project added, “The insights that the dentsu X team brought to the table as well as their integrated media approach promises to give an innovative and bright spark to the media campaigns of Berger.”

It is pertinent to note here that dentsu India has been diligently engaged in developing and strengthening practice areas across key market segments such as gaming, e-commerce, and content. These strategic efforts further enable dentsu X to provide cutting-edge solutions tailored to the unique demands of these industries.