Tag: Agency

“AI is set to simplify how we predict, analyse & personalise content:” Sakshi Darpan

Mumbai: Sackberry, a personal branding agency, helps founders, CXOs, professionals, and coaches elevate their online presence. Crafting compelling narratives that showcase each client’s unique expertise, shapes the digital identities of industry leaders.

As trends like storytelling, LinkedIn marketing, and video content evolve, Sackberry remains at the forefront, ensuring clients stay authentic and impactful in a tech-driven world where personal branding is key to success.

Indiantelevision.com’s Suman Baidh caught up with Sackberry founder Sakshi Darpan to talk about the evolving landscape of personal branding, the role of digital platforms in shaping online identities and more…

On key trends that you have seen shaping the future of personal branding, particularly for Indian professionals

Looking ahead, some key trends shaping personal branding for Indian professionals include storytelling that adds value, showcasing your uniqueness, and staying consistent. Video content and LinkedIn influencer marketing are also big trends shaping the future of personal branding. Just keep being authentic and true to yourself– that’s what really makes an impact!

On the cruciality of personal branding for professionals in leadership roles today and the impact it has on their careers and businesses

For professionals in leadership, personal branding is huge! How you present yourself can really shape how people perceive you as a leader. Being transparent and sharing valuable insights really builds trust and authority. And leaders who share their experiences and wisdom often become the go-to voices in their fields. So, rather than pretending to be something you’re not, showcasing your genuine self can open doors to new opportunities and make a big impact on your career and business. This includes building partnerships, improving your company’s reputation, and creating career advancements.

On the most common challenges that professionals face when trying to build a personal brand, especially in a fast-paced market like India

One big challenge is staying consistent. People often think it’s all about the numbers, but it’s really about making genuine connections. Many find it hard to show their vulnerable side, they think that it would expose a bit too much to the world but being open and authentic helps you connect with others and build a stronger brand.

On common mistakes that individuals should avoid when crafting their personal brand

I would greatly suggest individuals avoid these mistakes: not posting regularly, missing their target audience, posting just to fill space, sticking too rigidly to one topic, and not sharing relatable stories. Being genuine and relevant is what makes a difference.

On individuals leverage personal branding on LinkedIn to generate leads and grow their business

To generate leads and grow your business on LinkedIn, first figure out who your target audience is and make sure you’re reaching out to them. Engage with thought leaders by commenting on their posts and share content that’s not just about personal stories but also offers real value. Connecting with LinkedIn influencers can also help get your name out there and build your brand. These strategies can help you build a stronger presence and attract new opportunities.

On important is authenticity in personal branding and helping your clients maintain it while building their brand

Authenticity is what we call the crux of personal branding. Without it, it’s tough to make real connections or build a network. I guide my clients to be authentic by encouraging them to share their personal stories, including their ups and downs. It’s about mixing in real-world experiences, talking about successes and struggles, and being open about strengths and weaknesses. It’s like doing a personal SWOT analysis and using that to add real value to their brand.

On the personal branding industry evolving in the next 5-10 years, particularly with the rise of digital platforms

In the business world, where everyone’s trying to stand out, personal branding is set to become even more important over the next 5 to 10 years. It will keep evolving with tech, especially with AI making things more personalized and the rise of video and evolving trends, it’s clear that the landscape will keep changing. But what remains static is Authenticity, consistency and transparency. These are must-haves in personal branding, no matter how many years come and go or how trends evolve.

On AI impacting the personal branding landscape and professionals prepare for it

As I mentioned earlier, AI is set to simplify how we predict, analyze, and personalize content. LinkedIn’s new video feature is already making waves, helping users boost their reach and engagement. This trend will be a big plus for professionals looking to build a strong brand. To stay relevant and visible, it’s important for everyone to adapt to these emerging trends and make the most of them.

October 7, 2024
Ipsos becomes market research leader in Ireland with B&A acquisition

Mumbai: Ipsos, one of the world’s leading market research companies, announces the acquisition of Behaviour & Attitudes (B&A), the largest Irish agency specialised in opinion and social research studies, as well as market studies.

Established in 1985, B&A serves a range of clients across the public and private sector. Renowned for their expertise in quantitative and qualitative research, B&A have significant operations in data production and analysis, notably by leveraging its consumer panels. Ipsos in Ireland and B&A will become a combined organisation, named Ipsos B&A.

Damian Loscher, previously managing director of Ipsos in Ireland, becomes president of Ipsos B&A. Luke Reaper is the managing director of B&A and becomes the CEO of Ipsos B&A. They will work closely together to promote the mission, vision and strategic direction of the combined business. Luke will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of Ipsos B&A.

Ipsos chief executive officer Ben Page commented: “This acquisition contributes to Ipsos’ 2025 growth plan by strengthening our leading position, notably in our Public Affairs business. I am delighted to bring these two powerhouses of research in the Irish market together. Ipsos has been operating in Ireland for nearly twenty years and this acquisition demonstrates the attractiveness of the Irish market and its growth potential.”

Commenting on the acquisition Ipsos B&A CEO Luke Reaper said: “This is a very exciting evolution. B&A’s principles and research ethos clearly chime with those of Ipsos. The vision of the combined business is to deliver the highest quality of research and insight at a scale unparalleled in the Irish market. Clients will benefit from expanded operational resources and infrastructure, as well as leading analysis capabilities.”

Ipsos B&A president Damian Loscher added: “The combination of highly skilled researchers who share common values, B&A’s extensive consumer panel and Ipsos’ range of digital techniques brings a new and distinctive offer to our clients in Ireland. There are clear synergies in public and healthcare research, as well as in areas such as brand positioning and customer experience.”

October 27, 2023
L&K Saatchi & Saatchi wins creative mandate of Goodricke Group

Mumbai: L&K Saatchi & Saatchi has won the creative mandate of Goodricke Group Ltd., one of the largest tea producers in India.

The agency won the business after a competitive multi-agency pitch and will manage the company’s full-service creative mandate for a variety of products across multiple categories.

Goodricke Group Ltd. is a popular tea manufacturer with around 29 tea gardens and manufacturing factories across Darjeeling, Assam, and the Dooars. Some of the popular brands in its portfolio include Castleton, Roasted Darjeeling Tea, Khaass, Goodricke Chai, etc.

Commenting on the partnership, Goodricke Group vice president and head of consumer division P.T. Krishnan said, “Goodricke is a brand steeped in legacy. We wanted to collaborate with a name that’s just as rich in legacy and found the right match in L&K Saatchi & Saatchi. With excellent category knowledge and the zeal to do work that knows no bounds, we believe this partnership will bear many fruits in the days to come.”

Sharing his views on the win, L&K Saatchi & Saatchi executive vice president North & East Atin Wahal said, “Tea as a category is one we are extremely familiar with, having worked extensively on this category. Goodricke is a name that resonates across India, and with such a vast product portfolio, I believe we have every scope to do some really enriching work and help the brand not just shine but carve a unique niche in the marketplace.”

November 15, 2022
Pearson ropes in VMLY&R to launch ‘PTE Kar, Befikar’ campaign

Mumbai: Pearson has rolled out a new campaign for the Pearson Test of English—”PTE Kar, Befikar.” The campaign is conceptualised and executed by VMLY&R India.

The goal of this campaign is to connect the brand with consumers by highlighting the Pearson Test of English as a new age test that empowers students to be confident and not stress about the test. With benefits like unbiased two-hour computerised tests and faster results, PTE lessens the stress on the candidates and helps them be at their best. It removes unnecessary hurdles and makes life simple for them so that they can be their confident self not only on this test but also when they face the outside world during college admissions, job interviews, or even as individuals going about their regular activities.

To launch the campaign, VMLY&R took the “Befikar” attitude a step further by associating it with an act that personifies being “worry-free.” The act of whistling to oneself is an act that usually signifies freedom from stress and worry. The agency turned the whistle into a creative device that perfectly captures the “Befikar” vibe and resonates with the test takers’ determination and commitment.

Also, for better reach and engagement, the whistle was introduced in collaboration with relevant influencers in two phases. In the first phase, the influencers teased the audience by whistling carefreely, thanks to PTE, and in the second phase, they revealed the reason why PTE has made everyone go “Befikar.”

VMLY&R India creative director Nikita Parmar said, “PTE is different. An unbiased test, which is more like a friend or a mentor, who pushes you to do your best while you stay stress-free, or ‘Befikar.’ The aim is to make PTE synonymous with being stress-free, so we thought of what it is that resonates with ‘Befikar,’ and the whistle tune was born. We tend to whistle when we are at our relaxed best. PTE’s signature tune will remind and assure people to appear worry-free for the test and pursue their dreams.”

Further, to establish the core messaging for PTE, the launch campaign has been divided into four stages. Starting with making the test takers take notice, making them think by establishing superiority over other tests, giving them reasons to stay focused, each stage plays a vital role in the journey.

The campaign throws light on the dream that studying or moving abroad is exciting and full of possibilities and was executed with the Befikar vibes across digital and social platforms with music created by multi-Grammy Award winner Ricky Kej.

English Learning vice president of marketing Rachel Exton said about the campaign, “At Pearson, we always put the ‘learner’ at heart; be it our products, our customer experience, or our communication. We want to talk to our customers in their language, in a way that embraces their cultures, acknowledges their challenges, and truly reflects their journeys. This has been the genesis of our new marketing campaign, “PTE Kar Befikar.” We understand the stresses and considerations that come with the decision to move abroad and how overwhelming the whole experience can be. The English proficiency test, which is a high-stakes test and a compulsory one, should be the least of their worries. This is where the Pearson Test of English (PTE) comes in.”

October 28, 2022
Srijan Shukla & Pratheeb Ravi join Publicis Worldwide India as heads of creative

Mumbai: Publicis Worldwide India, the full-service creative agency from Publicis Groupe India, has strengthened its creative team by appointing Srijan Shukla and Pratheeb Ravi as creative heads. The duo will be based out of Mumbai. Their mandate would be to reinvigorate and amplify creative offerings while delivering integrated solutions that effectively solve the client’s business challenges.

Commenting on the new additions, L&K Saatchi & Saatchi and Publicis Worldwide India CEO Paritosh Srivastava said: “Publicis Worldwide India has created some memorable campaigns over the years for many brands like Zee, Nerolac, Škoda, Heineken, HDFC MF, Maggi, Maruti and many more. Creative leadership at PWW has always been highly respected and admired. To fill such big shoes, we couldn’t have brought better people and talent than Srijan and Pratheeb. They are the ideal team to take the legacy forward and keep telling amazing stories for our wonderful clients.”

Pratheeb Ravi joins Publicis Worldwide India from Ogilvy India, where his last role was as group creative director. He has also had fruitful stints with other agencies, including Lowe MENA & Contract Advertising, where he managed creative work for clients across a host of sectors, including telecom, FMCG, travel & tourism, OTT, retail, etc. Some of the brands he has worked on include Tata Sky (which was rebranded to Tata Play), Maaza, Minute Maid, Tata Salt, Ferrero, Nutella, Cadbury Unity Bar, Unilever OMO, Lifebuoy, Axe, The Economist, ICC T20 World Cup, HotWheels, Westside- Retail fashion, Unilever Hamam, WildStone Deodorants, Tata Indicom and Club Mahindra Holidays to name a few.

Srijan Shukla joins the agency from Ogilvy India, where his last role was as group creative director. He has also worked for a number of agencies, including DDB Mudra, Leo Burnett, and Tilt Brand Solutions, where he was instrumental in facilitating creative work for a wide range of clients in industries such as automobiles, Fintech, Broadcast Media, OTTs, DTH, Banking & Finance, Fantasy Games, Retail, FMCG, and others. Some of the prominent brands that he worked on include Tata Sky (now Tata Play), Dream11 IPL campaigns, Maaza, Minute Maid, Sony LIV launch, Zee rebranding, IPL for Sony Max, etc. He was instrumental in the rebranding exercise of Tata Sky to Tata Play and also for Dream 11—”Yeh apna game hai” and “Yeh game hai mahaan” campaigns.

Welcoming the duo to the agency, Publicis Worldwide India MD Oindrila Roy shared, “We are lucky to have Srijan and Pratheeb, a duo who have a rich body of work and are still hungry to do a lot more. Publicis Worldwide India has a rich heritage of creativity and they are perfect for taking the legacy forward and establishing the agency as one of the most powerful creative outfits in the industry.”

On joining the network and the road ahead, both Pratheeb Ravi & Srijan Shukla added, “We are excited to begin this journey with a bunch of incredibly talented and hard-working people with an irresistible creative energy. The goal will be to align with the vision that Paritosh and the team have set for the agency and put out work that will blend creativity, technology, data and culture to create truly unique solutions for our clients. We also want to create a space where the creative talent can come and express themselves freely.”

October 13, 2022
Wunderman Thompson India ropes in Rakesh Varma & Abhay Godbole, bolsters its Mumbai leadership team

Mumbai: Wunderman Thompson India has announced the appointment of two senior hires for its Mumbai office. Rakesh Varma has joined as vice president & executive business director, and Abhay Godbole as vice president & client service director.

Both Rakesh and Abhay will report to Wunderman Thompson Mumbai managing partner Anurag Tandon.

Rakesh has over 15 years of advertising experience, having worked on a wide range of brands, with a particular fondness for automobiles and auto accessories, with brands like Volkswagen, TVS Motorcycles, Ashok Leyland & Gulf Oil. He has been associated with leading brands like Hotstar, Radio City, FBB, Gelusil & Tata AIA, amongst others. He has in-depth understanding and experience in brand strategy, campaign planning, and leading integrated marketing efforts.

Having previously worked with Wunderman Thompson Mumbai, Abhay Godbole returns to the agency for a second innings. During his previous stint with the agency, Abhay was instrumental in leading the much lauded “Mutual Funds Sahi Hai” for AMFI. He has close to two decades of experience in marketing communications, working across categories like FMCG, automobiles, and BFSI. Passionate about advertising and creativity, Abhay believes any marketing challenge can be addressed through compelling creative solutions.

Commenting on the new appointments, Wunderman Thompson Mumbai managing partner Anurag Tandon said, “As we continue to diversify our client roster and grow our talent base, it is critical for us to have the right hands on deck. Rakesh and Abhay bring with them extensive experience and domain knowledge that will propel us to drive growth in key industry domains and deliver the best outcomes for our clients. Both our senior hires have an impressive track record of building strong consumer brands, and I am looking forward to scaling new heights with our client partners.”

On taking up his new role at Wunderman Thompson, India, Rakesh Varma, commented, “At Wunderman Thompson, we’re building a future that’s as exciting as its legacy. And I consider myself extremely fortunate to be a part of this transformation. With its diverse brand portfolio, integrated service approach, and promising growth vision, WT is all set to thrive. I’m looking forward to nurturing some of the long-standing client relationships and creating new ones.”

Abhay Godbole added, “I am delighted to be back at Wunderman Thompson, one of India’s finest agencies that has nurtured and built multiple brands in the country. Wunderman Thompson is in a unique position to create the agency of the future; an agency that is capable of delivering the best of both mainline and data-led digital communications. I look forward to being a part of this exciting and transformational journey.”

September 22, 2022
Thought Blurb Communications elevates Renu Somani to national creative director

Mumbai: Thought Blurb Communications, a full-service advertising and design agency helmed by Vinod Kunj, has announced the elevation of Renu Somani to national creative director. After steadily guiding the direction of the creative product of Thought Blurb Communications for the last ten years, Somani will now take over as the creative head at the agency from being the executive creative director.

Renu holds more than 18 years of experience with creative departments of advertising agencies like Ambience Publicis, McCann Erickson and Saatchi & Saatchi and has worked for brands like Parachute Hair Oil, Savlon Soap, and ICICI Home Loans. At Thought Blurb, she has led creative communications for brands like Parle-G, Parle Marie, Parle 20-20, Vero Moda, Reliance Digital, Radio Mirchi, and Viacom 18, to name a few.

Renu began her career as an art director before switching seamlessly into her role as a writer after joining Thought Blurb. She brings her combined talents in art, copy, scripting, and audio-visual media to bear on a 360-degree execution in traditional, electronic, and digital media. Renu now takes charge of managing the creative products of the company that has a presence in Mumbai and Kochi. She will be overseeing a diverse team of creative talent in these cities, helping in the development of brands across the country and also in planning the creative strategy for new clients here.

Speaking on her new role, Renu Somani stated, “I have a degree in art, but writing comes as naturally to me as breathing. I believe I paint stories with my words. The creative industry is shape-shifting and each day a new avatar is being created. My mandate will be to give shape and voice and texture and personality to the avatar that we at Thought Blurb would like to give ourselves. We are known to nurture great talent, and I’d like to build on that tradition and get the team to come up with ideas that reflect the zeitgeist of the times.”

Speaking about the appointment, Thought Blurb Communications founder and chief creative officer Vinod Kunj stated, “Renu is an extremely instinctive and creative person. She can pick up a castaway idea from a brainstorming session and polish it to perfection. We are a very close-knit unit, and we cherry-pick the brands we work with. In the process, we have built great case studies for some of India’s biggest brands. Renu will now work with her team and create campaigns that make a meaningful difference to those brands in the international markets.”

Somani’s work has been recognised over the years by several Indian and international industry award bodies. She has also been a finalist at the One Show, Cannes, and Adfest Awards. She has won awards at the Abbys, D&AD Kyoorius, Golden Mikes, and Radio Mirchi Kaan Awards. Most recently, she won the IAA Awards for her work on Parle G. Her work has also been featured in the Communication Arts Guild magazine.

September 21, 2022
BBH India elevates Priya Gurnani & Arvind Menon as executive creative directors

Mumbai: BBH India, a Publicis Groupe agency announced the elevation of Priya Gurnani & Arvind Menon as executive creative directors. Priya and Arvind have been senior creative directors and will continue to report to BBH India’s chief creative officer & CEO, Russell Barrett.

With over 15 years of experience, Priya specialises in building creative communication that is at the intersection of brands, culture and consumer behaviour. In the past, she has worked with Ogilvy, Leo Burnett, McCann Worldwide and has created culture-defining work for brands like Stayfree, Yatra.com, Heineken, Kingfisher Ultra, Amstel and Zee5. Most recently, she conceptualised and wrote the lyrics to a rap song for the entertainment channel – Zing’s Apni Vibe Apni Tribe campaign. In 2009, she was amongst the winners of the Cannes Young Lions.

Armed with 13 years of experience, Arvind also led the creative team at Publicis Emil as a senior creative director. With diverse experience, including a stint at a media agency, Arvind specialises in building medium-agnostic integrated campaigns. In the past, he has worked on brands like Mercedes, Frooti, Axe, Burger King, Aditya Birla Capital, Heinz, TRESemmé, Surf and Taj Mahal Tea. Arvind’s work has been awarded locally and internationally at forums including Kyoorius, AMES and Campaign Asia Digital Crest. He has represented India as a student at Cannes, and a young competitor at Spikes.

BBH India CCO & CEO Russell Barrett said, “It’s always great to welcome brilliant talent to key leadership positions, but it’s even better when that talent is promoted from within.”

Priya is a highly talented creative leader with a sharp and curious mind, great maturity and a clear vision for the kind of work both she and BBH want to produce. She has already proved an invaluable contributor by leading the PWW Bangalore creative team in the past.”

“Arvind is an amazing new age creative thinker who led the creative mandate on Emil before joining the BBH team. He comes with rich knowledge of the digital and creative tech landscape and is the perfect fit for BBH’s Modern India’s Fame Factory philosophy,” he continued.

“Both Priya and Arvind are “Good and Nice” and I’m convinced they will add significantly to BBH’s creative output. The creative leadership at BBH India is now fully in place and set to take the next giant leap forward,” Barett added.

Priya Gurnani added, “I am looking forward to embodying and enjoying this new role. BBH has always been a place where ‘Outstanding is the norm’, and that applies to the work we do and the culture we have. As I continue my journey at BBH, I hope to zag for years to come.”

Arvind Menon added, “I’m equal parts honoured, excited and terrified. BBH has an undeniably rich culture of creative excellence. And I know it’s only work that can help climb up to those rarefied heights. So I’m just going to focus on that.”

September 19, 2022
Mindshare onboards Mausami Prasad as national head of strategy & insights

Mumbai: Mindshare India, the flagship agency from GroupM, announced the appointment of Mausami Prasad as national head – strategy & insights. Mausami will be based out of Mumbai and will report to Mindshare South Asia CEO Amin Lakhani.

With over 22 years of experience in crafting strategy, Mausami has been passionate about knowing consumers, their behaviour, concerns, aspirations, and everything in between to help craft growth strategies for brands. Mausami has worked on both sides of the table – getting sharp insights at Colgate and Future Retail and doing cutting-edge work at Indica and Kantar. In her last stint at Kantar, she was leading the Unilever relationship for India and was a SPOC for South Asia.

Mindshare South Asia CEO Amin Lakhani said, “We are glad to have someone as experienced as Mausami on our team. Today, our clients are focusing on integrated strategies to grow their businesses. The expertise Mausami brings to Mindshare will allow us to continue to support clients by crafting insight-driven approaches. I am certain that Mausami will play a pivotal role in the brand transformation journey for our clients.”

“I believe in earning the leadership that I have been entrusted with and would love to create winning journeys with my team,” said Mausami Prasad. “I am excited to join Mindshare, an industry leader in shaping creative strategies for its brands and clients to help them achieve their goals. I am thrilled about this opportunity, and I would like to thank the team for believing in me. I look forward to contributing to Mindshare’s ‘good growth’ journey by creating exclusive strategies for our clients,” she added further.

September 19, 2022
ACT Fibernet signs L&K Saatchi & Saatchi India to manage its creative duties

Mumbai: Atria Convergence Technologies (ACT) has appointed L&K Saatchi & Saatchi India as its creative agency. The agency won the business as part of a hotly contested multi-agency pitch and will manage full-service responsibilities for the brand including advertising, brand activation, digital and PR.

To be managed by the team in Mumbai, the agency has been brought on board to actualise ACT Fibernet efforts to consolidate and grow the category in markets where it enjoys a leadership position as well as to establish significant brand presence in newer markets.

Commenting on the new partnership, ACT Fibrenet senior vice president Ravi Karthik said, “As home internet specialists, ACT Fibernet has always believed that great customer experience stems from a fine balance – the right combination of technology, service quality and expertise. L&K Saatchi & Saatchi demonstrated the right balance of business understanding, passion and creative ability through the pitch process. We’re confident they are the right partners for us as we continue to grow from strength to strength.”

Adding his views, L&K Saatchi & Saatchi executive vice president & business head Nikhil Kumar said, “It’s a pleasure to have the ACT team on board after a multi-agency pitch. Our ability to understand their hyper-local business dynamics, with special focus on the next stage of growth, gave us the edge in the boardroom. We aim to maintain this benchmark of delivery, keeping in mind the dynamics of the category & look forward to partnering with them as an extension of their business & marketing teams.”

September 12, 2022