ITV

Tag: DDB Mudra

  • Taproot is the only Indian competitor in Films Lions

    MUMBAI: Taproot India‘s campaign ‘I am Mumbai‘ for Bennett, Coleman & Co is the only Indian entry shortlisted in the Film category at this year‘s Cannes Lions. It is one of the 257 entries shortlisted globally.

    Taproot‘s entry has been shortlisted in the ‘Publications and Media category‘. A total of 56 entries from India went to Cannes Lions for Media Lions this year.

    In the previous year‘s edition India saw two shortlists – DDB Mudra and JWT India – both of which converted into metals with both agencies winning a Bronze Lion.

    Ogilvy & Mather worldwide chief creative officer Khai Meng Tham is the jury president and JWT Delhi executive creative director Priti Kapur is the Jury Member from India in the category this year.

    The winners will be announced on the evening of 23 June, along with the Film Craft Lions, Branded Content and Entertainment Lions and Titanium and Integrated Lions.

  • Cannes Lions: DDB Mudra helps India get its second Gold

    MUMBAI: India got its second gold at the Cannes Lions 2012, DDB Mudra Group being the winner in the Design Lions category for its work on The Hinglish Project for the Ministry of Tourism’s Incredible India initiative.

    The entry scored a double whammy as it took home a bronze as well.

    As part of the Hinglish Project, the agency developed a typeface that would make Hindi less intimidating and more approachable and friendly so that tourists to the country find it easier to read road signs.

    The fusion-font design allows the reader to discern the phonetic sound of a Hindi character by looking at the corresponding English alphabet superimposed on it. This helped Incredible India create a typeface for foreigners to familiarise themselves with the native language.

    Great work from Germany won the Grand Prix in this category. This proved that a dull subject like an annual report can also be designed interestingly. Agency Service Plan, Munich designed the colourless annual report for Austria Solar, using the innovative photo chromatic colour technology to print it. This, in effect, meant that the annual report could be read only in the sunlight.

    A total of eight entries from India made it to the Design Lions shortlist of which six were from DDB Mudra Group. The other two agencies shortlisted were BBDO India and TBWA India.

    Compared to last year, this edition’s performance may be called bleak as India won five metals in the category in 2011.

  • Seven Indian entries make it to Direct Lions shortlist

    Seven Indian entries make it to Direct Lions shortlist

    MUMBAI: Seven Indian entries have been shortlisted in the Direct Lions category at Cannes Lions 2012. While BBDO India has got two entries shortlisted, McCann World Group, Leo Burnett, O&M, DDB Mudra Group and Cheil Worldwide have gained themselves one spot each.

    BBDO India‘s entries were shortlisted in sub categories – ‘Dimensional Mailing‘ and ‘Direct Response Digital: Email Marketing‘ for its campaigns for Johnson‘s Baby and Child Welfare Fund respectively.

    The campaign for Johnson‘s Baby, titled India‘s First D.I.Y. Calendar for Babies, was targeted at new and first-time mothers with the key objective being to design a piece that would not just be a calendar, but engage mothers and help increase their play time with their baby.

    The D.I.Y. calendar was designed to showcase the different stages of the first 12 months of the baby‘s life, leading to his/her first birthday. Each month represented a different piece of baby article that instructed the mother about the new things she should introduce to her baby.

    Its second entry, titled World‘s Youngest Job Applicant, was targeted towards senior executives in corporations to help fund the education of underprivileged children. Using the insight that most senior executives normally do not delete an email job application, BBDO created job applications with attached CVs of underprivileged children and e-mailed them to these executives. The CVs detailed the hardships these kids went through in an effort to get a basic education for themselves, and went on to tell the reader that with his help these children could one day apply for the same job.

    Earning it the second nomination at this year‘s Cannes Lions, Leo Burnett‘s Ink Pad campaign for Door Step School has been shortlisted in the sub category Ambient Media & Print Collateral, Non-Mail (Small Scale). The initiative was an effort towards increasing awareness and participation in the client‘s adult literacy drive. The objective of the promotion was to give uninterested adults the first taste of how much fun learning could be.

    DDB Mudra Group‘s second shortlist came in the form of its campaign Growing Trees for Prism Papyrus Private / Fedrigoni in the sub category Business Products and Services. The objective was to create awareness about Fedrigoni‘s new range of recycled papers and subsequently increase sales. The target audience, drawn from both existing and new customers, was corporate print buyers and sellers in Mumbai.

    In order to drive the point home, the DDB Mudra Group used a design innovation instead of using a conventional poster. Making the exercise more appropriate to the brand that is fiercely eco-friendly, these posters were printed on Fedrigoni‘s recycled papers. Thus, rather than preach about the benefits of using recycling paper, the innovation demonstrated the same in a visually-engaging manner.

    McCann Worldgroup has been shortlisted in the sub category of Dimensional Mailing for its work for SaReGaMa India titled Keeping The Legend Alive. The objective of the campaign was to maintain interest in the Sawai Gandharva music festival after the passing away of its founder Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.

    To grab eyeballs, McCann used SaReGaMa‘s tapes of the late Panditji‘s recordings to create his musical portraits where each portrait was intricately weaved using over 1,100 meters of tape. Five musical portraits were created and each was brought to life with the legend‘s voice, using the audio CD on the canvas.

    O&M‘s shortlisted entry this year is its campaign named iFold for Vodafone India in the sub category Best Low Budget Campaign. The aim of the campaign was to spread awareness about saving paper. The idea was to encourage people to fold their bills and other correspondence extra in order to use smaller envelopes thus saving paper.

    Cheil Worldwide‘s Minus One Project, which it conceptualised for Samsung Printers, has been shortlisted in the Corporate Image and Information sub category. The target of the campaign was to encourage sustainable printing practices and was targeted at existing and new customers.

    The Minus One Project encouraged people to print documents after reducing the font size by just one unit. This reduced the number of pages required to print the document by up to 50 per cent and people could save trees even while taking printouts. Hence they found a solution relevant for the brand as well as nature. Minus One was adopted by many corporate organisations, schools, colleges and other institutes and presented Samsung Printers as a brand that comes up with smart solutions for complex problems.

  • Ashwini Dhingra joins DDB Mudra

    MUMBAI: Ashwini Dhingra has been appointed DDB Mudra Delhi SVP and will report directly to DDB Mudra Group Delhi president Vandana Das. He will be handling some of the agency‘s Delhi-based clients such as Dabur, HBO, Jaypee Group, PepsiCo, Twinings and Wrigley‘s.

    Dhingra‘s previous stint was with JWT Kolkata where he was vice president and director client services. He started his career in 1990 with Specialty Papers and shifted to advertising in 1997 with Euro RSCG where he worked for 14 years before joining JWT in 2011. In his tenure of 15 years, Dhingra has worked with Essar Cellphone, Lacoste, Kohler, Lebon, IMT, Jaypee Group, Zee News, ITC, Mayur Plywood and Tata Steel to name a few.

    DDB Mudra Group CEO and managing director Madhukar Kamath said, “For the DDB Mudra Group, Delhi is the growth market. Our offerings – advertising, media, digital, CRM, experiential, shopper marketing, retail and strategic branding enable us to deliver to a varied client portfolio. In line with our strategy to grow in Delhi, which already accounts for close to 40 per cent of the DDB Mudra Group businesses, we are further strengthening the team with Ashwini who comes to us from JWT. We now have a terrific team in place spearheaded by Vandana.”

    Das said, “Over the past few months, the team in Delhi has gotten stronger. We‘ve got Radhika Das, Xavi, Ravinder Siwach, Nagendra Choudhary and now Ashwini on board. All of them are experts in their respective fields and I feel truly privileged to lead such a talented team.”

    Dhingra said, “It is a fantastic opportunity to join an agency focussed to touch newer heights and I am looking forward to adding value by teaming-up with one of the best talents of the advertising industry.”

  • Gutenberg Networks steps into Asia with Maatra

    Gutenberg Networks steps into Asia with Maatra

    MUMBAI: The DDB Mudra Group‘s pre-media production solutions specialist agency Maatra has joined Omnicom Group‘s global integrated production powerhouse Gutenberg Networks.

    The Indian agency will be rebranded Gutenberg Networks India, making it the 4th global centre after France, UK and USA.

    The rebranded agency will be headed by Radhakrishnan Swaminathan who is currently Maatra president. The first centre in Asia, Gutenberg Networks India is strategically positioned to leverage and expand on Maatra clientele and provide a growth platform.

    “We already work with a host of clients of the DDB Mudra Group and others. Our multi-location capability allows us to look at delivering pre-media production services across geographies,” said Swaminathan.

    DDB Asia Pacific, India & Japan chairman and CEO John Zeigler said, “We have a strategic vision of taking Maatra from India and transporting its service offering across Asia Pacific. With its robust platform and work flow technologies it is a natural fit with Gutenberg Networks. As a combined force, Gutenberg Networks India will be able to build on and will clearly offer benchmark services and value to all clients across the region. Gutenberg Networks can arguably be the third partner for any client after the creative partner, the media partner as the implementation partner.”

    Gutenberg Networks is a decade old global integrated marketing production organisation. Its core expertise lies in developing and executing cost effective communication campaigns in broadcast, web, press and print. With a workforce of over 1200 employees globally, the agency works towards leveraging and creating value through tightly executed global campaigns for its clients. It has over 75 partners across the globe including names like Philips, Star Alliance, PepsiCo Tropicana, Volkswagen and Canadian Tourism Commission.

    DDB Mudra Group group CEO and managing director Madhukar Kamath said, “Maatra is a pioneering and a strategic effort in offering pre-media services from the DDB Mudra Group. Teaming with the best in the business, Gutenberg Networks and leveraging what Maatra has already achieved, Gutenberg Networks India will no doubt become a valuable hub and a part of a global presence. It is exciting to be Gutenberg Networks‘ 4th global centre and the first in Asia.”

  • Xavi Bech de Careda joins DDB Mudra Delhi as VP

    MUMBAI: DDB Mudra Delhi has appointed Xavi Bech de Careda as DDB Mudra Delhi vice president planning.

    Careda will report to DDB Mudra Group Delhi President Vandana Das and DDB Mudra, Delhi and Mumbai senior VP planning Aditya Kanthy.

    De Careda started his career as a food technology researcher in the R&D team of Unilever Research. He then joined BDDH and has also worked with BBH and McCann Healthcare in London. He moved to Barcelona in 1997 and worked with BBDO Tiempo, Rapp Collins and DDB Barcelona as a brand and communication strategist.

    He has over 15 years of work experience de Careda has handled world-class brands such as Audi, Bayer, Fujitsu Italy, Marcilla Coffe, Natura Bisse, Panasonic and Volkswagen to name a few.

    De Careda said, “After spending some months travelling in India the thought of a professional challenge here seduced me, and following DDB Mudra Group‘s call, things have moved at a fast pace. As it is with brands and business here; I am convinced that a very fruitful relationship awaits me in India.”

    DDB Mudra Group group CEO and managing director Madhukar Kamath said, “Delhi is the growth market for the DDB Mudra Group. We have a large presence already. Our offerings in advertising, media, digital, CRM, experiential, shopper marketing, retail and strategic branding enable us to work with a varied client portfolio. Xavi, with his rich and diverse experience will add to the unique base of talent that we have in the DDB Mudra Group in Delhi today.”

    Das said, “We are very thrilled about Xavi joining us. We are looking forward to huge amounts of learning that he would bring to the table and his contribution towards nurturing and building brands for DDB Mudra in Delhi.”

    Kanthy added, “We‘re thrilled that Xavi will work with us. He‘s an experienced DDB hand, knows the culture well and has an intuitive understanding of how we work. Xavi‘s widely traveled and has a deep appreciation of the arts. He‘ll add a unique flavour to the conversations we have at the agency and with our clients. He‘s the quintessential DDB man – talented and nice! The right guy to lead our team of bright young planners in Delhi.”

    In addition to having worked with agencies, de Careda also gives lectures at business and design schools in Barcelona like the ESSERP Business School, Instuito Europeo di Design and Universitat Blanquerna and has been a presenter for a bi-monthly radio show on advertising on Barcelona‘s leading radio channel ‘Catalan‘.

  • Sunil Kumar calls it a day at DDB Mudra Digital

    MUMBAI: DDB Mudra Digital media head Sunil Kumar has decided to move on from the agency and has put in his papers.

    After spending almost two years at DDB Mudra Digital, Kumar is currently serving his notice period.

    Kumar’s profile at the agency included media planning and strategisng. He joined DDB Mudra Digital in August, 2010.

    A media professional with more than 15 years of experience across print, radio and internet, Kumar was earlier employed with marketing agency EBS Worldwide as business head from November 2008 to January 2010. He was instrumental in setting up the digital arm of the business.

    At the start of his career, Kumar has worked with companies like Mediaturf Worldwide and The Hindu. He was involved in devising national sales packages, MIS and national activations for the radio station during his stint with Radio Mirchi in has capacity as senior manager.

  • DDB Mudra Delhi loses four senior officials

    MUMBAI: Four of DDB Mudra Delhi‘s senior officials have decided to move on.

    DDB Mudra North and East ECD Nirmal Pulickal, VP Gopal Krishnan, VP Gaurav Dudeja and creative director Vandana Katoch have quit.

    The agency has identified the replacements and will announce them soon.

    Pulickal has over 14 years of experience in the industry. He had joined DDB Mudra in September 2010. Prior to DDB Mudra, he had also worked with Wieden+Kennedy Delhi, Y&R Singapore, RMG David Delhi, Ogilvy & Mather Bangalore, McCann-Erickson Bangalore, Contract Advertising, Bangalore and Bates-Clarion Bangalore.

    Krishnan, who joined the agency July 2010, has earlier worked as business head at Rediffusion Y&R, India and general manager at TBWA.

    Dudeja had also joined DDB Mudra in 2010. He had joined the agency from McCann Erickson in July.

    Katoch was brought in by Mudra in June 2010. She had spent 14 years in Contract Advertising, working on brands such as Domino‘s Pizza, Jaypee Group, CRY, Spice Mobiles, Honda, Whirlpool and ESPN.

  • DDB Mudra readies Terra for high growth

    MUMBAI: With rural and semi-urban India seeing rapid growth in income and consumption, DDB Mudra Group‘s rural marketing agency Terra is gearing up to seize the opportunity.

    Almost four years into existence, Terra is drawing up plans to expand. The workforce has been built gradually over the years to a strength of 100, skills have been acquired through a process of learning from experience, and the agency is ready to pitch aggressively for more business.

    Says DDB Mudra Max head and president (experiential, retail and OOH) Mandeep Malhotra, “India is a country where media darkness is significant considering the population of the towns and villages. As an agency Terra has come a long way in a short time. Our work force stands at 100 today and we have teams that can cater to a population of 5000 people at a time. Whenever a corporate or public service body calls for a pitch for rural marketing, Terra is definitely considered.”

    Having recently appointed Rohit Samarth as senior vice president to assist Malhotra, Terra is looking to target the virgin territories of the heartland.

    Says Samarth, “Though 2011 was not so good, we expect 2012 to be a good year in the communication sector. We as an agency have a well spread network with people actually living in the areas where the communication has to be carried out. We expect to cash in on the momentum we have built over the years and gain pace into our operations.”

    Industry experts believe that the rural marketing space itself has evolved to a great extent in the past five years. At a time when telecommunications and mobile has penetrated the semi urban and rural spaces, the population in these areas has seen a sea change in outlook and exposure. This has altered their attitudes and increased their needs, wants and desires. Fundamentally speaking, the rural audience has evolved.

    Samarth says, “Today we find rural pockets around big cities like Delhi and Mumbai. Rural marketing is becoming more about experiential marketing in this age.”

    Though the industry as a whole may still be struggling to find its ground, Malhotra is sure that the agency has a bright future. “We are confident that the future for Terra is bright considering the growth and learning it has registered for the past four to five years. As an industry on the whole, the future is a tad bit uncertain considering its unorganised nature. The margins are also not that lucrative,” he explains.

    Recognising the challenges of the market, Malhotra is not yet ready to share his growth targets. “We will be aggressive,” is all that he is willing to say at this stage.

    So get ready to hear more from Malhotra as he presses the accelerator to post high growth this year.

  • DDB Mudra bags media and creative account for Yamaha’s Ray

    MUMBAI: The DDB Mudra Group has been awarded the creative and media mandate for Yamaha‘s soon to be launch scooter Ray.

    Ray will hit the road in mid-2012, marking Yamaha Motors‘ entry in the scooter industry in India.

    Sources close to the development revealed that the agency has received an informal confirmation on the matter and the official signing will take place over the next couple of days. The agency‘s Delhi office will be handling for the account.

    The motorcycle brands of Yamaha are handled by JWT ADK Fortune which is a joint venture between JWT and Japanese agency ADK.

    Earlier, at Auto Expo 2012, Yamaha Motor had unveiled its plan to launch a scooter prototype in India called Ray to be targeted at young Indian girls. With the launch of the scooter model later this year Yamaha will now be present across all growing 2-wheeler segments.