Tag: Bob Jeffrey

  • JWT celebrates 150 years of Pioneering in Advertising

    JWT celebrates 150 years of Pioneering in Advertising

    MUMBAI: In celebration of the agency’s 150th anniversary, JWT today announced a yearlong program of innovative events and activations to highlight its pioneering spirit and rich history around the world.
     

    “JWT’s 150th is much more than just a birthday. This is a platform to galvanize our employees around our pioneering roots and spirit of inventiveness, and to share our mission with our clients and the world,” said Chairman and CEO Bob Jeffrey.
     

    J. Walter Thompson, the agency’s founder and the original ad man, paved the way for what is now known as modern advertising. Since the agency first opened its doors in 1864, Thompson’s vision as an innovator and pioneer has expanded into a global network of 10,000 employees, spanning 200 offices and 90 countries.
     

    “Every day is an opportunity to reinvent tomorrow, and together with our pioneering clients, we will continue to seize that opportunity for the next 150 years,” said Jeffrey.
     

    Over the decades, JWT has maintained a number of the industry’s longest-standing client relationships including: Unilever (109 years), Kimberly-Clark (84), Nestle (81), Kellogg’s (80), Rolex (68), Ford (67), U.S. Marines (66), Johnson & Johnson (51) and Shell (49).

    In celebrating the agency’s rich history of pioneering, JWT drives forward in its mission and vision for the future to invent pioneering ideas that people want to participate in and spend time with.
     

    “It is an honor to join JWT during such a momentous time. This is an agency with pioneering DNA – the brand, the clients and the people,” said Gustavo Martinez, Global President for JWT Worldwide. He added, “Our strategy for growth in the year ahead as a company will also draw its strength from our spirit of pioneering.”

     
    From hiring the first female creative director and pioneering magazine advertising to being the first agency to expand overseas and the first to send a Kit Kat into space, JWT has pioneered in the world of advertising with groundbreaking ideas that are bold and engaging, and introduced many of the world’s most memorable communications.

     
    In 2013, JWT’s innovative work won a number of accolades at global awards shows including the preeminent Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. JWT’s “Fakka” for Vodafone brought home numerous awards, including a gold lion and was also the most awarded piece of strategic work in the industry last year. Additional award-winning campaigns were JWT Beijing’s “Missing Children” app for Baobeihuijia.com and JWT New York’s “Yes, Virginia the Musical” for Macy’s.

     
    And, JWT’s work for Nestlé’s Kit Kat played a significant role in the brand being named one of the most influential candy bars of all time by TIME magazine.  

     
    To kick off the anniversary celebrations, Jeffrey and Martinez unveiled a commemorative logo that revives the original historical mark from JWT’s earliest visual branding: the Owl and the Lamp. The owl, long a symbol of wisdom in many cultures, and the lamp, an emblem of light and clarity of vision, together symbolize that experience and knowledge lead to success.

     
    Additional 150th celebrations underway for the year include:

    •The Commodore Challenge – an internal contest in search of the three most pioneering ideas for the world, with cash prizes

    •Cannes seminar on pioneering and innovation

    •Pioneering Influencer Series with clients, alumni and industry icons

    •Helen Lansdowne Resor Scholarship for female creatives

    •Interactive historical timeline

    •Historical content series highlighting JWT’s first and best stories from around the world

    •JWTIntelligence 150th Initiative

    In 2014, JWT will also continue to reinvent and bolster our digital capabilities. Actively managing digital change, JWT touts more than 2,000 nontraditional specialists dedicated to delivering digital work for clients. The agency will continue to acquire pure-play digital agencies, with a special focus on emerging markets — recent acquisitions include Thomas Idea in Thailand, Post Visual in South Korea, Designercity in Hong Kong and Lemon Sky in Poland — while expanding existing digital networks.
     

    New business growth is an important signal of JWT’s contemporary relevance, as it often involves attracting clients from newer industries. The agency was recently named global agency of record for PUMA, confirming JWT’s credibility in the booming sectors of sport and fashion. Other new business wins included Energizer personal care brands, Air Canada and The Singapore Tourism Board.

  • JWT launches Worldmakers in India

    MUMBAI: JWT has announced the launch of the Indian edition of Worldmakers, hosted by JWT Worldwide chairman and CEO Bob Jeffrey.

    Worldmakers is a Web-based talk show series created and produced by JWT, first launched in January 2012.

    The latest edition of Worldmakers, which can be viewed on JWT Worldwide’s YouTube channel, takes the conversation to Mumbai where Jeffrey meets with the leading innovators, storytellers and entrepreneurs who are influencing technology and industry in India and beyond.

    Meeting with the country’s most influential creative and business-minded thought leaders, Worldmakers: India delves into the nuances of the country and what it means to be both creative and successful in the market.

    Worldmakers: India guests include Akhil Gupta (senior managing director and chairman of Blackstone India), Prahlad Kakkar (Indian ad film director), Roopak Saluja (founder and managing director of Bang Bang Films), Ram Madhvani (ad film director), Rahul Bose (Indian actor, screenwriter, director), Dibankar Banerjee (film director and screenwriter), Tara Sharma (British Indian actress) and Colvyn Harris (CEO JWT South Asia).

    JWT’s Worldmade outlook seeks influence and inspiration from the international community, and the blossoming Indian market is an important one for advertisers and brands looking to identify emerging global opportunities.

    “India is an important driver of global economy and a key market across many industries. Our candid conversations with the influencers who are driving change and shaping culture in India offer powerful Worldmade insights into opportunities and strategies for future success in this growing market,” said Jeffrey.

  • Colvyn Harris is named JWT South Asia CEO

    MUMBAI: JWT India CEO Colvyn Harris has been elevated to South Asia (India, Sri Lanka and Nepal) chief executive officer.

    He will report to JWT Worldwide chairman and CEO Bob Jeffrey.

    Harris will take on added responsibilities of JWT‘s India operations, including Contract Advertising, Hungama Digital Services, JWT Mindset and Encompass.

    The agency has also promoted JWT director – North Asia Area and CEO- Greater China Tom Doctoroff to take the role of JWT Asia Pacific (APAC) CEO at the end of this year. In his new role, he will oversee Northeast and Southeast Asia, as well as Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand.

    According to the statement, the leadership restructure reflects Asia‘s growing global importance, and underscore JWT‘s commitment to the region‘s diverse and vibrant markets.

    Doctoroff and Harris will succeed Michael Maedel in the restructured region. Maedel will move into the role of non-executive chairman for Asia.

    Jeffrey says, “Tom and Colvyn are both dynamic leaders with strong connections to the markets, the consumers and the clients. By leveraging the strengths and strategic insights of these two very talented people, JWT is uniquely positioned to maximise growth in this critical and dynamic region.”

    These changes come at a time when JWT APAC continues to gather “greater” momentum. The company has also deepened the scope and scale of the services it offers in the market, from digital to shopper marketing, through organic growth and acquisitions.

    Doctoroff says, “I am very excited to build on JWT‘s past accomplishments across Asia Pacific. We are in the midst of a revolution of consumer empowerment. I look forward to working with client partners in this fast-changing region to find new synergies between classic brand building and next-stage consumer engagement in the digital era.”

    The restructuring also reflects a renewed focus on India by JWT Worldwide. JWT employs over 1,500 people in India, more than any other single market worldwide, and earns a significant amount of revenue from this critical, high-growth country, the company statement read.

    “We will continue to build and acquire the most diversified platforms to deliver on the market ambitions of the clients we service, thereby further consolidating our leadership position. Brands are the center of our focus, and with our skills and capabilities we deliver marketing solutions across the most diverse of offerings to meet the challenges of the dynamic markets we operate in. This new development ensures that our clients continue to have greater access to the best of our services and talent, not only in the country, but across South Asia,” Harris added.

    Maedel, who will remain in Singapore, will work with Doctoroff and Harris in an advisory role until he retires 2014.

    Harris, who has 33 years at JWT, continues to lead the advertising agency as CEO South Asia. He has held various industry leadership roles, including president of the Advertising Agencies Association of India.