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Tag: advertising agency

  • WPP boss Mark Read to sign off at year-end after 30-year ad-venture

    WPP boss Mark Read to sign off at year-end after 30-year ad-venture

    MUMBAI: WPP plc has just hit ‘next’ on its leadership playlist. The British ad giant announced that long-time chief executive officer Mark Read will hang up his boots and step down from the board on 31 December 2025, marking the end of a 30-year run—including a high-octane seven-year stint steering the ship as CEO. The search for his successor is already underway.

    WPP chair  Philip Jansen, heaped praise on Read’s legacy, hailing him as a transformational force. “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Mark for his contributions not only as CEO but throughout his more than 30 years of leadership and service to the Company. During that time Mark has played a central role in transforming the Company into a world leader in modern marketing services, with deep AI, data and technology capabilities, global presence and unrivalled creative talent, setting WPP up well for longer-term success,” said Jansen.” We are pleased that Mark will continue to lead WPP as CEO until the end of the year, remaining focused on the execution of the Company’s growth strategy and supporting a smooth transition to his successor, once appointed.”

    In a heartfelt sign-off, Read said leading WPP had been “an immense privilege.” When he took the reins in 2018, his mission was to simplify the business, power up its creative engines, and plug it into cutting-edge tech. By most accounts, he’s delivered.

    Said Read: “WPP is an incredible company with over 100,000 talented and creative people, wonderful clients and partners, and an unmatched presence around the world. It has been an immense privilege to serve as its CEO for the past seven years.

    “When I took on this role our mission was to build a simpler, stronger business, and put structure and new energy behind our creativity and performance, powered by world-leading technology. I am proud that our teams across the business have delivered that exceptionally well. Our clients today rate us more highly than ever before, we now work with four of the world’s five most valuable companies, and our revenues with our biggest clients have grown consistently.

    “Our business starts with creativity, and I was delighted for our teams that last year we were once again named Creative Company of the Year at Cannes Lions. We have also positioned WPP at the forefront of the industry with our investments in AI and, with the full launch of WPP Open this year, we are now leading the way as AI transforms marketing. We have an exceptional leadership team and a secure financial position that allows us to face the future confidently and capture the opportunities ahead.

    “After seven years in the role, and with the foundations in place for WPP’s continued success, I feel it is the right time to hand over the leadership of this amazing company. I am excited to explore the next chapter in my life and can only thank all the brilliant people I have been lucky enough to work with over the last 30 years, and who have made possible the enormous progress we have achieved together. I would also like to thank Phil and the rest of the Board for their steadfast support for me and the wider executive team, and I look forward to supporting them in the transition to my successor in the coming months.”

    WPP now works with four of the world’s five most valuable companies, and its largest clients are spending more than ever. He also gave a nod to WPP Open, the firm’s AI-powered platform, calling it a game-changer that’s keeping WPP ahead of the curve as artificial intelligence rewrites the rules of marketing.

    “I feel it is the right time to hand over the leadership of this amazing company,” said Read. “We’ve built the foundations for future success, and I look forward to exploring the next chapter in my life.”

    WPP, which employs over 100,000 people across the globe, is now on the hunt for a new commander-in-chief to build on Read’s digital-first, AI-fuelled momentum.

    The Mad Men era is long gone—WPP 2.0 is ready for its next act.

  • SW Network expands with SW Growth Labs, focused on data-driven brand growth

    SW Network expands with SW Growth Labs, focused on data-driven brand growth

    MUMBAI : SW Network has launched SW Growth Labs, a dynamic new vertical dedicated to performance marketing, media buying, and strategic brand growth. Built to drive measurable ROI, SW Growth Labs offers cutting-edge solutions in analytics, SEO, website development, and D2C scaling, empowering brands to thrive in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

    For nearly a decade, SW Network has built a reputation for branding, lead generation, and media buying. The launch of SW Growth Labs strengthens its capabilities, offering a data-driven, results-oriented approach that blends creativity with precision to drive sustainable success.

    Speaking on the launch, SW Network co-founder Raghav Bagai said, “SW Growth Labs is an extension of our commitment to integrated marketing solutions. By combining performance-driven strategies with our expertise in creative media, we aim to take brand growth to new heights.”

    SW Network co-founder Pranav Agarwal highlighted the agency’s evolution, stating, “This isn’t just an expansion—it’s the next step in our journey. SW Growth Labs will focus on high-impact, ROI-driven campaigns with a strong emphasis on D2C growth, lead generation, and digital excellence.”

    SW Growth Labs director Shlok Hari emphasised the vertical’s role in tactical media buying, marketplace expansion, and advanced analytics, adding, “We are here to push boundaries while maintaining transparency and innovation at our core.”  

  • itch: A new agency on a mission to redefine advertising

    itch: A new agency on a mission to redefine advertising

    Mumbai: A new digital agency, itch, has emerged with a clear vision to transform the advertising landscape. Founded by three industry veterans, itch aims to make ads feel less like ads, creating work that sparks curiosity and leaves a lasting impression.

    Beyond creativity, itch is built on agility and the philosophy of bringing method to the madness. By refining processes and staying nimble, they ensure that their ideas not only sound great in the boardroom but come to life with real impact. The agency aims to tackle the growing need for more meaningful, innovative campaigns that prioritise substance over noise.

    “Our goal with itch is not just to do different things but to do things differently, we’re at a point where people are saturated with overt messaging, so we’re constantly asking ourselves, how can we deliver a message that doesn’t feel like one? It’s about crafting stories that people want to engage with where the creative work doesn’t scream ‘ad.’” said itch co-founder and creative director Naman.

    “At itch, it’s as much about the people as it is about the brands. We’re building an ecosystem that fosters bold ideas, nurtures talent, and challenges norms. Agility is key in today’s market, where brands seek more than just surface-level marketing, and hence quick adapting becomes essential,” itch’s co-founder Apoorva, who spearheads growth & talent, explained how the itch community operates.

    “Running an agency is a delicate balance between structure and freedom. We wanted to bring a level of process that makes it easier for creativity to thrive, allowing our team to execute bold ideas efficiently and consistently. Our approach is all about making things work smarter, not harder,” on the operational front, co-founder and operations lead Surbhi emphasised.

    By blending creativity and collaboration, itch aims to redefine the connection between talent and brands, leaving a lasting impact on the industry. The agency has already secured several key accounts and will announce these wins shortly. With a focus on strategic thinking, creativity, and refined processes, itch positions itself as a distinct player in the advertising world, promising to deliver work that is anything but ordinary.

  • Communications agency Grasshoppers relishes 20 years

    Communications agency Grasshoppers relishes 20 years

    Mumbai: The advertising and integrated communications agency, Grasshoppers India (GIPL), has completed 20 years of its services in the advertising and PR space. The agency was founded in 2002 by Arjun Banerjee.

    Providing advertising and integrated communications services to brands across verticals, the agency started back in 2002 when marketing and communication were an extremely competitive space full of big sharks handling bigger brands.

    In two decades of excellence, GIPL has built an exceptional presence in healthcare, finance, education, technology, automotive, real estate, hospitality, UN bodies and others.

    With the inception of GreenThumb (the PR wing), the agency gained a unique edge with both domestic and foreign clients. The onset of the digital age and increasing demand for virtual presence led to the christening of GrownUps (the digital wing). Over the years, the agency also launched Gramin (outreach wing), which collaborates with NGOs on awareness campaigns, including in-depth research, concept development, design, and execution.

    Speaking about the milestone, Grasshoppers India founder-director Arjun Banerjee said, “No one can beat a classic. And we have become one in 20 years.”

    “Grasshoppers never employ a ‘one-size-fits-all’ strategy. We are always striving to be adaptable and tailor our approach to the client’s goals and budget,” he added.

    While Grasshoppers India has achieved a firm position, its journey has not been without its share of trials. In reality, the agency has gone through several tides over the last two decades. The pandemic, in all its ferocity, disrupted business dynamics. Being vigilant, they steered the ship with new strategies, keeping their crew safe while avoiding pay cuts and even layoffs. Their clientele stood behind them too, as they needed a reliable ally in these trying times.

    “Although our ethos remains the same, we believe change is the only constant in life. We have been adept at reinventing ourselves, staying young, energetic and ahead of the times, always,” added Grasshoppers India founding member & director of brand communication & planning Megha Jain.

    “Today, we thank all our clients who had faith in us and those dedicated team members for their unwavering support because achieving a milestone like this would not be possible without them. And that is truly our reward!,” Banerjee quoted.

  • Hitachi onboards BBH as creative partner

    Hitachi onboards BBH as creative partner

    Mumbai: Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India Ltd, India’s premium air-conditioner brand Hitachi, has appointed BBH India as its creative strategy and advertising agency partner. With this appointment, Hitachi aims to create a high decibel brand awareness and strengthen its brand leadership amongst the new informed world consumer.

    The agency won the business as part of a contested multi-agency pitch and will manage full-service responsibilities for strategic creative design and advertising. As Hitachi’s agency of record, BBH India will now spearhead the development of both consumer-focused and business-driven marketing campaigns for Hitachi’s HVAC and refrigeration solutions.

    Hitachi senior vice president – business planning & marketing Nilesh Shah said, “At Hitachi, our brand communication is always focused towards the changing needs and preferences of the new-age consumers who aspire for innovative product offerings. We wanted a strategic creative partner who can help us in strengthening our brand positioning as an Aspirational Premium brand by bringing in a fresh perspective to our brand proposition.  We look forward to this creative partnership with BBH and further building on our track record of memorable, creative campaigns across the target audience.”

    Commenting on the win, Leo Burnett – South Asia CEO & BBH India chairman Dheeraj Sinha said, “Air conditioning has become a crucial part of modern life, and, Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India Limited is an undisputed leader in creating world-class air conditioning products. As a team, we are very proud and humbled to be chosen as a creative partner of India’s most aspirational and premium air conditioning brand. We have a big task in front of us, as the brand is known for its stunning consumer campaigns and has consistently rolled out great pieces of creative work over the years. We are excited to co-create the next chapter of the brand story and level up the brand salience.”

    With over 35 years of legacy in India, Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India Limited manufactures a wide range of products under the Hitachi brand, such as room air-conditioners (split & window ACs) to commercial air-conditioners including chiller, cassette air conditioners, ductable air-conditioners & VRF systems. A part of Publicis Groupe, BBH is a full-service global creative agency network offering strategic brand ideas, integrated communications, pure-play digital solutions, and much more to some of the world’s best-loved brands.

  • Amit Dhawan joins Art-E MediaTech as partner & CEO

    Amit Dhawan joins Art-E MediaTech as partner & CEO

    MUMBAI: Art-E MediaTech, a full-service marketing and advertising agency, has announced the appointment of Amit Dhawan as its CEO and the newest partner in the firm.

    An IIM Ahmedabad alumnus, Dhawan was previously with Schbang as the founding partner and business head for their Delhi office, where he was responsible for setting up the business in the North as well as leading the company’s media business. In his eight plus years of experience, he has worked with a diverse set of 200+ brands, including Johnson & Johnson, Panasonic, Godrej, Cipla, Realme, and more.

    “While we empower ourselves to meet the changing marketing landscape, we must have the solid support of people that will propel us forward. Having someone of Amit Dhawan’s calibre join us brings rich expertise in driving our clients to a reputable position in the marketplace, combined with qualitative and admirable leadership skills and knowledge,” said Art-E co-founder Rohit Sakunia. “We are delighted to welcome Amit as our partner as we continue to grow and disrupt the industry.” Art-E was founded by Rohit Sakunia, Tejender Sharma, and Animesh Mukherjee in 2018.

    Amit Dhawan said, “I am excited about becoming a part of Art-E, which has always been at the forefront of delivering meaningful and true solutions to its clients by seamlessly integrating creative, tech, and media. By applying the learning I have had so far, I hope to make a meaningful difference to the business of our clients.”

    Dhawan has also been featured in the ’30 under 30′ list by Agency Reporter as well as amongst the Top 100 smartest digital marketing leaders by the World Digital Marketing Congress, Global Federation of Digital Marketing, World Federation of Marketing Professionals, and CMO Asia.

  • Niva Bupa signs Leo Burnett as its advertising agency

    Niva Bupa signs Leo Burnett as its advertising agency

    New Delhi: Niva Bupa Health Insurance, formerly known as Max Bupa Health Insurance, has signed Leo Burnett as its advertising agency partner. The account was won following a multi-agency pitch.

    Niva Bupa is on a mission to democratise health insurance to make quality healthcare accessible for the masses. The company intends to bring a fresh perspective to the health insurance category by enabling consumers to live a carefree life, without worrying about the financial constraints related to hospitalisation. This partnership with Leo Burnett will aid the brand in fulfilling its vision of creating ground-breaking work to give people more control over their health and well-being.

    Speaking of this collaboration, Niva Bupa Health Insurance senior vice president and head of marketing Nimish Agrawal said, “At Niva Bupa, we are evangelizing insurance for freedom and not constraints and the brand philosophy around claiming life captures the brand mission. There is a massive need to simplify the category and lift the category narrative to be more positive and empowering. During our interaction, we found the approach of Leo Burnett to be bold yet extremely intuitive and in line with our vision for the brand and are delighted to partner with them.”

    BBH India chairman and Leo Burnett South Asia chief executive officer Dheeraj Sinha said, “Health insurance category has come into sharp focus owing to the pandemic. Niva Bupa being one of the leaders in this segment offers some of the most comprehensive products making health insurance more accessible to all. We look forward to partnering with them to enhance consumer understanding about the benefits of health insurance using data, technology and creativity; encouraging everyone to take a health-first approach.”

    Adding further, Leo Burnett head of North Samir Gangahar said, “This is a fantastic opportunity for us to create a conversation around a category that has immense growth potential. The brand needs a strong communication plan that addresses its business problems backed by new age thinking and creative solutions. We are looking forward to working together with the team.”

  • Ayesha Ghosh joins Wieden+Kennedy as managing director for India; Gautham Narayan moves on

    Ayesha Ghosh joins Wieden+Kennedy as managing director for India; Gautham Narayan moves on

    Mumbai: Wieden+Kennedy has announced that Ayesha Ghosh has been appointed as managing director for India. Ghosh, who will be based in Mumbai, officially starts at W+K on 15 July and will partner with India CCO Santosh Padhi.

    Present WK Delhi managing director Gau Narayanan, who is leaving India and the agency to return home to the UK, will help with the transition through August.

    Ghosh joins the agency after six years at Taproot Dentsu where she held the role of CEO, based in Mumbai. She joined Taproot in December 2015 as general manager, and was promoted to CEO in 2021.

    Prior to Taproot, Ghosh was part of the leadership team for Contract Advertising for over a decade, helping build and grow the agency’s presence. Here she worked closely with the consulting and design practices, to help expand sources of growth. Previous to Contract Advertising, she held permanent positions in a number of industry shops including Grey Worldwide, Trikaya Grey and PSL McCann Erickson.

    On her new role, Ghosh commented, “It’s astonishing how W+K consistently produces off-the-charts work, across the world. I hope to absorb some of that genius and with the help of a talented team in India and an ace like Paddy, create some genius of our own. With scattered attention and infinite distractions, only work that is honest and primal, will win for brands. And that’s what we mean to do.”

    Padhi said, “I’m glad Ayesha is joining us to be part of this wonderful journey. She is absolutely blunt and honest when it comes to work, which is extremely important these days for our business. Clients too prefer to have conversations that cut to the chase. Ayesha and I have worked closely together for a good number of years at Taproot, we understand and complement each other.

    “An organisation is known by the kind of people that work for it and both of us will be focusing on putting together a crazy, talented bunch of people, across departments. And we believe that magic will follow,” he further said.

    Wieden+Kennedy Global CEO Neal Arthur added, “Ayesha’s first day is a great day for W+K. W+K India has big things ahead. Their collective creative ambition, optimism and connection to both local and global culture will no doubt usher in the next wave of transformation for the brands they work with. We are excited and grateful to have Ayesha with us.”

  • R K Swamy, BBDO to end long-term partnership

    R K Swamy, BBDO to end long-term partnership

    Mumbai: Leading advertising agencies R K Swamy and BBDO have ended their 37-year partnership with each other. The announcement was made through an internal memo.

    As per the agreement, R K Swamy will buy out BBDO’s stake in R K Swamy BBDO, and BBDO will buy out R K Swamy’s stake in BBDO India.

    The partnership, which started merely after a handshake between RK Swamy and the then global CEO of BBDO Allen Rosenshine in 1985, has ended for strategic reasons.

    According to an official statement, R K Swamy Hansa Group is planning to bring its various businesses under one umbrella. The group presently has over one thousand employees working on four different ventures and the split plans to bring them all under one roof.

    R K Swamy Hansa Group group CEO Shekar Swamy said, “We started the relationship when R K Swamy and I shook hands with the then CEO of BBDO Allen Rosenshine, in New York in 1985. We worked for four years together on a simple understanding without a formal contract. BBDO invested in us up to a majority, which we then bought back in 2009. They have held a significant minority since then. At that point, BBDO India was created and we took a similar minority stake in it. BBDO is a great company and it has been a fantastic journey. The phrase ‘all good things come to an end’ is so true in this case.” 

    Adding to it, BBDO Worldwide CEO Andrew Robertson said, “R K Swamy has been a great partner. We extend to them our very best wishes and cheers as they move forward with plans for their Group. I have always admired their conviction in, and commitment to the future of India and the part they can play in it. I am sure it will be great. We have a strong agency in BBDO India. We remain committed to great work, and this will be the same in India as elsewhere.”    

    R K Swamy Hansa Group chairperson Srinivasan K Swamy remarked, “R K Swamy BBDO is primarily in marketing communications. However our extended activities go beyond marketing communications to span interactive and digital, media planning and buying, media and market research, CRM, data analytics and martech, healthcare communication, and continuing medical education, events, and outdoor. We are bringing these together under one structure for greater synergy. The future is very exciting as we consolidate.”

  • Ogilvy Bengaluru elevates Tithi Ghosh as president & head of office

    Ogilvy Bengaluru elevates Tithi Ghosh as president & head of office

    Mumbai: Ogilvy India has promoted Tithi Ghosh as president and head of office for Ogilvy Bengaluru as Ram Moorthi has moved on from the agency after a twenty five year long association.

    The change in leadership came into effect from 1 July 2022.

    Ram’s contribution to Ogilvy India, since 1997, has been immense across the Ogilvy India network. In the last two and half decades, Ram has been in leadership roles that included heading the Chennai office, leading the IBM hub, heading Ogilvy’s PR function, leading the Mumbai office to becoming the Bengaluru office head.

    Tithi brings with her over 22 years of experience in brand communication.  She has an honours degree in Economics from St. Xavier’s College Kolkata and completed her Master’s at MICA. She joined Ogilvy in Bengaluru in 2004.  

    Over the years, Tithi has become synonymous with the Ogilvy Bengaluru office. She has had her hand in all the successes and wins that the office has had in the last two decades. She has created some fantastic work across brands like ITC Bingo, Titan, Allen Solly, The Hindu, Fortune and MTR.  She has also nurtured and built some of the strongest client partnerships for Ogilvy Bengaluru. 

    In her role as managing partner in Bengaluru, during the pandemic years, she was instrumental in stabilising the business in spite of the pressures and was a pillar of strength to all employees.    

    On this change in leadership, Ogilvy India group president VR Rajesh, said, “We would like to thank Ram, for giving so much to Ogilvy India. We will miss his passion to always do something different. Not a man to sit on his laurels, we are sure an all new venture is right around the corner. We wish him all the best and lots of love.”

    “We are also very lucky to have Tithi to take the baton from Ram. Tithi stands for everything that represents the culture of Ogilvy. The voice of guidance and wisdom is now going to be the hand that guides the next chapter of Ogilvy Bengaluru,” he added.

    Tithi Ghosh said on her appointment, “In my 18 years in Ogilvy Bengaluru, I’ve had the good fortune of being part of teams that launched brands that today have grown to be some of India’s most loved. To gain the same love and attention from digitally consummate and socially active consumers of today, requires fresh and new ways of thinking. Our team here has some incredible talent, folks who are passionate about what they do and create. I’m excited about the future as I believe we can partner our existing and prospective clients in changing the conversation around their brands.” 

    Ogilvy chairman global creative and executive chairman India Piyush Pandey commented, “Tithi has been my valuable partner for years.  And I am sure that in the coming years she will further strengthen our client relationships and creative excellence in our Bengaluru office.”