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Tag: PR

  • MSLGROUP India wins mandates of six new clients

    MSLGROUP India wins mandates of six new clients

    MUMBAI: MSLGROUP, Publicis Groupe’s flagship strategic communications and engagement company, has announced the partnerships with six new clients across a range of industries, which includes, Tata Motors, Changi Airport Group (CAG), Monster Energy Drink, Videocon D2H, Sobha Developers, and Kinetic Group, for strategic brand communications and integrated engagement campaigns.

     

     MSLGROUP India CEO Jaideep Shergill said: “The industry is evolving and clients are looking for strategic and integrated communications that will differentiate them in the marketplace. At MSLGROUP, we have the pulse of the communications space and are constantly evolving to cater to clients’ changing requirements. We are pleased to partner well-known and established players like these.”

     

     Tata Motors Ltd

     

    Tata Motors has entrusted MSLGROUP in India to create and implement an integrated social and digital media strategy with a comprehensive, creative and content-driven solution for the corporate mandate.

     

    Changi Airport Group (Singapore) Pte Ltd (CAG)

     

    Changi Airport, the world’s most awarded airport with more than 450 accolades to its credit since it opened in 1981, has chosen MSLGROUP as its partner for strategic advisory and engagement solutions in India. The programme objective is mainly strategic guidance in creating and building brand awareness in India.

     

     Monster Energy Drink

     

    MSLGROUP joins forces with the Narang Group to launch Monster Energy Drink (the second-largest maker of energy drinks in the world) in India. MSLGROUP has been tasked to provide targeted integrated communication strategies based on experiential, along with communications counsel.

     

     Videocon d2h

     

    MSLGROUP will provide strategic counsel for the brand across India as well as advise and execute communication around unique product innovations, creating several ‘firsts’ in the category.

     

     Sobha Developers

     

    MSLGROUP will provide strategic corporate communications advisory to Sobha Developers, a leading real estate player. MSLGROUP will develop a comprehensive communication strategy that will accentuate the brand value in the media and build on brand credentials. The communication plan will include thought leadership initiatives highlighting the firm’s backward integration model, while showcasing its key differentiators.

     

     Kinetic Group

     

    The group has entrusted MSLGROUP with strategic advisory for corporate reputation management as well as counsel around the introduction of business verticals in 2014.

     

     MSLGROUP will provide strategic communications consultancy programmes to help all these clients in the areas of brand building, corporate reputation management, corporate responsibility and crisis and issues management.

  • Madison PR adds 20 clients to its kitty in January

    Madison PR adds 20 clients to its kitty in January

    MUMBAI: It seems to be a great year for Madison already. Madison Public Relations has won 20 new clients in the month of January, itself.

     

    Commenting on the new wins, Madison Public Relations CEO Paresh Chaudhary said, “It’s a great start for the last quarter of the year and lays a strong foundation for the next year, with over 50 per cent of our big wins as retainer clients. A focused strategic communication partnership approach, coupled with intense capability building mechanisms, are converting PR managers to brand managers, thus enhancing the brand building process.”

     

    Madison PR has further strengthened its dominance in the youth, entertainment, luxury and lifestyle segments. The agency signed up brands across diverse sectors, including The Lodha Group, Zee Media Corp, Indian Merchant Chambers, Enamor, Celio, VVF, Radio Mirchi, and Max Fashions, among others.

     

    As the agency’s client roster extends, it is also investing in quality talent with relevant strategic communication experience. The agency claims to have also recorded less than 5 per cent attrition rate as opposed to the industry standard of 20-25 per cent. A new strategy brand planning team has been created to provide a cutting edge to every campaign right from conceptualisation.

     

    Madison World chairman Sam Balsara said, “I am delighted at Madison PR’s consistent high growth over two years. I am glad that more and more advertisers are waking up to the power of brand PR. PR, when used intelligently and strategically, can greatly enhance the power of advertising.”

     

    Meanwhile, the Madison Public Relations Partners Meet has been introduced as an annual property, the first one held in December 2013. The interaction with external partners is aimed at tappingon their strengths on a regular basis. It has helped Madison PR to understand markets, issues and challenges better, whilst gaining insight that guides the team better in planning city-specific activations. This deeper engagement between external partners and Madison PR has proved mutually beneficial in harnessing further business because of the high level of effectiveness of plans.

     

    The agency recorded a growth of 32 per cent in 2012-13 and is expected to end 2013-14 with close to 30 per cent growth.

     

    Going forward, Madison PR aims to strengthen its practices in the areas of entertainment, luxury, tourism, IT and FMCG.

  • Anchorman 2 heats up its publicity drive

    Anchorman 2 heats up its publicity drive

    MUMBAI: Paramount’s marketing team is working overtime and coming up with PR stunts for its Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues; now the studio has landed Ron Burgundy (AKA Will Ferrell) a gig on Canada’s The Sports Network. Paramount’s is working against time to pack in the promo gags before the 20 December release. Last week Burgundy stopped by Conan to riff on Toronto mayor Rob Ford’s recent headline-making news.

     

    Will Ferrell as Ron Burgundy will be calling a pro curling match during the Tim Horton’s Roar of the Rings, 1 December in Manitoba.

     

    The studio’s co-branding partnerships so far include: Ron Burgundy’s Dodge ads, his MTV EMAs appearance, the renaming of Emerson College’s journalism school, Newseum’s Anchorman exhibit, Burgundy’s new biography (penned by Ferrell), Ben & Jerry’s Scotchy Scotch Scotch-flavored ice cream, a partnership with Jameson Irish Whiskey, and limited edition Jockey underwear available in Sex Panther Red and Beard Of Zeus Blue.

  • Philips signs Ranbir Kapoor as brand ambassador

    Philips signs Ranbir Kapoor as brand ambassador

    Mumbai: Philips has revealed actor Ranbir Kapoor as its brand ambassador. The lighting company wants to drawn attention to its LED lighting solutions through its first ever celebrity endorsement.

    The biggest ever marketing campaign by Philips Lighting will feature Ranbir, who will endorse Philips’ range of LED Lighting solutions, which are dynamic in both style and performance.

    Talking about the campaign, Philips Lighting India president Nirupam Sahay said, “Given that LED Lighting technology is relatively new, consumer awareness of the benefits associated with it is low. As industry leaders, we need to drive the conversion from conventional lighting to LED Lighting, which is clearly the future of Lighting. We aim to achieve this by building mass appeal through an impactful campaign that makes people sit up and take notice. Having Ranbir as the brand ambassador allows us to communicate the benefits through a medium that resonates most with Indian consumers, and he is best suited to bring the dynamic nature of the category to life”.

    Philips Lighting India marketing head Sumit Joshi further added, “It is after a long time that a Lighting company has a high profile Bollywood actor as brand ambassador. The strategy is to differentiate and lead the change from conventional to LED in the market with the right combination of strong value propositions and glamour. The choice of having Ranbir was an easy one as we wanted to get on board a brand ambassador who represents dynamism and modernity and is constantly experimenting with possibilities on the silver screen. He also comes from a family which has been a legend in the Bollywood industry, and we saw synergy with the 125 years of heritage of Philips Lighting. With his remarkable appeal across different segments of consumers, we are confident that this campaign will be a huge success.”

    The comprehensive 360 degree campaign covers all important media including print, OOH, PR and digital alongside television.

    Philips India CMO Vivek Sharma commented, “As LED Lighting becomes more and more important for Philips’ business in India, the company took this big step of launching a huge integrated marketing campaign for the category. As Philips, we have signed on brand ambassadors for the company’s other businesses in the past, and we believe it adds to the brand recall and helps drive demand for a relatively new category.”

    To showcase the endless possibilities of LED lighting, Philips Lighting is reviving the iconic song ‘Saara Zamana Haseeno Ka Deewana’ through a contemporary music video featuring Ranbir in a dynamic suit of LED lights. The music video and the television commercials are based on the core idea of “Philips LED – See What Light Can Do”. The campaign has been directed by Prasoon Pandey and conceptualized by Ogilvy.

    Expressing his excitement, Ranbir Kapoor said, “Endorsing India’s No.1 Lighting brand Philips is a great opportunity, and I am privileged to be associated with this power house of innovation. Philips is a brand that delivers innovation that matters to you and me. I am thrilled to be associated with LED Lighting technology which is not only NextGen but is also environment friendly. I personally believe in LED lighting, which is clearly the future of lighting.”

  • CFA Institute appoints Ketchum Sampark as its PR and social media agency

    CFA Institute appoints Ketchum Sampark as its PR and social media agency

    NEW DELHI: CFA Institute, a global association for investment professionals, has appointed Ketchum Sampark as its PR & social media agency in India following a closely contested pitch.

    The PR mandate for CFA Institute will be managed by Ketchum Sampark Mumbai office.

    Ketchum Sampark will manage both traditional PR and Social Media communication programs in India for CFA Institute.

    The mission of CFA Institute is to lead the investment profession globally by promoting the highest standards of ethics, education, and professional excellence for the ultimate benefit of society. The organisation is committed to working with members and the global investment community to achieve their mission through Ethical Champion, Global Community, Industry Knowledge, Professional Excellence and The Greater Good.

    Confirming the appointment, Terry Lee, Director of Marketing and Communications, Asia Pacific, of CFA Institute said, “Ketchum Sampark’s expertise in the financial services sector and its creative ideas for a holistic communication approach for CFA Institute in India were the key differentiators in awarding the mandate. In addition to the professional programs CFA Institute has been offering, we recently launch various initiatives including the Future of Finance project and the new certification program Claritias® Investment Certificate, we look forward to working closely with the team promoting the CFA brand in India.”

    Ajay Sharma, Managing Partner, Ketchum Sampark, said, “It is our proud privilege to work with CFA Institute in India. CFA Institute is the largest global association of investment professionals with more than 100,000 members in more than 130 countries. Ketchum Sampark will provide strategic counsel and work on outreach plans for CFA Institute with various stakeholders.”

  • ‘The only thing that supercedes creativity is accountability’ : Laurence Boschetto – DraftFCB president & COO

    ‘The only thing that supercedes creativity is accountability’ : Laurence Boschetto – DraftFCB president & COO

    It was in June that media conglomerate Interpublic combined its Draft and Foote Cone & Belding (FCB) units around the world to create a channel-neutral agency model DraftFCB. Heading DraftFCB as its president-COO is Laurence Boschetto, previously president-COO of Draft.

     

    Hardly has Boschetto had time to gather his breath on the ramifications of the new entity has come an even more radical announcement. Which is that Interpublic is reorganizing its media operations with Initiative becoming aligned within DraftFCB and Universal McCann coming under McCann Worldgroup.

     

    The reorganisation came just ahead of news that the newly integrated DraftFCB has been awarded the account of retail behemoth Walmart worth an estimated $570 million. That the monster win came on top of new business that DraftFCB had won from Citigroup, Merrill Lynch and Atari has been more than a validation for Boschetto and the team at DraftFCB.

     

    In conversation with Indiantelevision.com, Boschetto, who over the last three weeks “has been on the road to every single region introducing them to the new model”, throws some light on just what’s happening at DraftFCB, as too the vision thing with IPG.

     

    Excerpts:

    Is it fair to say that IPG’s reorganization of its media operations represents the most significant example of support for those against the unbundling of media that we have witnessed over the last 20 years or so? And extending that posit, can we then argue that making media and creative interdependent is the best way forward?

    Over the last decade we stripped everything out of an agency, we have taken strategic planning, we stripped away media and now they have basically become interchangeable parts, the ‘value has been devalued.’ So what we are doing right now is we look at the client, we look at the demands and pressures that they have, we look at the environment that their end user works in and we say ‘how do we change the game.’

     

    This might look like the old model but it’s packaged in the new model formulation, an offering of complete integration of products and services but not doing it syllogistically under the model.

     

    What we are saying is that there is one management team, there’s one P&L and the palette consists of all the different skill sets, so the clients don’t have to manage all those relationships and the agency can come back with a business solution orientation based on the real business issues rather than the disciplines that they are confident in.

     

    Today we often hear clients say, ‘I want channel agnosticism and discipline neutrality.’ Yet there isn’t really any channel agnosticism. We didn’t build organizations in the industry that way, we have people that are proficient in strategic planning, in branding, in advertising, in PR and in retail. Now they are asking for renaissance marketing communications people, that’s what this whole model is about, it’s about building another class of business builders in the marketing communication field.

    The new media strategy represents the third major organizational change Interpublic has instituted this year. What is the broad direction that IPG is taking with all this?

    When you take a look at the advertising industry, you cannot ignore client structuring and their constituent parts because this tends to have a ‘domino effect’. The environment that the customer lives in has radically changed, technology has changed they way that they live and breathe, how they interact and connect with each other, this has created one basic phenomena ‘immediacy’.

     

    Technology has changed the way we work and engage. This has put tremendous pressure on the CMOs, as they also live in an environment and at a time when their CEOs are demanding performance in their books. It is estimated that every CMO has a life expectancy of roughly 24 months. However, if they have to produce they will have to figure out how to navigate through a company, what the alliances are, who their end user is and quarter after quarter their performance based on real business metrics will determine what their life expectancy will be.
    ‘Over the last decade we stripped everything out of an agency, we have taken strategic planning, we stripped away media and now they have basically become interchangeable parts, the ‘value has been devalued’ ‘

    If you say that a CMO has an average 24 month life cycle, what happens if he continues to deliver what the client demands?

    As defined, stage I is to develop a way of operating to deliver that media and channel neutrality and agnosticism and that’s by bringing together not just one person to lead the business but all the discipline leaders at a round table, to form a team for the client.

    Now, if one client is more strategic in nature then they may have a strategic person in the key position, while someone else who is more data driven might have the data person heading it, but the way we think through the issues are holistic. The goal is that over time we are not expecting that someone who is highly proficient in strategic planning and database modeling to be interchangeable. But the person who heads up strategy must be able to think more holistically, so that when they come to a business situation they determine what’s right for the client.

    But will these individuals continue to function within their respective units?

    The goal is to make sure that the purity and the authority of every discipline still resides in an agency so that we never lose that foothold. In the process of giving clients that ‘channel agnosticism’, the days of only the account person holding that relationship, we are saying that before we get there we need to have a team consisting of media, strategic planning, account services and a creative database all sitting at the table and having an equal voice in determining how to solve a business issue.