Tag: McCann Worldgroup

  • Adman Chetan Shetty hops over to Publicis Groupe as managing director

    Adman Chetan Shetty hops over to Publicis Groupe as managing director

    JAKARTA: Chetan Shetty, a seasoned advertising executive, has switched allegiances from McCann Worldgroup to Publicis Groupe, taking up the role of managing director at the French advertising conglomerate’s Jakarta office in September.

    The move marks the end of Shetty’s five-and-a-half-year stint at McCann Worldgroup, where he served as managing director since March 2020. During the same period, he also held the managing director position at FCB Global, suggesting he juggled dual roles across the Interpublic group agencies.

    Before his McCann days, Shetty spent nearly two years as partner for content at WPP’s Wavemaker, following a substantial five-and-a-half-year tenure at FCB Global where he climbed from group account director to head of digital.

    His career portfolio reads like a who’s who of multinational brands. At FCB Global, Shetty orchestrated campaigns for Beiersdorf’s Nivea and Mondelez’s Oreo across southeast Asia, whilst winning new business from Unilever (Pepsodent, Zwitsal), Fonterra (Anlene, Anmum), and Standard Chartered Bank. His digital-led integrated campaigns earned him the Citra Pariwara Indonesia award for best digital campaign.

    Earlier in his career, Shetty cut his teeth at MEC (now part of GroupM) during the inaugural seasons of the Indian Premier League, managing Citibank’s sponsorship for the tournament’s first five editions. He also crafted partnerships for Mercedes-Benz, HDFC, and Colgate across television and digital platforms.

    The appointment signals Publicis Groupe’s continued push to strengthen its southeast Asian operations with experienced local talent who understand both global brand strategies and regional market dynamics.

  • Good Day stirs up India’s chai love

    Good Day stirs up India’s chai love

    MUMBAI: Biscuit dunking has never sounded so sweet. Britannia Good Day is giving India’s favourite chai break a chart-topping twist with its new campaign “Chai khaa lo, Good Day duba lo”, a playful call to take a bite of tea.

    Inspired by a tea-seller’s viral “chai kha lo” chant, the brand has turned a street-side moment into a national mood. Partnering with viral sensation Yashraj Mukhate, Britannia has dropped a catchy “Chai Anthem” that celebrates the unbreakable bond between steaming chai and a dunked Good Day biscuit.

    Mccann Worldgroup has bottled this energy into a series of snappy 20-second films, capturing everyday Indian scenes: a chatty hostel evening, a quiet train journey, all stitched together with the joy of dip-and-sip.

    “Chai time is the heartbeat of India, and Good Day has always been a part of that magic,” said Britannia Industries general manager–marketing Archana Balaraman. “We wanted this campaign to celebrate that shared joy in a fun, instantly relatable way.”

    Mccann Worldgroup executive vice president and creative head south Sambit Mohanty, added that the idea was to highlight Good Day’s timeless partnership with chai through wholesome stories and familiar faces.

    So, the next time you pour yourself a cup, don’t just sip it. Dunk in a Good Day, hum the new anthem, and let your tea break hit all the right notes.

  • Hero Motocorp rolls out Destini 125 with Rajamouli’s blockbuster touch

    Hero Motocorp rolls out Destini 125 with Rajamouli’s blockbuster touch

    MUMBAI: Lights, camera, scooter action. Hero Motocorp has given its new Destini 125 a truly blockbuster launch, enlisting master storyteller S.S. Rajamouli to power the campaign with his signature larger-than-life style.

    The campaign, built on the idea ‘Hero ka scooter, scooter ka hero’, positions the Destini 125 as the undisputed star of the scooter world. Directed by ad filmmaker Arun Gopalan and conceptualised by Mccann Worldgroup, the film highlights the scooter’s strength, reliability and authenticity while connecting with today’s style-conscious, aspirational riders.

    Rajamouli, celebrated for crafting epic narratives and unforgettable heroes, lends cultural weight and cinematic drama to the story. “We imagined the scooter through the scale and spectacle of a Rajamouli vision,” said Mccann Worldgroup India, chairman APAC and CEO & chief creative officer, Prasoon Joshi. “The grandeur isn’t just for show; it mirrors the larger-than-life confidence the scooter gives its riders.”

    The Destini 125 backs up the campaign’s heroic claims with first-in-segment features. Think retro chrome styling, a large floorboard for comfort, bigger alloy wheels for stability, best-in-class 59 km/l mileage, advanced auto-cancel winkers, and a slick LED projector headlight with DRL. Together, they blend performance, convenience and flair into one compelling package.

    “At Hero Motocorp, our mission is to reflect the evolving aspirations of our customers,” said Hero Motocorp India, head of marketing, Aashish Midha. “With the Destini 125, style meets substance, and our collaboration with Rajamouli ensures it is showcased with the grandeur it deserves.”

    With its cinematic storytelling and standout features, the campaign redefines the Hero Destini 125 as not just another scooter but the true hero of its category.

  • Dentsu Creative names John Mescall global chief creative partner

    Dentsu Creative names John Mescall global chief creative partner

    MUMBAI: Dentsu Creative has appointed John Mescall as its global chief creative partner, a move designed to sharpen the agency’s creative edge and align standards across markets.

    Based in New York, Mescall will work closely with Yasu Sasaki, Dentsu’s global chief creative officer, to strengthen creative craft, foster collaboration and integrate emerging technologies like AI into workflows. He will also focus on talent development across the network.

    “What drew me to Dentsu Creative is its deep belief in the power of creativity to drive meaningful impact,” said Mescall. “It’s rare to find a global organisation so aligned in purpose yet so attuned to the strengths of its local teams.”

    Mescall is one of advertising’s most decorated creative leaders. At Mccann Worldgroup, where he served as global executive creative director and president of its global creative council, he helped steer the network to Cannes Lions and Effie global network of the year titles. His career haul includes more than 100 Cannes Lions, eight of them Grand Prix, along with top honours at D&AD, One Show, Clio and beyond. Adweek has named him to its creativity 50, while Business Insider ranked him among the world’s top 10 most creative people in advertising.

    Dentsu Creative, global president, Abbey Klaassen said Mescall’s “ability to unite teams around a shared vision” will be key to scaling the agency’s creative impact. Sasaki added that his appointment reflects the network’s “commitment to transformative creativity that delivers cultural and business impact.”

     

  • Marketing maven Nikhil Gupta climbs the ladder at Accenture

    Marketing maven Nikhil Gupta climbs the ladder at Accenture

    MUMBAI: Nikhil Gupta has landed himself a plum new role as marketing manager at Accenture, capping off what must feel like a victory lap around the corporate track. The marketing maestro, who has been grinding away at the consulting behemoth for the better part of a decade, will now orchestrate campaigns across Europe and beyond from his base in Gurugram.

    Gupta’s ascent through Accenture’s ranks tells the tale of shrewd corporate climbing. He spent 11 months as associate manager for opportunity-centric marketing in EMEA before snagging his latest gig in June. Prior to that, he cut his teeth as a platforms and processes strategist, helping wrangle a team of over 100 marketing mavens into shape.

    The promotion caps a career that began in the trenches of digital marketing back in 2011. Gupta previously wielded his creative powers at McCann Worldgroup, where he spent two years evangelising Google’s digital platforms to chief marketing officers across India. He also did stints at boutique agencies ToThe New, Olive Global and Blue Digital Media before joining Accenture’s marketing machine in 2016.

    Now ensconced in his corner office (or hybrid workspace, more likely), Gupta will be crafting “innovative, integrated strategic marketing campaigns” for Accenture’s most complex and transformational deals. Not bad for someone who started out as a digital marketer in Delhi’s agency scene over a decade ago.

  • Sambit Mohanty to head McCann Bangalore as EVP in expanded creative-business role

    Sambit Mohanty to head McCann Bangalore as EVP in expanded creative-business role

    MUMBAI: McCann Worldgroup India has handed Sambit Mohanty the reins of its Bangalore operations in a dual capacity as EVP & creative head, effective June. The appointment reflects the agency’s continued focus on nurturing internal talent and doubling down on integrated leadership in high-growth regional hubs.

    Mohanty, a seasoned adman with over 20 years of experience, will now oversee both creative output and business operations for the southern office. He succeeds Vishal Ahluwalia, who is set to exit McCann India by the end of June.

    This elevation also signals McCann’s intent to rewire its talent pipeline and break conventional silos, as confirmed by the group’s national creative chief Prasoon Joshi. “I am excited to see talent grow from within, and in ways that break the conventional mould. We continue to leverage the expertise and creativity of our people at MWG India to deliver exceptional value to our clients”, Joshi stated.

    Based out of Bangalore, Mohanty will report to McCann India’s national leadership team. His remit includes growing business impact, strengthening client partnerships, and building a sharper creative proposition across sectors.

    “It’s tremendously exciting to be stepping into this expanded leadership role”, Mohanty said. “I look forward to pairing my creative lens with a sharper business focus and driving impactful ideas, fostering innovation and creating meaningful value for both our clients and our people”.

    Mohanty is widely respected across the Indian advertising industry for his narrative sensibility and brand-building craft. His promotion also marks a strategic moment for McCann Bangalore as the agency looks to amplify its south India presence and service agility.

    McCann India has extended its best wishes to outgoing executive Vishal Ahluwalia, acknowledging his contribution to the firm’s southern growth journey.

  • McCann Worldgroup appoints marketing veteran

    McCann Worldgroup appoints marketing veteran

    MUMBAI: Snehsikt Anand has been appointed business head at McCann Worldgroup, marking a return to agency life after a year of freelance consultancy. The seasoned marketing professional brings over 18 years of through-the-line marketing experience to one of advertising’s most established networks.

    Anand joins McCann after working as an independent marketing consultant, where he provided brand and communication advice to emerging agencies and production houses. Before his freelance period, he served as business head for west and HUL (rural) at Dentsu, where he managed Hindustan Unilever’s house-to-house business across India.

    At Dentsu, Anand’s client relationship skills helped create opportunities for business growth through territory expansion and cross-selling initiatives. Prior to joining Dentsu, Anand co-founded BrandBall, where as head of strategy he increased annual turnover fourfold and expanded the client roster tenfold over four years. 
    His experience includes positions at several prominent agencies including L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, Ogilvy, Triton Communications, and Civilisation Communications. He also gained client-side experience as assistant manager-marketing at ICICI Prudential AMC Ltd.

    At McCann, Anand will likely apply his RoI-driven approach to marketing communications, leveraging his expertise in advertising, integrated marketing and team management as he takes on this new leadership role.

  • FCB Kinnect welcomes storytelling maestro Abhinav Tripathi as national creative director

    FCB Kinnect welcomes storytelling maestro Abhinav Tripathi as national creative director

    MUMBAI:  FCB Kinnect has appointed Abhinav Tripathi as its national creative director, securing a creative heavyweight with over two decades of industry experience to spearhead its Delhi operations.

    Tripathi, who joins from McCann Worldgroup where he served as creative head of digital & McCann Content Studio, brings a stellar track record of crafting compelling narratives and a knack for turning creative briefs into gold.

    “We’re absolutely delighted to have Abhinav on board,” said FCB Kinnect on linkedin. “His storytelling prowess and tech-savvy approach will help us push creative boundaries whilst delivering forward-thinking work that cuts through the noise.”

    The appointment marks something of a homecoming for Tripathi, who previously had a brief stint as national creative consultant at FCB Ulka in 2016, before taking the creative reins at TBWAIndia as managing partner creative.

    His impressive CV includes stints at advertising powerhouses including Leo Burnett, Ogilvy, and a substantial five-year tenure at McCann Worldgroup as executive creative director prior to his most recent role.
    Industry insiders suggest the hire signals FCB Kinnect’s ambition to bolster its creative firepower in the fiercely competitive Delhi market.

    Before his advertising journey, Tripathi dabbled in entrepreneurship, running SunTours.com from 2001 to 2004, before earning his MBA in Marketing from FORE School of Management, New Delhi.

    As FCB Kinnect looks to make waves in the integrated marketing space, they’ll be banking on Tripathi to craft campaigns that don’t just spark conversation, but set the advertising world alight.

  • Mitali Srivastava Hough quits McCann Worldgroup to pursue new ventures

    Mitali Srivastava Hough quits McCann Worldgroup to pursue new ventures

    Mumbai: Mitali Srivastava Hough has bid farewell to McCann Worldgroup, stepping down from her role as senior VP and head of planning for the Mumbai office.

    With over 25 years of experience, Hough has worked with leading agencies like DDB Mudra, Ogilvy & Mather, Famous Innovations, and TBWA India. Notably, she was the first planner in Indian advertising to co-found an agency, Utopeia Communicationz, followed by another venture, Equal, specializing in CSR solutions.

    While keeping her future plans intentionally enigmatic, Mitali hinted at her intent to mentor her creative consultancy – The Equal Agency and continue advising various other agencies. “I am deeply grateful for the experiences and relationships I’ve built at McCann. My time there was short but I got the opportunity to work with Prasoon Joshi and some incredible talent and clients across various industries. As I look ahead, I feel a sense of excitement to push my boundaries further. It’s the right moment to explore new horizons, take on new challenges, and pursue my passions in ways I haven’t yet imagined. I look forward to continuing my journey through mentoring and consultancy work, and I’m eager to bring my energy into new collaborations,” she shared.

    In addition to her consultancy work, she is diving into a collaboration with musical maestro AR Rahman, where she will be contributing as a writer on a major project that is an amalgamation of creativity and technology. This partnership, along with her other ventures, marks a new phase in her career, where she will continue to explore the intersection of creativity, strategy, and passion in new and unexpected ways.

  • Prasun Kumar elevated to chief marketing officer at Magicbricks

    Prasun Kumar elevated to chief marketing officer at Magicbricks

    Mumbai: Prasun Kumar, who was previously business head – New Revenue Verticals & Head – Operations, Digital Marketing & Quality Assurance at Magicbricks has been promoted to chief of marketing at the leading real estate portal.

    In this new capacity, Prasun will oversee the company’s entire marketing, research, and editorial functions. Additionally, he will also be Business Head for a few strategic revenue verticals.

    Before rejoining Magicbricks in 2023, Prasun held the position of chief marketing officer at Justdial. His professional journey, spanning over two decades, includes leadership roles at renowned organisations such as Reliance Communications, Sony Mobile Communications, MTS, Levi Strauss & Co., Madison Communications, and McCann Worldgroup.