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Tag: Prasun Basu

  • BARC ropes in Nielsen, moves closer to digital measurement service launch

    MUMBAI: BARC India has taken another significant step towards launching its much awaited digital measurement service. After announcing that its products will be made available under the umbrella brand EKAM (Sanskrit for “One”), BARC India has appointed Nielsen India as its primary digital measurement partner. Nielsen will fuse its global experience with India-specific adaptations to meet unique needs of the Indian market.

    The process of identifying a digital measurement provider was kick-started with a RFI (Request for Information) sometime back, which was followed up with a Request for Proposal (RFP) from interested companies last year. A rigorous Proof of Concept (POC) testing was conducted with 3 shortlisted companies across 3-6 months following which Nielsen was selected on the strength of its demonstrated capabilities. BARC India’s digital products will be powered by Nielsen, which will help integrate the TV and Digital service eventually.

    The EKAM suite of products will enable comprehensive video measurement, i.e., all video (ads and content) played across TV and Digital platforms. BARC India will be rolling out its first EKAM product (Pulse) which will measure Video Ad Campaigns to enable daily evaluation and optimization opportunities on more impactful ROI metrics.

    With EKAM, the industry will be able to transact on a common currency with transparency. The EKAM range of products which will be launched in a phased manner, will also address the issue of viewability and ad fraud. BARC India’s offering will ensure consistency, comparability and enhanced ability to de-duplicate audiences across sites, platforms and devices.

    In order to meet the needs and challenges of digital measurement, BARC India has been guided by its Digital Technical Committee which has representation from all major players in the sector including Google, Facebook, Hotstar, Voot, Ditto, P&G, HUL, Group M, IPG and Omnicom Media Group. The model is more inclusive rather than exclusive as has happened in most parts of the world.

    “With large expected growth in Digital as well as increased local and global industry demand for robust TV+Digital measurement, it becomes essential that the country moves to a cohesive third party measurement system. With lack of common trusted and transactable Digital metrics, publishers and agencies use differently defined metrics and measures of success of the ad or content being placed on the platform. There is a need for uniformity where all sides of industry are in agreement on the right metrics, measures and definitions. Digital measurement methods are still evolving globally and BARC India is attempting a few things which are a global first,” said Partho Dasgupta, CEO, BARC India.

    “Most Indians who are getting online today, are using a mobile device to do so and, 92% of the smartphone users are using video streaming services. These consumers will drive digital ad spends of marketers in India, likely to get close to INR30,000 crore by 2020. Measuring this explosion and building a currency around this to understand the reach and ROI of the marketer’s most important future spend is an imperative. BARC India and Nielsen are on this journey, together,” said Steve Hasker, Global President and Chief Operating Officer, Nielsen.

    “Thinking of occasions when we have had an opportunity to be part of truly path-breaking measurement, this would rank amongst the best. Combining BARC India’s maverick vision and our expertise in digital measurement, we are helping build an advanced solution uniquely tailored for India,” added Prasun Basu, President – South Asia, Nielsen.

  • India’s Top 50 brands are worth $92.2 billion: BrandZ report

    India’s Top 50 brands are worth $92.2 billion: BrandZ report

    MUMBAI:  On the back of government’s efforts to create a more conducive business environment and brands’ successful response to the rising sense of empowerment among Indian consumers, India’s top 50 brands are now worth $92.2 billion from just under $70 billion in 2014. The finding comes from the second annual BrandZ Top 50 Most Valuable Indian Brands report released by WPP and Millward Brown.

     

    The report also indicates that the total value of India’s strongest brands has risen by a third (33 per cent) over the last year. This is the highest rate of growth achieved by any BrandZ ranking in the 10 years, exceeding that of the Global Top 100 as well as the rankings for China, Latin America and Indonesia.

    “The 2015 study shows that India is a market of great opportunities where consumers are feeling empowered, and this is increasingly reflected in their brand choices. The new Modi government is committed to creating an environment in which brands can flourish. Any brand intending to compete in India must gain deep insights into its nuances – such as the need to modernise while respecting the past, and the desire to remain fundamentally Indian,” said WPP’s The Store CEO David Roth.

    Millward Brown south Asia managing director Prasun Basu states that even with this growth there is no room for complacence.  “The top four had to grow their value by 37 per cent on average to hold on to the same positions as last year, and close to 10 per cent of the brands that made the Top 50 in 2014 have dropped out,” he pointed out.

     

    “To benefit from the continuing rise in consumer confidence and optimism brands need to understand the changing consumer, respond with innovative products and breakthrough communication, and experiment and invest in new media that reflect the spirit of the country today,” he added.

    Brands in the financial sector (+49 per cent growth) made the largest contribution to the overall increase in value, but significant lifts were also seen across most other sectors. Home and personal care brands achieved a combined increase of 32 per cent, followed by the auto aftermarket sector (28 per cent), automobile brands (27 per cent) and telecom providers (21 per cent).

    52 per cent of the brands in the Top 50 are privately-owned, evidence of India’s entrepreneurial energy. 30 per cent of the brands are owned by multinationals, which have successfully adapted to the needs of Indian consumers, becoming so embedded in their lives that they are perceived as ‘local’.

    Key highlights of the 2015 BrandZ Top 50 Most Valuable Indian Brands study are as follows:

     

    .   Financial brands dominate: With 13 brands in the Top 50 accounting for 41 per cent of its value  the financial sector has built brand strength by making a consistent effort to serve consumers better. Biggest risers: Union Bank of India (no.46, +72 per cent), Punjab National Bank (no.22, +61 per cent) and IndusInd Bank (no.13, +46 per cent).

     

    .   Home and personal care brands grew 32 per cent: Thanks to increased disposable income and spending on premium products and investment by marketers across traditional and new media. These 12 brands hold 15 per cent ($13.4 billion) of the ranking’s total brand value. Fastest risers: Lakme (no.44, +69 per cent), Lifebuoy (no.31, +49 per cent) and Colgate (no.26, +44 per cent).

     

    .   Brands with a purpose:  Indian consumers expect brands to actively participate in building a better society, and those that do have a higher brand value. Examples include Lifebuoy (no.31)  and Asian Paints (no.5) .  

     

    .   The trust factor:  In stark contrast with other markets, trust in brands is growing steadily. 33 per cent of Indian consumers say they trust brands. Among the most trusted are jeweller Tanishq (no.21) and Colgate.

     

    .   New entrants: Axis Bank, Canara Bank, MRF (tyres) and Royal Enfield are of Indian origin. The three are privately owned, and one is an SOE.

     

    .   Disruption is on the horizon – from e-commerce and mobile brands that are building scale and connecting with consumers at a frenetic pace. These are not yet eligible to be ranked in the Top 50 because they are not publicly traded.

     

    .   The BrandZ India Top 50 outperforms sensex. It has a weighted index of 30 stocks on the Bombay Stock Exchange, showing how valuable brands deliver superior returns. A stock portfolio comprised the Top 50 increased their share value 18.6 per cent between August 2014 and July 2015, while India’s sensex index increased only 1.5 per cent. The ROI produced by the BrandZ portfolio was over 12 times greater.

  • BrandZ to launch second report in September 2015

    BrandZ to launch second report in September 2015

    MUMBAI: Ever since coming to power in 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made frequent foreign visits, and his purpose of travel was to promote a brand – “Brand India.” Be it Madison Square in the US or Allphones Arena Sydney or the recent Middle East trip, Modi was concisely making efforts to convey the message that India is a destination for business explorers and investors. The argumentative Indians argued the pros and cons of every travel of his, though the Indian diaspora welcomed him with full houses, claps and slogans, back home he earned titles like NRI Prime Minister etc.  

    A little more than one year down the line, what impact did Modi’s foreign visits have? Has “Brand India” succeeded in making a mark in investors’ mind? Has a government with absolute majority made a big difference in bringing in adequate reforms, which in turn will enhance the brand value? Where are Indian brands placed in terms of brand valuation, are they forging towards being dominators or do MNCs still stand tall in the top spot when it comes to brand valuation?

    The second edition of the BrandZ Top 50 Most Valuable Indian Brands, which will be released by WPP and Millward Brown on 9 September, 2015 will answer many such questions.

     BrandZ is a global rankings study that uses a unique brand valuation methodology that combines officially released financial data and consumer-driven brand equity measurement to calculate brand value. The valuation studies were introduced globally in 2006, in China in 2011 and Latin America in 2012 and have received an overwhelming response internationally.

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Millward Brown South Asia director Prasun Basu says, “The study will reveal key insights on trends in the Indian market by WPP companies across India, insights into how brands drive financial growth, the brands with the greatest potential for growth, the elements that have led to successful brand building in India and the way forward for building valuable brands in India.”

    The study analyses brands across various key business sectors including banking, automotive, telecom, personal and household care, foods, beverages, and insurance.

    Basu asserts, “Clear and concise communication, which has a concrete purpose gives brands the wings to fly. Communication is an important aspect, which impacts a brand and now with social media proliferation, consumer insights are easily accessible. Brand communication managers need to be on top of the data and curate communications around that.”

    “We created a stock portfolio of the BrandZ Top 50 Most Valuable Indian Brands 2014 and compared its performance over the past five years with the performance of India’s Sensex. Between May 2009 and May 2014, The BrandZ India Top 50 Portfolio appreciated 201 per cent compared with a rise of 74 per cent for Sensex. The BrandZ India Top 50 Portfolio includes all the brands in BrandZ Top 50 Most Valuable Indian Brands. Sensex is a weighted Index of 30 stocks listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange,” adds Basu.

    BrandZ collates data by studying more than two million consumer insights, interviewing over 25,000 consumers directly. “In 2015 edition of the report, we will have over 500 categories and 200 brands analysed,” informs Basu.

    “Last year’s report had many encouraging factors for the Indian marketplace and brands, Banking sector’s HDFC topped list followed by telecom giant Airtel, the report subtly told the entire fraternity that there is huge potential of growth,” he adds.

    “India is at the threshold of becoming an economic superpower with evolved consumers. The process of valuing brands paves the way for growth strategies for various Indian companies in an otherwise very competitive environment. The report also consists of inputs and opinions by brand experts across WPP companies in India that highlights the dynamic nature of the Indian market and brand-building strategies. This year’s report will have a lot of positives and that’s all I can say before its launch,” concludes Basu.

  • HDFC Bank Named India’s Most Valuable Brand In Brand Ranking

    HDFC Bank Named India’s Most Valuable Brand In Brand Ranking

    MUMBAI: According to the first ever BrandZ™ Top 50 Most Valuable Indian Brands ranking announced today, the combined Brand Value of all the brands in the rankingis almost $70bn.HDFC Bank is India’s most valuable brand, with a value of $9.4bn. Carried out by marketing and brand consultancy Millward Brown in conjunction with WPP, the valuationis the only one in India that takes into account consumers’ opinion of brands to calculate thecontribution that product brands make to business success.

    The BrandZ™ India study shows that India’s unrestricted ‘right to play’ for businesses has nurturedgreat diversity amongst brands in the ranking.The Top 50 come from 13 different categories. Seventeen are multi-national corporations (MNCs), 26 are private Indian brands and seven are state-owned brands. This indicates that India is an open, fertile market for building valuable brands, irrespective of age, origin, structure, category, ownership or even price range.

    HDFC Bank, the no.1 brand, has a network in more than 2,100 cities. It is popular with its 28 million customers for launching mobile apps designed to make banking easier, and running literacy, education and skills training programmes in rural areas. The No.2 brand, Airtel, is the fourth largest mobile operator in the world with nearly 300 million customers, while India’s largest commercial bank, State Bank of India, is at No.3 in the ranking.

    Services businesses (Banking, Telecoms and Insurance), which are the nerve centre of today’s Indian economy, are prominent in the ranking.Seven of the Top 10 brands, and 30% of the Top 50 brands, come from the service sector. Financial services stand out, with the12 banks and insurers in the ranking holding the largest proportion (37%) of total Brand Value.Analysis shows these brands have built value by successfully achieving scale – both ingeographical reach and the diversity of their offerings. Telecoms, Personal Care, and the Food and Dairysectors also feature strongly in the Top 50. The data shows that these brands – along with the other FMCG brands in the ranking – excel at connecting with Indian consumers.

    The average Brand Contribution (ameasure of the impact brand alone has on value) of the Top 5 brands is far higher than the overall average of the Top 50, illustrating the positive impact that building a strong brand has on the financial valuation of the brand. These brands create powerful connections by being meaningful to consumers,and differentiating themselves from others.

    The BrandZ™ Top 50 Most Valuable Indian Brands 2014

    Key findings highlighted in the BrandZTMTop 50 Most Valuable Indian Brands include:

    •    Being meaningful and different builds value – India’s most valuable brands are highly relevant to consumers and differentiate themselves through service, new offerings and brand experiences. One such example is personal care brand Colgate (No.28) – even after 70 years in India the brand has successfully remained relevant and continues to differentiate itself from the competition.

    •    India has evolved into a brand powerhouse – its Top 50 most valuable brands have as much Brand Power (consumers’ predisposition to choose that brand over another) as the global Top 50, and are ahead of the other emerging economies.

    •    Private sector players and multinational corporations dominate – together these contribute around 85% of total brand value. They have succeeded by nurturing a strong relationship with Indian consumers.

    •    Megabrands lead the game – like other fast growing economies, India is dominated by a handful of big brands or companies that own stables of brands: the Top 5 account for 45% of the ranking’s total value. Their tremendous scale and ability to cater to a wide spectrum of the population has translated into financial gains.

    •    ‘Balanced brands’ is the mantra – brands that are able to build both strong connections with consumers and business scale that leads to the creation of financial value are contenders for entering or rising up the BrandZ ranking. Three out ofthe Top 5 Indian brands demonstrate this balance.

    •    Consumer technology is ‘the category waiting to happen’ – there are currently no home-grownconsumer technology brands in the Top 50, but this category is on the verge of emergence. The presence of Indians working in the sector globally is high, and consumer-facing technology brands founded by young entrepreneurshave already started to gain ground.

    •    ‘Indianizing’ products and services is important – the many successful international brands in the ranking have taken the time to understand Indian needs and tastes and adapt to them. Noodles, food seasoning, soup and sauce brand Maggi (No.18), personal care brand Colgate (No.28) and beverage brand Horlicks (No.20) are mastersat this – and are thought of as Indian brands by most consumers as a result.

    •    Old and new sit side by side – living with one foot in the ancient world and one in the modern makes consumers equally receptive to heritage brands (Bajaj Auto, No.5, established 1945) and new brands (Airtel, No. 2, established 1995). More than a quarter of the Top 50 brands were created after the economic liberalization in 1991 while Dabur, No.22, was established 130 years ago.

    Prasun Basu, Millward Brown’s Managing Director – South Asia, said, “The stronger the relationship a brand can build withconsumers in its category, and the more it canleverage that to build scale, the more sustainable and profitable it becomes. All of the Top 50brands are reputable, successful engines of growth for the future of India. Any global manufacturer that makes the effort to understand the diversity of the Indian consumer’s needs, tastes and aspirations, and which can build a proposition that is both meaningful and appropriately differentiated,will succeed in building a strong brand.”

    David Roth, CEO of The Store, WPP added,“With the second highest number of social networking users in the world, and the third highest number of users of mobile devices, developing an e-commerce strategy that focuses on social and mobile platforms is essential for brands in this region.”

    CVL Srinivas, CEO GroupM – South Asia, added,“We are already seeing the impact of the purchasing power of the internet and mobile users in India, with the exponential growth of e-commerce companies in the space of travel, e-tailing, ticketing and many main line brands increasing their brand building budgets to digital media in multiples.”

    In addition to the rankings, special awards were also presented to brands among the Top 50 under the following categories.

    Millward Brown BrandZ India Awards 2014

     

  • “We hope Brandz study will propel other brands to become like the top 50”: Prasun Basu

    “We hope Brandz study will propel other brands to become like the top 50”: Prasun Basu

    WPP CEO Sir Martin Sorrell calls him the data analyst expert.  Prasun Basu’s relationship with WPP’s brand, media and communications research company Millward Brown, goes back a couple of years.

     

    In 2013, two years after he joined Millward Brown as managing director of East Africa operations, he was elevated as managing director south Asia region. A frequent presenter and writer for many journals, publications and seminars, he co-authored the article ‘The New Indian Consumer’ published in the Harvard Business Review in 2006, and ‘The Curve-fitting Problem’ in the leading journal Philosophy of Science.

     

    On the debut launch of BrandZ top 50 most valued brands in India, indiantelevision.com’s Meghna Sharma caught up with the man for a quick conversation on how he sees the report helping the Indian market, the future scenario and any favourite brand which he would like to see on the list.

     

    Excerpts…

     

    You launched the BrandZ top 100 in China four years ago and two years ago came the top 50 in the Latin American market. Why made you opt for India now and not before?

     

    You need to ask this question to Martin. In the relative order of things, China is a much bigger economy today. There was a time when India and China were almost at par. India had a great story but China had a massive one in the last decade or so. The country has really pulled itself out of the crowd especially amongst the BRIC markets. And after seeing the success in China, it gave us enough confidence that we should go with India. It’s also important to remember that we don’t cover the UK or US. It’s just China, LatAm and India.

     

    In the coming years what changes do you see in the top 50 compilation? Currently, the top five have three from the financial sector.

     

    If you see our global reports, this year Google dislodged Apple and it did so with a huge margin. While last year, Apple had a large gap. So, I’m sure changes will come because India is a dynamic market than any other. India is also a very stable economy. If we look at the past, India was one of the less touched markets during recessions. I expect some changes by next year for sure.

     

    What expectations do you have from the new government and how do you see it impacting the market?

     

    The way the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is implementing his policies, there is a very clear sense that this will start having results, but the size of the economy at the current stage will take a little time to show results. So you might see results in six months, I don’t know. Two years down the line, probably yes. In his term we will see results.

     

    We are talking about FDI in railways, defence; nobody ever thought about FDI in defence. He has already taken up the limits in insurance. It is very clear in which direction he is heading. With ‘Make in India’, the country which has been driven by the service sector is not talking about manufacturing as well. So, while the service sector continues to do well and we manage to build the manufacturing industry then think about the quantum shift we will create.

     

    How do you see the report helping the Indian clients/brands?

     

    Actually it can help in a big way. For some of them, especially the big brands on the list, it can give them a very sound evaluation of the work they are doing, it will give them more confidence and more boldness to do what they are doing better. It will reinforce their talent in either building skill or building brand equity and consumer connect.

     

    The other thing it can do is that it will propel other brands to try to become like the top 50.

     

    Apart from this, the third community that will gain is the financial community within the companies like the CFOs, evaluation people etc.

     

    Globally, technology companies rule the list. Why is that not the case in India?

     

    Look at what is happening in the e-commerce sector in the country. So, who knows maybe we will see them in the list soon if they go public. Some of the best minds in technology are sitting somewhere else and with India being a very clear economy, global technology companies trade freely here. So as a result, building local outfits has not been much while it is quite opposite in China.

     

    How important is advertising when it comes to building of a brand?

     

    ICICI Bank was the first one in the financial sector to advertise years ago with Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign helped it reach the level it is today and since then, many have followed suit. Different brands have different strategies to succeed. Today, one doesn’t have to do just television advertising, social media route can be taken as well since it has become very important today. Some do CSR activities which help them connect with the consumers. Word-of-mouth is an excellent way as well, used by many high-end brands.

     

    Is there any particular brand which you would like to see on the list?

     

    We have followed a very transparent method in India and are very proud of the list we have come out with.

     

    I would like to see Indigo on the list because it has done an amazing work. It doesn’t believe much in TV advertising and concentrates more on outdoor, print etc. But they have built themselves very well and the service experience has been built through word of mouth. Their position is also very clear – arrive on time – and has struck to it over the years.

  • BrandZ launches Top 50 most valuable Indian brands

    BrandZ launches Top 50 most valuable Indian brands

    MUMBAI: Global research agency Millward Brown will announce the BrandZ Top 50 most valuable Indian brands 2014 on 19 August 2014.

     

    Currently in its ninth year, the BrandZ Top 100 most valuable global brands study aims to create a new milestone with the launch of its first Indian edition, BrandZ Top 50 most valuable Indian brands. The rankings will be unveiled on 19 August in the presence of WPP CEO Sir Martin Sorrell and top executives of leading Indian companies.

     

    The study will reveal key insights on trends in the Indian market by WPP companies across India, insights into how brands drive financial growth, the brands with the greatest potential for growth, the elements that have led to successful brand building in India and the way forward for building valuable brands in India. A highlight is the release of the list of top 50 most valuable Indian brands. The study analyses brands across various key business sectors including banking, automotive, telecom, personal and household care, foods, beverages, and insurance.

     

    Millward Brown south Asia managing director Prasun Basu said, “BrandZ is a unique brand valuation methodology that has established a global credibility. This makes the BrandZ Top 50 Most Valuable Indian Brands the definitive and most robust ranking available. BrandZ approach starts with officially available financial information and scientifically attributes the contribution of consumer facing brands to business success, especially important in the context of large corporations, business houses or conglomerate brands. The stronger the relationship that a brand can build with consumers in its category, and is able to leverage those consumer connections, the more sustainable and profitable the brand becomes. Therefore, the Top 50 are reputable, successful engines of financial growth for the future of India”.

     

    Millward Brown chief global analyst Nigel Hollis commented, “The BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands study has given marketers and brand managers deeper insights into their brands. Globally, the BrandZ study covers two million consumers and more than 10,000 different brands in over 30 countries. The Indian edition of BrandZ aims to enable brand owners to evaluate their brands, compare them with competitors around the globe, especially in a world where Indian brands have already demonstrated their ambitions to go global and make better-informed investment decisions. We hope that the study becomes a benchmark reference for brand insights in the market.”

     

    Commissioned by WPP and carried out by Millward Brown, BrandZ valuations rankings are the only global rankings study that uses a unique brand valuation mechanism that combines officially released financial data and consumer-driven brand equity measurement to calculate brand value. The valuation study, which was introduced globally in 2006, in China in 2011 and Latin America in 2012, has seen a huge success and has received an overwhelming response in both markets as well as internationally .

  • Millward Brown appoints Surekha Poddar as MD

    Millward Brown appoints Surekha Poddar as MD

    Mumbai: Brand media and communications research company Millward Brown has appointed Surekha Poddar as MD for its Mumbai operation. Poddar replaces Muder Chiba who has decided to leave the company to pursue other interests.

    Poddar will report to recently appointed South Asiamanaging director Prasun Basu. In her core responsibility, she will lead the largest of Millward Brown’s operations in South Asia.

    The company also has offices in Gurgaon, Bangalore, and newly-opened Dhaka.

    Poddar has over 20 years of experience in marketing, research and strategic management from both, the agency and the client side.

    Prior to this, Poddar worked as executive director of consumer research at Nielsen India. She has also worked with Bharti Airtel as VP market research and consumer insight. Apart from this, Poddar has worked in the capacity of VP in the CSMM division at IMRB and GM for Asian Information Marketing & Social Research (AIMS).

    In 2005, she worked with Millward Brown as regional director for the company’s Asia Pacific region based in Singapore.

    Talking about the appointment Surekha Poddar said, “I am very excited to have the opportunity to lead such a talented group of researchers and to represent a world leader in consumer insights in the Mumbai marketplace. The company works with some of the most respected brands in the region helping them to maximise their marketing investments so its a perfect fit given my passion for marketing, brand-building and consumer insight”.

    Millward Brown MD of South Asia Prasun Basu said, “I am delighted to welcome Surekha to the Millward Brown family again. Her extensive experience will provide our clients and employees with a partner and trusted advisor who truly understand the important role research plays in building strong brands and making a meaningful impact in driving businesses forward.”

  • Prasun Basu is Millward Brown South Asia MD

    MUMBAI: Brand, media and communications research company Millward Brown has appointed Prasun Basu to the post of managing director for the South Asia Region.

    Basu will report in to Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific (AMAP) CEO Travyn Rhall and will join the AMAP executive board. He will be based in Mumbai.

    Basu replaces Shishir Varma who served as Indian operations MD for five years. He will be taking on the role of chief client officer for the AMAP region and will be based out of Dubai.

    Basu‘s responsibilities in the new post involve leading Millward Brown‘s operations across India and also expanding operations in South Asia. Millward Brown currently has offices in Mumbai, Gurgaon and Bangalore.

    Basu said, “I am delighted to have been appointed to lead Millward Brown across South Asia at such an exciting time for both the region and our company‘s development. From its set-up in 2008, the organization has grown significantly under Shishir‘s leadership. As relationships with our clients mature, it becomes more important than ever that we continue to provide our clients with the very best consumer-based advice on managing their marketing investments, as branding and the role of media increases in importance across the rapidly-changing but incredibly diverse region”.

    Basu joined Millward Brown in May 2011 as managing director of the East Africa operations, before he went on to lead the newly-formed Middle East and North Africa business units. Prior to Millward Brown, he was at Nielsen for five years in a number of positions, the latest being head of consumer research for the India Region as well as head of BASES for Africa, Middle East and India.

    Rhall said, “Prasun is a hugely experienced researcher with a proven track record who will lead the business to best serve our clients in this increasingly important region. His rare management talent and passion for the business of brands make him an invaluable addition to both the India and regional management teams.”