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Tag: J. Walter Thompson

  • J. Walter Thompson India promotes Senthil Kumar as CCO

    J. Walter Thompson India promotes Senthil Kumar as CCO

    MUMBAI: J. Walter Thompson has promoted Senthil Kumar as chief creative officer (CCO) for India.

     

    Kumar was most recently JWT India national creative director (NCD) for South and has been  the agency for the last 15 years. 

     

    JWT South Asia CEO Tarun Rai said, “It’s a new world of communication. Creativity is no longer only about the 30-second TVC but has to work across various platforms. For this new world of communication, I needed a new age creative chief – someone who thinks digital first. Senthil is extremely talented, is focused on work and always leads from the front. His passion for excellence and his boundless energy is infectious. He will partner me in raising the bar of our creative product, building our clients’ brands and attracting the best talent in the industry.”

     

    Kumar added, “I am thrilled to lead J. Walter Thompson India as its CCO. The opportunity to partner Tarun in steering India’s largest agency into the future, challenges and motivates me. Am proud of our current creative firepower across the country and our collective ambition will be to spearhead marketing success stories for our clients with world-beating ideas. The way forward is not just language-neutral and media-agnostic ideas, but to invent platform-specific creative solutions that solve business problems.”

     

    “The journey is never over in this business of ideas as we continue to push harder on the creative front and attract the best talent from within and outside the industry. Our creativity should leap from deep human insight and be driven by ‘Curiosity’ and ‘Collaboration’ while we build our ‘Capability’ to generate ideas that engage with millions of consumers,” he further said.

     

    J. Walter Thompson worldwide chief creative officer Matt Eastwood said, “Senthil is the definition of a modern ideator and leader who thrives on constantly exploring the power of new technologies and platforms to create truly pioneering work. His boundless energy and enthusiasm for his craft, clients and employees alike, will serve him well in guiding and building our creative brand in the region.”

  • J. Walter Thompson launches new global talent program

    J. Walter Thompson launches new global talent program

    MUMBAI: As innovative ideas increasingly come from outside traditional agency confines, J. Walter Thompson has launched a new global talent development program called Jump/Start.

    The program is aimed at helping young creative thinkers from all backgrounds break into the advertising industry.

    The program aims to collapse boundaries by attracting and retaining students and recent graduates who have diverse and multidisciplinary backgrounds. Jump/Start is inclusive of disciplines spanning theater, film, creative writing, technology, product design, innovation and more.

    “Across the board, one of the biggest trends we’re seeing in our industry is the convergence of traditional categories. With Jump/Start, we’ve designed a program that supports creative talent from beyond these traditional confines. Growing a diverse talent pool is essential to our ability to deliver better and more innovative ideas to our clients,” said J. Walter Thompson worldwide chief creative officer Matt Eastwood.

    Jump/Start is designed to bridge the gap between classroom education and hands-on application. Participants will have the opportunity to work in an active agency setting, while collaborating with teams of experienced and award-winning professionals. They will also have the chance to work on live briefs and enhance their portfolios with real client work. Participating students will receive a monthly stipend for the duration of the three-month internship.

    The program will kick off in Beirut, Dubai, Hong Kong, London, Melbourne, New York, S?o Paulo and Sydney. Students, recent graduates and young professionals will be eligible to apply.

    “I owe great thanks to the many people and agencies that helped me throughout my career, and especially as a young university graduate. That’s the sort of support we want to replicate for the next generation of great creative minds,” said Eastwood.

    The program will be led by J. Walter Thompson worldwide head of creative talent Britt Hayes and by the respective chief creative officers in the participating offices.

    Applications will be accepted for three-month rotations, and regional Jump/Start programs began accepting their first groups of participants in Fall 2015.

  • J. Walter Thompson acquires majority stake in digital agency Webling

    J. Walter Thompson acquires majority stake in digital agency Webling

    MUMBAI: WPP company J. Walter Thompson Australia has acquired a majority stake in Webling Interactive, an independent digital agency based in Sydney. 

     

    Webling offers an end-to-end service covering strategy, ideation, design and development across web, mobile, social, digital OOH and experiential channels. The agency has delivered milestone projects winning major awards including IABs, AIMIA and the Festival of Media. 

     

    Founded in 2004 by Deniz Nalbantoglu and Darren Clark, the agency’s clients include Acer, Amex, Coca-Cola, Coles, CommSec, Fuji Xerox, Google, Mirvac, QIC Shopping Centres, and Australian gardening supplies company, Yates. 

     

    For the year ending 30 June, 2015, Webling’s revenues were A$4.4 million, with gross assets of A$1.3 million, as at the same date.

     

    This acquisition marks a further step towards WPP’s declared goal of developing its networks in fast-growth markets and sectors. 

  • JWT appoints Gaurav Lalwani as APAC business director for J&J

    JWT appoints Gaurav Lalwani as APAC business director for J&J

    MUMBAI: J. Walter Thompson has appointed Gaurav Lalwani to the role of Asia Pacific business director on the agency’s Johnson & Johnson portfolio, which includes Listerine and other J&J over-the-counter brands.

     

    Lalwani’s appointment reflects the agency’s expanded remit on J&J’s Listerine business across the Asia Pacific region.

     

    Based in Singapore, Lalwani will head up a new team servicing Listerine across APAC, and will also work with J. Walter Thompson’s global Listerine team in New York.

     

    Lalwani, who has over 15 years of integrated brand experience across FMCG, prestige skin care, automotive, and the financial services sectors, joins J. Walter Thompson from Leo Burnett Singapore, where he was senior regional director for integrated content on the agency’s SK-II and P&G fabric care brands across Asia.

     

    He was responsible for launching SK-II’s #ChangeDestiny platform across Asia, and led the collaboration with Huffington Post and Fitch to take #ChangeDestiny across digital and in-store platforms. Lalwani also led the creation of the first ever voice-based mobile platform for Tide in India, this drove the brand’s purchase intent, and consumption.

     

    “Lalwani is joining the agency after a period of significant growth and his appointment is a reflection of our drive to further strengthen the senior team at JWT. I am thrilled he is joining us as brings a proven track record of leading global businesses and his integrated approach will be of great value to his client portfolio,” said J. Walter Thompson Singapore CEO Peter Womersley.

     

    “JWT Singapore has managed to create perfect balance between hunger and wisdom. I am thrilled to be joining the agency at this exciting time,” added Lalwani.

  • WPP signs landmark lease for Shanghai Campus

    WPP signs landmark lease for Shanghai Campus

    MUMBAI: Martin Sorrell led communications services group WPP has signed a landmark agreement with Nan Fung Group and B.M. Group to lease 20 floors and 41,000 sqm at 399 Heng Feng Road, Shanghai, representing one of the largest office leasing deals ever signed within the city’s central business district areas.

     

    The new building will house the WPP Shanghai Campus, one of the most ambitious co-location efforts ever undertaken by WPP. The WPP Shanghai Campus will bring together 26 WPP companies and more than 3,000 people, currently spread across 10 locations.

     

    WPP companies to be relocated include Blue Hive, GroupM, Hill+Knowllton Strategies, Millward Brown, J. Walter Thompson, Ogilvy & Mather, Sudler & Hennessey, and TNS. Move-in is expected to commence at the end of 2015. The office space housing the WPP Shanghai Campus is expected to gain LEED Gold certification.

     

    “China is now WPP’s third largest market, and our commitment to China is deeper than ever. We are proud to support the development of the city of Shanghai and provide our people with the best facilities,” said Sorrell.

     

    In Greater China, WPP companies (including associates) have revenue of $1.5 billion and employ 15,000 people. “One of WPP’s key objectives is horizontality – promoting cooperation across our group companies to improve outcomes for our clients — and bringing our people in Shanghai into this location is an important step towards this goal,” Sorrell added.

     

    399 Heng Feng Road is part of a massive three-stage redevelopment project in the Zhabei District, slated to include a 110,000 sqm shopping mall, six office towers, two luxury boutique hotels, and luxury residential sections and estimated for completion in 2017.

     

    “The Nan Fung Group is delighted that WPP has chosen our project as their campus in East China. Their decision illustrates the increasing attractiveness of the Zhabei District to the international business sector. We regard WPP as a long term partner and we look forward to further working with them throughout the region. We will strive to provide to WPP, as well as other tenants excellent service. Taking this opportunity, on behalf of Nan Fung Group and B.M. Group, our joint venture partner, I would like to thank the officials in the Zhabei District for their strong support in making this project a success,” said Nan Fung group CEO Antony Leung.

  • WPP’s Always to acquire Singapore-based marketing company 3ree

    WPP’s Always to acquire Singapore-based marketing company 3ree

    MUMBAI: Sir Martin Sorrell led WPP is on an acquisition spree. The company’s China-based field and shopper marketing unit Always Marketing Services has acquired Singapore based has integrated marketing company 3ree.

     

    Financials of the deal were not disclosed.

     

    Founded in 2010 by Tan Li Li and Isabel Cheong, 3ree offers event management, sourcing and production of marketing premiums, project management for exhibitions and activations, and design and creative services, as well as digital marketing. 

     

    3ree has implemented projects in key Asian markets, including India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, Korea and Australia. Clients include Microsoft, Mitsubishi Electronic, Seagate and StarHub.

     

    Always, which is majority-owned by WPP’s J. Walter Thompson, offers trade marketing, including merchandiser management and retail audit; retail marketing, including promoter management, in-store activation and retail environment designs; as well as shopper marketing, including point of sale design, events and road shows, as well as premium design and production. 

     

  • WPP reports record ?1.5 billion annual profit

    WPP reports record ?1.5 billion annual profit

    MUMBAI: For 2014, Martin Sorrell’s WPP Group reported a record ?1.5 billion annual profit in 2014, which was up by 12 per cent on reported revenue of ?11.53 billion, which was up 4.6 per cent year on year.

     

    WPP, which owns agencies such as Ogilvy, J. Walter Thompson, and Milward Brown, said 2015 was off to a flying start. Like-for-like revenue in January rose 6.7 per cent, with like-for-like net sales up 3.9 per cent, which WPP says was stronger than the final quarter of 2014 and 2014 itself.

     

    The agency expects to grow net sales by three per cent in 2015 and is looking at a headline operating margin target of 0.3 margin points, excluding the impact of currency.

     

    WPP’s reported billings at ?46.186 billion, were up 6.8 per cent in constant currency driven by a strong leadership position in net new business league tables. On the other hand, WPP saw like-for-like revenue growth in all regions, led by strong growth in North America, United Kingdom and Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa & the Middle East and Central & Eastern Europe, and by all sectors, with particularly strong growth in advertising and media investment management and branding and identity, healthcare and specialist communications (including direct, digital and interactive).

     

    The group’s like-for-like net sales growth were at 3.3 per cent, with the gap compared to revenue growth more than the first half, as the scale of digital media purchases in media investment management and data investment management revenue continues to increase.

     

    WPP saw EBITDA growth of 0.7 per cent, up 7.5 per cent in constant currency, reflecting currency headwinds, but giving 0.2 margin points improvement, to 19.0 per cent on net sales, with like-for-like operating costs (+3.1 per cent) rising slower than net sales.

     

    PBIT increase of 1.1 per cent to ?1.681 billion, up eight per cent in constant currency was observed for the year. Net sales margin, a more accurate competitive comparator, up 0.2 margin points to an industry leading 16.7 per cent, up 0.3 margin points in constant currency, in line with target.

     

    WPP saw exceptional gains of ?196 million largely representing gains on the AppNexus and Rentrak transactions completed in the second half, together with other gains of ?45 million, including gains on the re-measurement of the Group’s equity interests, partly offset by ?89 million of restructuring costs, ?39 million of IT transformation costs and ?7 million of investment write-downs, giving a net exceptional gain of ?61 million.

     

    WPP was recognised again in 2014 for creative and effectiveness excellence with the award of the Cannes Lion to WPP for the most creative Holding Company, for the fourth successive year, since the awards inception and another to Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide, for the third consecutive year, as the most creative agency network. In another rare occurrence in the industry, in 2014 Grey was named Global Agency of the Year 2013 by both US trade magazines Ad Age and Ad Week. For the third consecutive year, WPP was awarded the EFFIE as the most effective Holding Company.

  • Askme appoints JWT as creative agency; sets aside Rs 350 crore marketing budget

    Askme appoints JWT as creative agency; sets aside Rs 350 crore marketing budget

    MUMBAI: Askme has appointed J. Walter Thompson as its creative agency to help the brand strengthen its leadership in the Indian digital platform and e-commerce space.

     

    With ATL and Digital marketing spends of Rs 350 crore, initially for one year, this contract will entitle J. Walter Thompson for all the creative and digital duties of Askme including Askme Bazaar and Askme Freeads.

     

    Askme had called for a multi-agency pitch where several agencies participated over three months. J. Walter Thompson was entrusted with creative duties for the next marketing campaign basis the creative ideas presented to the team.

     

    Getit Infomedia group head, marketing and digital products Manav Sethi said, “We launched Askme brand last year and have witnessed significant consumer uptake and others in app and digital ecosystem following the suite in trying to launch similar integrated services across search, deals, classified and commerce. We remain focused on our growth story and have been continuously working towards developing an enriching platform for end users and SMEs. We are confident that creative team at J. Walter Thompson India will help position Askme brand as a destination of choice across our target consumers in this already cluttered market.”

     

    J. Walter Thompson, Delhi managing partner Sanjeev Bhargava added, “J. Walter Thompson has a tremendous track record of creating brand value through advertising that catches the imagination of the people. In the e-commerce space, we are excited to partner with a brand on its journey to success and leadership in the face of intense competition. We are happy to be selected for our demonstrated prowess in strategic thinking and creative abilities that bested some worthy competitors. And we hope to live up to and exceed the expectations of leadership at Getit Infomedia.”

  • Max brings on board DDB Mudra as its new creative agency

    Max brings on board DDB Mudra as its new creative agency

    MUMBAI: Hindi movie channels Sony Max and Max2, have roped in DDB Mudra as their new creative agency.

     

    Commencing from 1 October, DDB Mudra will handle the creative duties for the brands Sony Max and Max2 which were previously handled by J Walter Thompson.

     

    Commenting on this change Sony Max and Max2 VP marketing and communications Vaishali Sharma said, “With the ever changing business environment, it is important to continuously reinvent and innovate as a market leader.  We are happy to have DDB Mudra as our new agency on board and look forward to working with them. We are confident that they will provide us with a fresh perspective for our campaigns and will enable us to scale new heights.”

     

    The decision was closed following a competitive pitch by a few selectively invited agencies, vying for the account.

     

    Talking about its new assignment, DDB Mudra Group executive director and president Rajiv Sabnis said, “If Bollywood and cricket are like religion in India, then Max is the temple at which Indian viewers pay obeisance. You can’t ask for better. The DDB Mudra mandate is to take this obsession with Bollywood and cricket to the next level.”

  • Antony Rajkumar is the new planning head for Leo Burnett Delhi

    Antony Rajkumar is the new planning head for Leo Burnett Delhi

    MUMBAI: Leo Burnett Group India has announced the appointment of Antony Rajkumar as the planning head at Leo Burnett Delhi.

     

    With this new assignment,  Rajkumar will work closely with Rajeev Sharma, national brand planning head for the company to lead strategic planning and brand management and will be stationed at the agency’s Delhi office.

     

    Welcoming Rajkumar to the company, Sharma said, “Antony will be a key contributor towards taking our HumanKind philosophy forward. His track record of providing outstanding business solutions to brands, over a career of over 18 years, speaks for itself. I am looking forward to his rich and varied experience in consulting, research, integrated communications, content marketing and brand storytelling in providing strategic depth to our client’s businesses.”

     

    Agreeing with Sharma, Leo Burnett Delhi executive director Samir Gangahar added, “I am delighted to have Antony on board. As a genuinely integrated thinker I see him adding tremendous value to our clients’ businesses and the agency itself. Channeling this ability to create a compelling purpose and relevant participation platforms for our portfolio of brands will help us become an even stronger HumanKind agency.”

     

    Prior to Leo Burnett, Rajkumar was working with J Walter Thompson (JWT) as VP and strategy planning director since 2011. During his tenure there, he was also a part of the WPP Blue Hive leadership team on the Ford Motor Company relationship for the region.

     

    Thrilled about his new engagement, Rajkumar said, “My conversation with Leo Burnett helped me see a very young agency keen and ready to lead the evolution that our industry is going through. I’m excited to be part of this plan in taking Leo Burnett even further and higher, which is why I’m here!”

     

    “Planning’s focus here is in finding purpose for products and participation from people to engage with that purpose. HumanKind, the agency’s global philosophy and approach, which I personally connect with, provides a great context to doing that,” he added.

     

    Rajkumar began his career in January 2004, in planning with Maa Communications Bozell.  He joined as branch manager and was soon promoted to vice president – strategy and planning. He then moved to Equitor Management Consulting as regional director before moving to JWT in 2011.