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Tag: Edelman India

  • BBH beefs up brainpower with new EVPs and creative leadership boosts

    BBH beefs up brainpower with new EVPs and creative leadership boosts

    MUMBAI: BBH India is turning up the creative volume and the leadership dial. The Publicis Groupe agency has strengthened its senior bench with the appointment of Delon Mascarenhas and Mitushi Sharma as executive vice presidents, while also elevating Ashwin Palkar and Nisheeth Srivastava to senior executive creative directors.

    The shake-up comes as BBH India enjoys a hot streak: fresh business wins, deeper partnerships, and international recognition, including a Bronze Lion at Cannes Lions 2025 for its cheeky “Bassi Vs Garnier Men’s Facewash” campaign. It also bagged the No. 3 spot in India on the MMA Smarties Business Impact Index 2024 underlining its momentum.

    Mascarenhas, who re-joins BBH, brings more than 25 years of experience spanning brand strategy, content, and digital marketing. His career highlights include senior stints at DDB Mudra Group, Edelman India, Havas Life, and Tring, working with marquee brands like McDonald’s, HUL, Red Bull, Meesho, Dream11, and Abbott.

    Sharma comes in with over 23 years of advertising chops, most recently at FCB Interface, and a portfolio covering categories from FMCG to pharma. She has shaped strategies for global and Indian heavyweights including Nivea, Whirlpool, Mahindra, Torrent Pharma, and has played a pivotal role in managing Unilever brands such as Lakme, Domex, and Ayush.

    Ashwin Palkar and Nisheeth Srivastava’s elevation signals BBH’s push for creative firepower and talent development. Both will continue reporting to chief creative officer Parikshit Bhattacharya.

    Commenting on the appointments BBH India MD and COO Himanshu Saxena said: “With Delon and Mitushi, we’re doubling down on our belief in creativity that delivers full-funnel marketing effectiveness. This leadership is built to take us into the next growth phase.”

    For Mascarenhas, it’s a homecoming: “I’m excited to re-join BBH India at this pivotal moment. With a strong team and bold vision, the opportunity to shape brands in today’s evolving landscape is immense.”

    Sharma echoed the sentiment: “BBH has always stood out for blending cultural insight, creativity, and strategy. With technology changing consumer mindsets, I look forward to pushing boundaries and fuelling exponential growth.”

    With 2025 already stacked with wins, fresh leadership firepower could ensure BBH India continues to punch above its weight in the global creative ring.
     

  • Tata Starbucks launches #MeriSpecialJagah campaign

    Tata Starbucks launches #MeriSpecialJagah campaign

    Mumbai: Tata Starbucks has launched its Diwali campaign, #MeriSpecialJagah, inviting Indian families to celebrate the festival at Starbucks. Over 12 years in India, the brand has adapted to local tastes, becoming part of daily life for consumers. This Diwali, Starbucks offers a curated range of festive treats, creating an inviting atmosphere that reflects the spirit of Indian homes during the festival.

    Tata Starbucks head of product and marketing Mitali Maheshwari said, “Starbucks has always been about creating a welcoming space for everyone. We are committed to celebrating local traditions and fostering genuine connections among our customers. What truly brings our campaign idea of #MeriSpecialJagah to life is the resonance of Indians celebrating Diwali at a place that makes them feel ‘at home’ (an extension of the third place that the Starbucks stores hold in the consumers minds) in the festive avatar. With our beautifully decorated stores, special take-away Diwali cups, limited edition offerings in food and beverage that highlight ingredients and flavours closely associated with the festival, our curated range of gifting options; we have ensured that every element of what makes Diwali special for our customers is recreated at Starbucks.”

    The brand film features a young man, Ninad, who proposes to invite family friends to Starbucks for a Diwali gathering, giving his mother a break from cooking. Initially hesitant, his parents are convinced when they see Ninad’s confidence in replicating the warmth of home at Starbucks. The family arrives at a beautifully decorated Starbucks, welcomed by a friendly barista. As relatives join, they enjoy a festive ambiance and a Diwali menu with local ingredients like saffron and pista, along with desserts like Gulab Jamun Trifle, Khubani Barfi Bar, and White Choco Kaju Nankhatai. The film ends with the family bonding over treats, highlighting Starbucks as their special place for Diwali celebrations.

    Edelman India lead advisor-brand marketing & communications Ashutosh Munshi added, “Starbucks has always been a place where everyone feels welcome, and this Diwali, the brand is doubling down on that promise. Our #MeriSpecialJagah campaign brings to life the magic of the season by celebrating local traditions and sparking authentic connections. At the heart of the 360 integrated campaign, are limited-edition Diwali offerings – thoughtfully crafted to resonate with the festival’s warmth and joy. From stores adorned in festive splendour to food and beverages infused with festive flavour, every detail is designed to make Starbucks a special destination to share the spirit of Diwali with loved ones.”

    Edelman India executive creative director Ashish Pathak added, “Our campaign for Diwali found an idea in the truism of unannounced guests, especially during festive seasons. A result of which sees mums in kitchens, missing out on celebrating fully. With Starbucks unique, traditionally flavoured food & beverage innovations for Diwali, it becomes the perfect ‘special place’ for a family to move the tradition of meeting at home to a Starbucks for a truly new, unique and delightful experience. Giving mums a well-deserved break and a celebration for the family to remember.”

    This Diwali, Starbucks introduces limited-edition beverages such as the Saffron Pistachio Latte and Saffron Masala Chai. In collaboration with Bombay Sweet Shop, they offer festive treats combining traditional Indian sweets with modern twists. To enhance the gifting experience, Starbucks provides exclusive gift hampers and merchandise, including the festive Bearista Plushie and Iced Latte Candle.

  • PR industry continues to grow at 20 per cent, reaching ₹2,500 crore

    PR industry continues to grow at 20 per cent, reaching ₹2,500 crore

    Mumbai: The Public Relations Consultants Association of India (PRCAI) hosted the third edition of its flagship thought-leadership forum, PRologue 2024 on 25 July in Gurgaon.

    At this event, PRCAI presented initial findings of SPRINT 2024*, its annual industry survey in collaboration with IPSOS, which estimates a growth of 19.6 percent in FY 2022-2023 for the industry. PRCAI presented and deliberated on an optimistic projection for the Indian PR industry, reaching 2,500 crore from 2,100 crore in FY 2021-2022.

    The event saw panelists engage in dynamic discussions on the theme ‘Reimagining Communications in a Turbulent World.’ With changing demographics in India, influence of technology and AI, economic trajectory, the PR industry is experiencing changes at a fast rate, from skills required in the industry, to greater attention to PR by C-Suite, to innovation in audience outreach, to shaping narratives, to services and specializations offered to be ready for the future of communications. These themes were explored at the recent PRologue 2024, which was attended by 300 communication and business professionals.

    India is home to the largest Gen Z population, earning trust from this dynamic group is vital for brand success. Diving into the evolving behaviour of new-age consumers, PRCAI guest speakers included Tata Starbucks CEO Sushant Dash, content creator Anushka Rathod and Edelman India lead advisor, brand marketing & communications Ashutosh Munshi who talked about how to ‘Crack the Gen Z Code’ at the event.

    Tata Starbucks CEO Sushant Dash said, “Gen Z’s unique expectations and strong opinions, shaped by their digital nativity, challenge brands to innovate. At Starbucks India, we engage with this dynamic group daily, finding their perspectives both refreshing and inspiring. Their insights drive us to continually adapt and improve our communication approach.”

    Emphasizing trust and engagement, the panel underscored public relations’ crucial role in navigating rapid technological advancements and widespread misinformation. The second panel with guest line-up including, Staqu Technologies CEO & co-founder Atul Rai, Medianama founder and editor Nikhil Pahwa, HT Media Group business head Yatik Naik, and The Indian Express COO Nandagopal Rajan discussed strategies to ‘Navigate The AI Tightrope,’ balancing the dilemma of innovation versus misinformation.

    The most awaited industry event is a combination of trend discussions at PRologue 2024, followed by the global SABRE South Asia Awards, that celebrated the most creative and interesting work in the field of public relations. More than 50 awards were given to compelling campaigns. SUGAR Cosmetics co-founder and CEO Vineeta Singh was awarded the top honour of CEO of the year at the SABRE South Asia 2024 Awards.

    SUGAR Cosmetics CEO & co-founder Vineeta Singh said, “I am deeply honored and humbled to receive the Best CEO of the Year at SABRE South Asia 2024 Awards hosted by PRCAI. I dedicate this award to my mother and SUGAR’s workforce, especially 3000+ women employees, beauty enthusiasts, and stakeholders at large. This award recognition underscores our focus to redefine the Indian beauty landscape whilst saluting the indomitable spirit of women who embrace their most authentic selves.”

    PRCAI VP Kunal Kishore said, “PRologue and SABRE SA have become the industries’ most awaited moments of learning and recognition. Our goal is to focus on authentic conversation and reimagine every year our ever-changing environment that can constantly up the game for the industry.”

    ‘This year at PRologue 2024, PRCAI partnered with the Guinness World Records (GWR) and created a new record for the most signatures collected on a t-shirt in 60 minutes. It called upon the attendees and industry professionals to pledge to the power of “Educate, Elevate, Empower” and for each one of them to commit an hour this year to upskill the next generation of talent in the industry.

    PRCAI CEO Deeptie Sethi remarked, “The industry is witnessing a healthy growth and PRCAI is committed to help the industry strive for excellence with platforms to upskill, standardizing guidelines to build a world-class workforce and stronger industry practices for both today and tomorrow. We are excited about the first-ever Guinness World Record for PRCAI, that symbolizes our commitment to encourage each member of ours as an integrated part to cultivate a more skilled and innovative workforce for the future.”

    To elevate the industry standards and cultivate a more professional and collaborative environment for collective success, PRCAI has a new client-consultancy partnership charter and code of conduct guidelines, which will be announced soon to build an even stronger ethical, professional, and progressive PR industry.

  • Edelman India and Hellmann’s collab to create ‘Mood Burgers’ for cricket fans

    Edelman India and Hellmann’s collab to create ‘Mood Burgers’ for cricket fans

    Mumbai: Cricket is more than just a sport in India; it’s a way of life. As the nation gears up for the World Cup, Hellmann’s is elevating the match viewing experience for cricket fans with a unique 360 campaign, conceptualized and executed by Edelman India to launch Hellmann’s ‘Mood Burgers’ in partnership with SOCIAL. ‘Mood Burgers’ go beyond just taste and are specifically designed with intel from a Certified Mind-Body Eating Coach, Counselling Psychologist & Integrative Health Coach, Ridhi Golechha, to get you in the match-ready mood through carefully chosen ingredients.

    The limited-edition menu will be available in three delicious options with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian variants. The ‘Get Charged Up’ burger is a protein-packed blend of chicken and eggs or beetroot, and quinoa to help fans charge up during those critical matches. Stay focused with the ‘Eyes on the Prize’ burger, consisting of tuna or chickpeas, flax and sesame seeds, who are the right partners when you are all ‘eyes and ears’ to the most exciting moments of the match. Relax and refuel with the ‘Drop the Jitter’ burger made using meat or plant-based meat, and avocado, which delivers essential fats and iron for a calm, steady mood. Each burger not only satisfies your taste buds but also helps you to have a delightful match-watching experience.

     

     

    Unilever Foods Solution India head – foods, Priyanka Ganguly said, “Fueled by our passion for culinary excellence, Hellmann’s is committed to elevating the eating experience with our signature mayonnaise known for its rich flavour and extra creamy taste. Recognizing India’s deep-seated love for cricket, we’ve partnered with SOCIAL to introduce Mood Burgers, an innovation designed to complement the thrill of this cricket season. These specially crafted burgers will be served across 53 SOCIAL outlets nationwide. We’re thrilled to offer India a delicious savour the excitement of the game with every bite.”

    Speaking on the association, Edelman lead advisor – brand marketing & communications Ashutosh Munshi said, “We are delighted to have partnered with Hellmann’s to create this exciting line-up of ‘Mood Burgers’ soaked in cricket culture. For us at Edelman, this goes far beyond a brand campaign. This is a brand taking action by bringing cricket fans their mood fixer for every match in a delicious burger, made possible only with the luscious taste of Hellmann’s mayonnaise. Building on this product innovation is a fully integrated marketing campaign that includes a digital ad film, owned and shared media, offline experientials, elements that drive earned attention and more.”

    Edelman India executive creative director Ashish Pathak said “Hellmann’s mayonnaise believes in the power of great tasting food and wanted people across the country to experience that. We know an event like the World Cup will put cricket-loving, Indian fans through a rollercoaster of emotions. So, we brought together a Mind-Body Eating Coach and a Chef to create “Mood Burgers”, a range of burgers using some witty nutritional facts and great-tasting mayo to help fans ride out their emotions. The idea goes beyond traditional communication and allows for people to interact with the brand in a fun, experiential way. Nerves will be calmed; focus will be brought, and energies will be charged this World Cup.”  

    Through this campaign, Hellmann’s India aims to take their delicious Mayo into the hearts and homes of cricket fans. To order your Hellmann’s Mood Burger, visit any of the 53 SOCIAL outlets across India between 5 to 30 June 2024, and have it delivered to you via Swiggy or Zomato from 6 June onwards.

  • Alcon launches ‘See Brilliantly, Live Brilliantly’ campaign

    Alcon launches ‘See Brilliantly, Live Brilliantly’ campaign

    Mumbai: Alcon, the global leader in eye care, has launched a patient education campaign, ‘See Brilliantly, Live Brilliantly’, to increase awareness of the benefits of cataract surgery. Cataract surgery removes the cloudy cataract lens and replaces it with an artificial lens known as an intraocular lens, or IOL. The campaign highlights that the procedure presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to restore vision to pre-cataract clarity while also correcting refractive errors such as presbyopia and astigmatism and reducing the need for glasses.  A recent Alcon Eye on Cataract Survey shows that globally, many patients do not know they can choose from several types of IOLs to fit their unique needs, and in India, more than 1 in 2 people stated they feel older because of wearing glasses, highlighting a gap in patient understanding.

    The key element of Alcon’s campaign is a brand film that captures relatable moments in everyday life of four aging adults whose life experiences are compromised because of cataract. The film goes on to show how their quality of life improves after cataract surgery with the use of advanced cataract solutions.

    Commenting on the launch of this campaign, Alcon India country franchise head & county manager Amar Vyas said, “The Alcon Eye on Cataract global survey showed that globally and in India, vision is the most important aspect as people age. For adults aged 50+ years, cataract is the most common vision condition. Those awaiting cataract surgery look forward to going about everyday activities such as reading, driving, and using electronic devices with ease. Our campaign highlights that today, cataract surgery and advanced cataract solutions offer patients clarity of vision while reducing the need for glasses and positively impacting their lives.”

    The campaign, conceptualised by Edelman India and Alcon, captures patients’ emotions when cataract gets in the way of pursuing their passions or cherishing life’s precious moments with family. Adhitya Veeraraghavan, Health Sector Head, Edelman India said, “The insight that drove this campaign is that cataract surgery is one of the most performed procedures, and yet, patients do not always understand the various lens options available or how choosing the right lens can affect the quality of vision and life post-surgery. Cataract surgery is a once-in-a-lifetime procedure that can help revive vision and vitality for patients. With people living longer, staying active requires eyesight that supports their lifestyle and vision needs. Our task was to educate patients about cataract surgery in an emotional and engaging way so that they can have informed conversations with their doctors.”

    The campaign film will be uploaded on Alcon India’s new webpage. This portal will serve as a comprehensive guide for patients who want to know more or are preparing for cataract surgery. It contains blogs, articles and infographics designed to support patients and their caregivers with helpful information about every point in their journey, from diagnosis of cataract to the choice of IOLs before surgery and post-surgery care. The campaign will be activated across digital, social media, in doctors’ clinics and eye hospitals to ensure nationwide reach. Other elements of the campaign include patient stories and a QR code that makes it easy for patients and caregivers to access this content.

    The campaign effectively captures the key findings of the Alcon Eye on Cataract global survey conducted this year in 10 countries, including India. Key findings among those surveyed include:

    •    86 per cent of people aged 50+ years in India rank vision as the #1 most important aspect as people age
    •    90 per cent are willing to invest in cataract surgery to ensure better vision
    •    Globally, 45 per cent and in India, 50 per cent of cataract patients felt that after surgery, their vision had become like that of someone much younger2
  • Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) partners with Edelman India to drive the PR and Digital mandate for the 20th edition of the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star

    Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) partners with Edelman India to drive the PR and Digital mandate for the 20th edition of the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star

    MUMBAI: Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI), India’s leading platform for cinematic disruption and discovery, has appointed Edelman India to drive their Public Relations and Digital mandate for the upcoming edition of the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star. The mandate focuses on driving strategic communication programmes for their annual property, the film festival. Edelman’s extensive experience in building brands and the firm’s expertise in running large format events, makes this an apt partnership.

    MAMI was founded in 1997 by renowned film professionals from the Indian Film Industry to create an annual international film festival in India that brings the best of cinema to the audience and also creates a world class film festival that can find a pride place in the film festival map of the world. This edition of the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star will celebrate its 20th year milestone.

    Apart from the festival, the academy curates and runs a unique Year-Round Programme that sustains conversations around cinema throughout the year and makes cutting edge cinema from India and across the world available to audiences year-round.

    With its experienced team of media strategists, content creators and creative thinkers, Edelman is strongly poised to drive communications for the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star and help it engage with a wide audience.

    Creative Director – MAMI, Smriti Kiran said, “We are taking steps every year to strengthen our footprint and also strengthen the organization. For us, the next five years are years of institution building. A consummate film space does not exist in India and this is the one opportunity we have to create that entity. Getting Edelman on board is a step in this direction. They are one of the best integrated communications agencies in India comprising of Digital and PR professionals rooted in content. That is what we need. Disseminators who have a deep understanding of the work we do. I believe they will take the festival and the academy to the next level.”

    “We have a national team that understands the mechanics of driving successful large-format events well. Managing multiple stakeholders, conversations and expectations, while telling a compelling and coherent story is a skill that our teams have developed over the years. Our earned-centric thinking and deep local understanding will help us craft a strong programme for the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star and we’re truly excited about this partnership,” said Himanshu Saxena, Brand Head, Edelman India.

  • Vinod Moorthy joins Rediffusion/Edelman as director

    Vinod Moorthy joins Rediffusion/Edelman as director

    MUMBAI Edelman India announced the appointment of Vinod Moorthy as director of Rediffusion/Edelman, effective immediately. Moorthy takes over from Jimmy Mogal who moves into a senior advisory role at Edelman India. Based in Mumbai, Moorthy will take charge of the Tata business reporting to Edelman India, MD Rakesh Thukral.

    “With Vinod’s appointment, we are further strengthening our leadership team at Rediffusion/Edelman,” said Thukral. “Vinod brings years of knowledge and experience in driving corporate reputation campaigns for major companies which will further elevate our offerings. Jimmy has played a key role over the last year in spearheading the team and will continue to play a strategic role at Edelman India.”

    Rediffusion Y&R MD and chairman Diwan Arun Anand said, “We welcome Vinod’s addition to the team handling our Tata mandate. I am confident that with his multifaceted experience he will add substantial value to our offering to the client.”

    Moorthy joins Rediffusion/Edelman from H+K Strategies where he was the North India senior vice president and APAC Corporate practice lead. Prior to this, he served at Ketchum Sampark, Good Relations India Limited (GRI) and a stint heading GCI, the PR Division of Grey Worldwide as its general manager.

  • Edelman gets on board Kunal Arora and Deepak Agarwal

    Edelman gets on board Kunal Arora and Deepak Agarwal

    MUMBAI: To further bolster its digital business in India, Edelman has announced two strategic leadership appointments.

     

    It has got on-board Kunal Arora as the national director who will be responsible for the company’s digital business in India, overseeing business planning and development and will lead a team of digital experts across Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore.

     

    He will be based in Gurgaon and report to Edelman Digital APACMEA president Gavin Coombes and Edelman India COO Rakesh Thukral.

     

    Arora comes with over 16 years of experience in the digital advertising business. Before joining Edelman, he was the business lead at Hungama Digital Services for six years.

     

    To further impetus to the company’s digital creative offerings in India, it has also appointed Deepak Agarwal as group creative director, digital. He will be based in Mumbai, heading an all-India digital creative team, reporting to Arora. In his role, he will lead the charge in elevating the digital creative for both content development and digital builds.

     

    Agarwal, in his last role, served as Executive Creative Director, Copy M&C SAATCHI-i – the direct marketing & digital division of M&C SAATCHI.

     

    “The addition of Kunal and Deepak is critical to our plans to broaden our Digital offering in India across creative, strategy and build,” said Thukral. “Kunal’s digital advertising experience and Deepak’s award-winning creative expertise will strengthen our capabilities to deliver truly integrated campaigns to our clients.”

     

    “Kunal and Deepak bring unique and extensive experience in a variety of fields, from advertising to direct marketing to digital to social media, and we look forward to making the most of all of their expertise together with their passion and commitment to excellence as we build the Edelman Digital brand and business across India,” said Coombes.

     

    He further adds: “These two skill leaders will work with the strong talent base we already have on the ground and our over 1,000 digital professionals throughout the world for the benefit of our clients.”

  • Edelman strengthens strategic leadership positions in Mumbai and Delhi

    Edelman strengthens strategic leadership positions in Mumbai and Delhi

    MUMBAI: Edelman today announced two additions to its leadership team in India. Further boosting the firm as it forges ahead on a high growth trajectory, Edelman welcomes back veteran Bhavna Jagtiani, as Director – West. Bonny Lawrie joins from Edelman Middle East, in the newly created role, Deputy General Manager of the Delhi NCR office.

    An experienced brand marketer, Bhavna returns to Edelman India after two years in the Edelman Hong Kong office, where she co-led the consumer practice. Bhavna will now be responsible for managing and growing the Edelman business in West India, including the offices in Mumbai, Pune and Ahmedabad.  She will be based out of Mumbai and will report to Rakesh Thukral, Chief Operating Officer, Edelman India.

    Bonny will lead some of Edelman India’s largest clients, most notably Microsoft and Shell. She brings with her more than 11 years of experience in communications and marketing across Australia, the United Kingdom, Europe and most recently, the Middle East.  She will be based out of New Delhi and will report to Varghese Cherian, General Manager North & East, Edelman India and Technology Lead – SAMEA.

    Rakesh Thukral, Chief Operating Officer, Edelman India, says, “These strategic additions to our team will further strengthen our leadership in India and help drive business growth. With their multi-market experience, Bhavna and Bonny are well-positioned to ensure success in our client work, learning for our teams and growth for Edelman. Bhavna’s return to Edelman India will provide further impetus to our West operations; and Bonny’s experience will contribute to further expansion of our fastest growing office in India.”

    Bhavna’s career at Edelman has spanned a period of over ten years, working for the world’s biggest and most admired brands. During her earlier stint in India, she co-led the Edelman Consumer Practice in the country, driving corporate and brand communications programmes for a wide range of clients. Bhavna graduated from the University of Mumbai with a degree in commerce. She also has a post graduate diploma from the Xavier’s Institute of Communications, Mumbai.

    Bonny has managed a number of high profile clients across the Middle East and North Africa. For the past year, she has led Edelman’s operations in Qatar.  Bonny is also a member of Edelman’s South Asia, Middle East and Africa leadership team. She has a Bachelor of Arts (Media & Communication) degree from Swinburne University in Melbourne, Australia.