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Tag: Debarpita Banerjee

  • Pawan Soni joins Fuel Content India as chief business officer

    Pawan Soni joins Fuel Content India as chief business officer

    Mumbai: FCB Group India’s content production arm, Fuel Content, has announced the appointment of Pawan Soni as chief business officer. He will lead FCB Group’s content production business and develop capabilities in India to offer full-funnel content solutions to their clients.

    With this new appointment, FCB Group India has taken a step to expand its client offerings in this dynamic and ever-evolving media landscape. Soni aims to leverage his wealth of knowledge and years of expertise to drive Fuel Content’s next phase of growth and solidify FCB’s role as a partner for the client’s business growth.

    Soni, who brings with him 18 years of management experience to the role, will be reporting to FCB India & Fuel Content CEO Debarpita Banerjee. He is a seasoned professional with a depth of experience across content and marketing as well, most recently at his own content agency, ThumbThamba Media, where he works with brand owners and agencies to create digital content while helping brands build their content strategies to solve business problems.

    He was previously head of content and marketing verticals for Disney’s Fox portfolio in India, where he managed brands like National Geographic and Fox Life. Before joining National Geographic, he was with JWT (now Wunderman Thompson) and worked on GSK’s consumer healthcare portfolio with brands like Horlicks & Iodex. The move underlines FCB Group India’s effort to offer their clients best-in-class content solutions across myriad production formats and platforms.

    Speaking on the appointment, Banerjee said, “I have known Soni for more than a decade and have worked with him closely in different roles across different organisations. I have always been a fan of his ability to unknot any situation and find a shining solution. As a force, he always moves forward, and as Fuel expands its offerings and expertise to our clients and moves into its next phase of operations, I am confident that Soni will be able to steer this unit to new and exciting heights.”

    On the appointment, Soni said, “This is an amazing opportunity, and I am excited to work alongside super talented folks at FCB Group India to produce even more creative stories and engaging content of the highest quality. I believe that great production is where creativity and curiosity go hand in hand with problem-solving, which allows us to create customised solutions every time for our clients’ storytelling needs. I’m looking forward to leading and growing Fuel Content into a modern production company that fuses agility, creativity, and technology to produce highly engaging yet effective work. Our ambition is to build a full-service production company that provides world-class production support, standout creative guidance, and a range of innovative solutions for our clients to produce insightful content that meaningfully connects with audiences in authentic and culturally relevant ways.”

    For the record, Fuel Content integrates key FCB tools like Brand Bedrock and aligns core brand strategy with content strategy to create “never-finished” content across platforms in India. It believes in a collaborative content creation approach; hence, it works closely with a network of individual content creators and different digital platforms to optimise content visibility and management for its clients.

  • FCB India announces its newly elevated C-Suite leadership team

    FCB India announces its newly elevated C-Suite leadership team

    MUMBAI: FCB Group India recently announced the restructuring of its creative agencies and a new three agency structure – FCB Ulka, FCB Interface and FCB India. FCB India, the newest agency in the fold, led by Swati Bhattacharya as the creative chairperson, has now announced its newly elevated C-Suite leadership team. FCB India will be led by Debarpita Banerjee as chief executive officer, Surjo Dutt as chief creative officer and John Thangaraj as chief strategy officer.

    In an increasingly digitised marketplace of ever-increasing options, influencing consumer choice has become more complex than ever before. It is this tremendous complexity that informs FCB India’s belief system: that siloed, medium-first thinking is no longer enough to build powerful brands in today’s world. FCB India aims at bringing a multi-disciplinary approach to creative ideation, drawing from fields as varied as design and data to media and marketing, the company said in a statement on Thursday.

    FCB India creative chairperson Swati Bhattacharya, said, “When Debbie, Surjo, and John enter the room to solve a problem…you know it will be done. Very rarely do you see such chemistry and energy in the boardroom. They can afford to be terribly honest with each other, and that directly makes the idea shiny and the brand shinier!”

    Debarpita Banerjee joined FCB in 2016 as president- North & East and now heads the agency as the CEO. A seasoned business leader with prior experience in both marketing and advertising, she headed marketing for National Geographic India in her previous role. She is a content enthusiast and also leads Fuel- the branded content and production arm at the agency.

    Surjo Dutt joined FCB in 2016 as national creative director. In his previous role, he was heading creative for specialist digital agency Sapient Nitro. Dutt combines over two decades of advertising experience across both mainline and digital with a strong focus on filmmaking and creative disruption.  

    John Thangaraj joined FCB in 2016 as executive planning director. In his previous role, he was head of strategy- North for Mindshare. Thangaraj brings close to twenty years of marketing communications expertise to the table, having worked across the ecosystem- from qualitative research & brand marketing to account planning, media strategy, and advertising.

    Speaking on this new developement, FCB Group India chairman & CEO Rohit Ohri said, “Hybrid thinking truly begins with hybrid talent. Debbie, Surjo and John’s diverse experience across content marketing, media strategy and digital storytelling, respectively, uniquely positions them to deliver to the challenges of building and growing brands in today’s complex, ever-changing marketplace”.

    “Debbie, Surjo & John have been instrumental in growing the FCB brand across new clients, categories and markets. Having spent half a decade working with each other, they play off each other’s strengths, bring multiple perspectives to the table and form a formidable base from which to further consolidate the tremendous equity they have already built. I wish them the best in their new roles and have no doubt that they will lead FCB India into a new era of success,” Ohri added.

  • FCB Ulka appoints Shreekant Srinivasan as senior VP and business director

    FCB Ulka appoints Shreekant Srinivasan as senior VP and business director

    MUMBAI: FCB Ulka has announced the appointment of Shreekant Srinivasan as senior vice president and business director at its Delhi office. In his new role at FCB, Srinivasan will be heading iconic brands, like Horlicks, Hero MotoCorp, Hamdard, along with Boeing.

    Srinivasan, who has earlier worked with agenices like BBH, Leo Burnett, McCann Worldwide, and Weiden and Kennedy, comes with 20 years of extensive experience of the field. He has played a key role in launching new offices, building cohesive teams and managing some illustrious brands such as GM, Tinder and Royal Enfield to name a few. 

    Commenting on the appointment, FCB Ulka president north and east Debarpita Banerjee said, “Shreekant has a proven track record of leadership, advertising flair, and business growth. He will be heading a lion’s share of this ever-growing branch at FCB. We are excited to have him over and are confident that he will lead this business with bigger better ideas on our brands.” 

    Speaking on his new role, Srinivasan said, “Sometimes things just click. I met Debbie after ages over a cup of coffee when she passionately spoke about the group's vision and a role that looked too exciting to not take up. With its legacy of doing culture-defining work being reflected in the recent campaigns like 'Sindoor Khela', FCB looked like the right place for my future exploits. And here I am, looking forward to partner FCB in its next phase of evolution.”

  • RoohAfza targets millennials in latest campaign

    RoohAfza targets millennials in latest campaign

    MUMBAI: RoohAfza, a refreshment beverage for over 100 years, has been India’s favourite drink for generations. This summer, the brand launched its new TVC campaign called #GhulkeJiyo, celebrating India’s unity in diversity.

    The campaign crafted and conceptualised by FCB Ulka stays true to what RoohAfza is, but finds a way to connect with Indian millennials who are progressive yet immensely proud of their culture.

    Hamdard chief sales and marketing officer Mansoor Ali says, “Every time we come up with a new campaign, we want to address a key issue that is prevalent in our society. Being a 111-year-old drink and loved by consumers across all age groups and segments, RoohAfza has stood the test of time, not solely because it’s a great refresher, but because at its core it stands for something far larger — togetherness! This campaign is a call for everyone to come together and live in harmony.”

    FCB Ulka president Debarpita Banerjee adds, “RoohAfza is a lot more than a refreshing beverage. For a lot of us it is nostalgia in a bottle. Along with its natural ingredients, beautiful colour and unique taste, it is also a drink that almost had the power to bring people together, cutting across all age groups, belief systems and geographies. And this was the task we set upon ourselves. To re-introduce this iconic stature to the younger generations of our country.”

    RoohAfza is a sharbat in a bottle, but the magic happens when it is mixed and mingled with things. RoohAfza, in its refreshing way asks India to come together and celebrate the ‘unity in diversity’ that it stands for. The new insight-based campaign showcases this in a montage film depicting different scenarios and a background score taken form a very popular evergreen song “Yeh hai Bombay Meri Jaan” from the film CID.

    FCB Ulka national creative head Surjo Dutt mentions, “The challenge was to make a 100-year-old iconic drink relevant for the youth of today. Only when we mix and mingle with each other is when we truly come together. Just like Roohafza’s unique taste which comes out only when it is mixed with something else. It was an absolute pleasure bringing this idea to life using an iconic song, paired with heart-warming visuals.”

  • First Create Behaviour, FCB Ulka’s mantra debuts with Merino mandate

    First Create Behaviour, FCB Ulka’s mantra debuts with Merino mandate

    MUMBAI: Merino Group has awarded its brand strategy & creative mandate to FCB Ulka Delhi, following a multi-agency pitch. The mandate involves work for Merino Laminates, Merino Furniture, and their FMCG food brand Vegit. The mandate includes ATL, BTL & digital.

    Merino Laminates is a popular brand in the laminate segment and leading manufacturer and exporter of decorative laminates for interiors. Vegit, a subsidiary, features in the Ready-to-Cook category. Merino spokesperson said, “Merino will endeavour to bring resident knowledge of the trade obtained over years, & its application into all facets of Business Activity.”

    FCB India group chairman and CEO Rohit Ohri said, “FCB’s new creative mantra – First Create Behaviour, and our new planning protocol – Brand Bedrock, debuted at this pitch. The other debut was that of our new regional leadership team, Debarpita Banerjee (president north & east), Surjo Dutt (national creative director) and John Thangaraj (executive planning director).”

    FCB Ulka president north & east Debarpita Banerjee added, “This is an exciting, even though a bit nascent side of the decorative market. This space throws up immense potential and allows fresh thinking, giving us a chance at category creation.”

  • First Create Behaviour, FCB Ulka’s mantra debuts with Merino mandate

    First Create Behaviour, FCB Ulka’s mantra debuts with Merino mandate

    MUMBAI: Merino Group has awarded its brand strategy & creative mandate to FCB Ulka Delhi, following a multi-agency pitch. The mandate involves work for Merino Laminates, Merino Furniture, and their FMCG food brand Vegit. The mandate includes ATL, BTL & digital.

    Merino Laminates is a popular brand in the laminate segment and leading manufacturer and exporter of decorative laminates for interiors. Vegit, a subsidiary, features in the Ready-to-Cook category. Merino spokesperson said, “Merino will endeavour to bring resident knowledge of the trade obtained over years, & its application into all facets of Business Activity.”

    FCB India group chairman and CEO Rohit Ohri said, “FCB’s new creative mantra – First Create Behaviour, and our new planning protocol – Brand Bedrock, debuted at this pitch. The other debut was that of our new regional leadership team, Debarpita Banerjee (president north & east), Surjo Dutt (national creative director) and John Thangaraj (executive planning director).”

    FCB Ulka president north & east Debarpita Banerjee added, “This is an exciting, even though a bit nascent side of the decorative market. This space throws up immense potential and allows fresh thinking, giving us a chance at category creation.”

  • Michelin star chef Vikas Khanna meets Fox Life fans to celebrate the launch of ‘Twist of Taste’

    Michelin star chef Vikas Khanna meets Fox Life fans to celebrate the launch of ‘Twist of Taste’

    NEW DELHI: Fox Life in association with soon to open SodaBottleOpenerwala, Khan Market, New Delhi, today organized a rendezvous for FOX Life fans with Vikas Khanna to celebrate the launch of the fourth season of its highly successful and most watched show Twist of Taste- Sweet Life.

    Fox Life gave this unique opportunity to its viewers through a contest on Facebook. As part of the contest #TheSweetWish, the contestants were asked to respond to the question – What dessert/sweet dish does Vikas Khanna remind you of? The channel also tied up with Food Bloggers Association of India, to involve the blogger community. Six lucky winners won the contest and meet their favourite Chef today in Delhi.

    Talking on the launch Khanna said: “It feels great to be a part of this exciting show again. In this season of Twist of Taste- Sweet Life, I have had a chance to explore and experiment with India’s classic and traditional sweets. It’s always a wonderful feeling to meet and connect with your fans and I was delighted to meet the winners of the contest on FOX Life today.”
     
    Fox International Channels VP – marketing Debarpita Banerjee said: “We are extremely delighted to have Vikas Khanna as part of the Fox Life family yet again. It is our constant endeavour to delight our viewers, who love Vikas and are a huge fan of his culinary skills. This meet & greet was a perfect way to provide our viewers, who have made this show a huge success, an opportunity to meet their favourite chef.”
     
    Through SodaBottleOpenerWala, Olive pays tribute to the dying legacy of a Bombay Irani cafe bringing with it – typical Parsi cuisine and Bombay street food. Says AD Singh, “We’ve delved deep within its unique world to bring alive the nuances – wonderful chaotic, crowded, bustling, colorful, quirky, cluttered, eccentric and the so real world of an Irani café – both for cuisine and its atmosphere. We are happy to host Viksas Khanna at the soon to open second outlet and wish him and Fox Life good luck and hope that this season is as successful as the previous ones!”
    The show will see the versatile Michelin starred chef Vikas Khanna on a sweet adventure. Vikas will travel to the cultural capitals of India – Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata, Amritsar and Mysore, visiting places, meeting people and giving his signature touch to the local Indian traditional sweets and mithais. This festive season, watch Vikas Khanna spread his magic with Indian sweets every Monday and Tuesday at 9:30 pm starting 13 October.

     

  • Catch the BMW M3 take on the Lexus ISF in your living room!

    Catch the BMW M3 take on the Lexus ISF in your living room!

    New Delhi, October 6, 2014: National Geographic Channel (NGC) is all set to pump up loads of adrenaline as October sees the launch of the fourth season of ‘Nat Geo Supercars’.  This year, the face of Nat Geo Supercars, supermodel and actress Lisa Haydon adds glamour to the battle of the attractive mean machines. Taking the action and competition between wheeled beasts to the next level, Nat Geo Supercars will premiere on October 13 and will be aired Monday to Friday  at 10:30 pm IST.

     

    In each episode of Nat Geo Supercars, host Lee Reherman challenges professional racecar drivers Tanner Foust and Paul Tracy to take two of the world’s most admirably designed ‘supercars’ and push their limits to the maximum. Foust and Tracy test these cars on their performance on the road and put its head-to-head in an all-out competition to demonstrate why they are truly considered ‘supercars’. Matchups include a BMW M3 versus a Lexus ISF; Technocraft Lamborghini versus the Joyride Ford GT; Ferrari 430 Scuderia versus Ferrari California; Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG versus the Cadillac CTSV and the Bentley Supersports versus Aston Martin DBS.

     

    Debarpita Banerjee, Vice President, Marketing and Communications, NGC Networks and FOX International Channels India, said, “We are excited to bring back Nat Geo Supercars- one of our top-rated franchises. This year, there is more than just an attractive line-up of supercars. There is a high-octane race between the best of engines that is bound to leave all car enthusiasts and Supercar fans breathless.”

     

    Talking about the show, Lisa Haydon said, “The show is sporty, fast and real. From the suave BMW to the swift Ferrari- Nat Geo Supercars has the best beauties in the business. It is unconventional, follows no limits and I personally love watching these cars ripping the wind. I am happy to be associated with something so off-beat yet enjoys a wide fan base.”

     

    As part of the marketing and promotions for the new season, NGC will be running a watch & win contests on-air where viewers can answer a question flashed during the show and stand a chance to win iPad & NGC Supercar branded merchandize.

     

    Nat Geo Supercars- Battle of the Supercars premieres on October 13, 2014, Monday toFriday at 10:30pm on National Geographic Channel.

  • National Geographic Channel calls out to all dog lovers

    National Geographic Channel calls out to all dog lovers

    MUMBAI: Known as a man’s best friend, dogs are always seen as lovable animals. Have you come across instances when you or someone else is simply unable to handle their pooches? National Geographic Channel presents ‘Cesar to the Rescue’ a show that will help you learn about canine behaviour and bring balance and happiness to their relationships with them. The show is set to premiere on August 30, and will be aired every Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 pm IST.

     

    This six-episode series will be hosted by Mexican-American dog trainer Cesar Millan, known for his efforts to rehabilitate aggressive dogs. As part of the show, Cesar goes on a mission to bring order back to neighborhoods that have fallen under the terrorizing power of a ferocious yappy canine. In each episode Cesar goes to different pet owners and helps them understand their dogs better by his unique ways of training.

     

    Talking about the show, Debarpita Banerjee, Vice President, Marketing and Communications, NGC Networks and FOX International Channels India said “Though being a dog lover myself, it so happens that sometimes you are unable to understand your dog’s mood and or why they start acting in a peculiar way specially towards friends, guests and neighbors. This is where an expert is needed and with this show we aim to showcase the brilliant work.”

     

    Cesar Millan says, “I have always loved all animals and I still do, but I had a special connection with dogs almost from the beginning. I was only thirteen when I decided that I wanted to be the best dog trainer in the world. ‘Cesar to the Rescue’ is all about helping entire groups of people- families, extended families, workplaces, and communities. The show has humor, drama, and suspense, as well as some very heartwarming moments of success.”

     

    Get ready to woof-up with Cesar to the Rescue!

     

    Premiering August 30th, airs every Saturday and Sunday, at 8:30 pm on National Geographic Channel.