Tag: Rana Barua

Sony Music Entertainment brings on board iContract

MUMBAI: iContract, the digital agency offering from Contract Advertising, has been awarded the digital duties by Sony Music Entertainment India. The agency won the business following a multi-agency pitch. Sony Music Entertainment is a global recorded music company with a current roster that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars.

Sony Music Entertainment India marketing director Sanujeet Bhujabal said, “Sony Music has been extremely aggressive in the digital space as it forms an integral part of our media mix across all repertoires. iContract brings with them a rich experience and we look forward to working with them. ”

A wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment Inc., Sony Music Entertainment India, boasts of an extensive catalogue and is home to renowned and celebrated artists and several iconic Bollywood Film soundtracks.

iContract senior VP and digital head Prashanth Challapalli said, “Sony Music is a pioneer in the global music arena and is one of the leading entertainment brands in India. There are some exciting new plans and innovations on the anvil and we are hugely thrilled to partner their evolution in the digital space.”

Contract India CEO Rana Barua said, “Sony Music Entertainment India is a tremendous win for us. We look forward to them in their digital evolution in India, given the fact that digital is going to be the future of the music business”.

iContract also handles the digital mandate for several leading brands such as Shoppers Stop, UTI Mutual Funds, Acer, PepsiCo Slice, Wills Lifestyle as well as the BTL duties of Tata DoCoMo amongst other brands.

June 30, 2014
Contract wins the creative mandate for Amira Pure Foods

MUMBAI: So far. Go good. The year began with winning of the creative mandates for Tata Docomo and Paytm, and continuing the trend, Contract Advertising will now handle the creative responsibilities for Amira Pure Foods.

Amira Group’s chairman and CEO Karan A Chanana said, “We are extremely happy to announce the appointment of Contract as our new creative partner. Contract has a reputation of building memorable brands. We want Amira to become a leading and the most preferred food brand in India in the next 18 months. We felt that Contract understood our imperatives and sees an opportunity to create yet another memorable brand. We look forward to having a long, productive and professional association with Contract.”

Contract that won the business on the basis of its strong credentials and talent will handle the business from the agency’s Delhi office. The campaign will be spread across all spheres including TV, Print, Radio, and Digital media.

Contract Advertising CEO Rana Barua said, “It was an honour to get the business on the basis of our credentials and Amira’s faith in our team. Amira is a global leader in packaged rice and it is exciting for us to build the brand within a category that has a strong legacy of established brands.”

“The fact that Amira has shown great faith in us as an agency puts a huge responsibility on our shoulders to create some exciting communication and lay the foundation of an exciting brand. The challenge for us is to not just create a new brand but also develop a unique creative language for Amira in the foods business,” said Contract India national creative director Ashish Chakravarty.

While Amira, was considering other agencies as well, the business comes on the basis of the agency’s strong credentials. Contract has a legacy of long standing relationships – more than two decades of creating brands like Shoppers Stop and NIIT; and over 10 years of partnering brands like Dominos, Dabur, Cadbury and Asian Paints.

April 14, 2014
Rana Barua promoted as the CEO of Contract Advertising

Mumbai: Rana Barua has been elevated as the CEO of Contract India.

Rana who is currently travelling will take charge with immediate effect.

His elevation as the CEO is in recognition of the stability and growth that Contract has had in the last one year. He has been able to successfully build a team of some of the finest talent in the industry, along with winning several new businesses for the agency and enhancing existing client relations.

Announcing the development, JWT South Asia CEO Colvyn Harris said, “In Rana, we have a leader who has very ably carried the mantle of leading Contract to a renewed position of power that has made the agency a destination of choice for brands and talent.”

Over the last twelve months, Rana has driven Contract’s diversification across mainstream, digital, design and other platforms of engagement marketing to ensure the best value proposition for clients.

March 10, 2014
Contract advertising wins the UTI Mutual Fund business

MUMBAI: Contract Advertising has won the creative mandate for UTI Mutual Fund (UTI MF). The business will be handled by the agency’s Mumbai office, which won the account over a multi-agency pitch.

On winning the business, Contract India COO Rana Barua says, “We are extremely happy to partner with UTI MF. This gives us a fabulous opportunity to work with a legendary brand in a category that has great scope for gaining prominence in the current economic situation. Our partnership will also be focused at bringing back the relevance of sound investment in the life of the new-age consumers.”

UTI MF will celebrate its golden jubilee in February and has a series of activities planned throughout the year to commemorate the occasion.

UTI AMC’s managing director Leo Puri said, “We are happy to appoint Contract Advertising as the lead creative agency of UTI. Contract Advertising has been chosen through a multi-agency evaluation process for its strategic thinking, consumer insight and experience across multiple categories.”

“This year, UTI will be celebrating its golden jubilee. 50 years marks a strong milestone in the history of UTI, an Institution which has been the pioneer in the wealth creation since 1964. As we look to accelerate our growth going forward, Contract Advertising will help us to create the brand salience.” Mr. Puri added

The agency will put together a 360 degree campaign for UTI MF across TV, print, radio, out-of-home and digital that will herald 50 years of the brand that has been in existence for five decades.

January 17, 2014
Contract gets a new head of art – India in Vineet Mahajan

MUMBAI: Contract Advertising has brought on board Vineet Mahajan as head of art – India. Prior to this, Mahajan was heading McCann Erickson’s Delhi office as head of art. It would be his second stint at Contract after a gap of five years.

Mahajan said, “Contract holds a special place for me and the new role will be far more challenging with lots of new opportunities. New city, new role, new place should be exciting.”

Contract Advertising COO Rana Barua said, “Contract prides itself in offering the best talent available in the country to its clients. Vineet’s coming on board is yet another step in that direction as his impeccable credentials and skill sets will bring in a huge value add to our clients. Contract is well poised to take bigger strides in the industry as we get into the New Year with a lot of hope and zeal to partner our clients in their journey to success.”

In the past, Mahajan along with Contract Advertising NCD Ashish Chakravarty was also instrumental in putting Contract Delhi on the International awards map after a gap of 10 years. “Well, frankly Vineet Mahajan needs no introduction, so let me just say that I am absolutely thrilled to have him on board. He will be based out of Mumbai, but will work closely with me on all key brands across all offices. There is much value he brings to the table in terms of art and aesthetics, and I feel all our clients should benefit from this. Plus he has such a colorful presence, it should certainly liven things up at Contract”, said Chakravarty.

With over 15 years of experience, he has spent between O&M, McCann Erickson and Contract where he has worked on various award-winning campaigns.

December 23, 2013
Ayesha Ghosh to head Contract, Mumbai

MUMBAI: Ayesha Ghosh has been elevated and will be taking over as Contract senior vice president and general manager – Mumbai operations effective immediately.

Ayesha has been a part of the leadership team at Contract and has worked closely with me over the past few months to recalibrate our offerings and help shape the future of the office. A motivating team leader with strong people skills, she has led the thought leadership for Contract, both internally and externally,” said Contract Advertising COO Rana Barua.

Its wonderfully rewarding to have spent a sizeable amount of time at one agency and to now be heading that office says Ayesha Ghosh

“She has played a key role in winning new business for the office which include Sugar Free, RNA, Star Plus and the latest being Provogue Deodorants which was won following a multi-agency pitch,” he added.

In the 17 year long career, Ghosh has spent the past 12 years with Contract, where she has anchored the India chapter of the globally aligned HSBC business and has worked on a lot of Contract’s blue chip clients. She has also handled clients across diverse industries and categories with panache. Asian Paints, Cadbury, Tata Motors, Godrej, Disney Channel, CavinKare’s hair care portfolio (Nyle, Chik), jewelry brand Tara Jewels and Pfizer (Listerine and Gelusil), have all been handled by Ghosh.

On her elevation, Ghosh said, “It’s wonderfully rewarding to have spent a sizeable amount of time at one agency and to now be heading that office. The ethos and culture of Contract is such that it makes people want to stay here for a long time. I’m thrilled to have come into this position of strength at a time when Contract is on an upswing. One of my tasks would be to ensure that Contract Mumbai is one of the most desirable agencies, both for clients to park their businesses with and for the best advertising people to work at.”

November 18, 2013
Contract appoints Monojit Ray as Bengaluru head

MUMBAI: The Bengaluru arm of Contract has got a new head. Monojit Ray has been appointed as the general manager and vice president with immediate effect. He will take charge from Anitha Krishnan who was with the company for 10 years.

Ray will handle not just the Bengaluru portfolio but also be responsible for the growth of Contract in south India. “Monojit’s diverse advertising and marketing experience of over 18 years, complimented by his entrepreneurial experience makes him an ideal choice for heading the Bengaluru office,” said Contract Advertising COO Rana Barua.

Prior to this, Ray has worked with Ogilvy, Rediffusion, Radio City, Autocop and Everest. “I think it’s a great opportunity and a challenge to be part of a rejuvenated Contract. The vision that Rana has set for the agency is right up my street. And I sincerely believe that the Bengaluru office will play an extremely important role in achieving that goal. I, for one, am extremely excited to be part of this new journey, and I hope that I will be able to make my team as excited about it as we go along,” said Ray.
Ray had earlier managed Sachin Tendulkar’s first major advertising assignment with Phillips. He was prominent in launching Tata Teleservices in Hyderabad. He is not new to the IT city, having worked there before. He was also the cricket coach and consultant for the movie Kai Po Che.

November 18, 2013
Contract Advertising promotes Rohit Srivastava to chief strategy officer

Mumbai: Rohit Srivastava has been named chief strategy officer at Contract Advertising. He will develop and integrate the strategic planning capabilities.

Srivastava has been with Contract Advertising for 23 years and is being recognised for his role and responsibility, especially his strategic skills and capabilities.

He will help deliver on Contract’s creative vision and partner with Contract India COO Rana Barua to create the best value proposition for its clients.

“Rohit has been one of the biggest strengths Contract has had over two decades. As he takes over the role of the chief strategy officer across all verticals of Contract, he will partner me in fortifying client relationships and ensure the future growth of Contract”, Barua said.

Srivastava will continue to lead Core Consulting, the marketing and strategic consulting division of Contract. As the head of the strategic planning function Srivastava has worked closely on a wide portfolio of brands including Asian Paints, Crompton Greaves, Dabur, Dominos, Godrej, HSBC, Kraft-Cadbury (Mondelez), NIIT, Shoppers Stop, Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance, Marico, Aditya Birla Group, Prudential, Franklin Templeton, Honda, Emami, Britannia, Louis Philippe, Hypercity and ICICI Bank.

May 3, 2013
Contract appoints Kapil Mishra as ECD

MUMBAI: Contract India has appointed Kapil Mishra as executive creative director.

Mishra will be based in Mumbai.

He will be working with Contract‘s clients across India with specific focus on Mumbai and Delhi. His work will cut across all verticals of Contract, which include Advertising, iContract, Designsutra and Core Consulting.

Mishra last stint was with Law & Kenneth.

“I am delighted to have someone of Kapil‘s calibre join Contract‘s senior leadership team. A dynamic resource with excellent creative capabilities, Kapil has worked on some of the finest brands and created outstanding work. I am certain he will add great value to Contract and our clients”, says Contract Advertising COO Rana Barua.

On his new role, Mishra says “Contract has built its reputation on great work and I am honoured to now be a part of the success story. I look forward to working with Rana again and create impactful advertising.”

Mishra has earlier also worked with Ogilvy and Leo Burnett. He has handled clients like ITC personal care, Heinz – Ketchup, Glucon- D, Dabur, Cadbury Dairy Milk and Godrej.

April 24, 2013
Rana Barua joins Contract Advertising as COO

MUMBAI: Rana Barua, the former Chief operating officer (COO) of Law and Kenneth, has joined Contract Advertising India in the same position.

Barua succeeds Umesh Shrikhande, who recently left to pursue other opportunities. He will partner the senior leadership team at Contract to ensure the best value proposition for clients.

JWT South Asia CEO Colvyn Harris said, “Rana has diverse management experience with a proven track record that makes him an ideal choice for Contract, one of India‘s leading independent integrated advertising agencies. I am confident that Rana with his experience across advertising and integrated brand solutions will ensure that Contract continues to be a very successful agency.”

Barua said, “I am excited with the opportunity of being a part of the Contract story. It is a wonderful time for our industry as it continues to evolve so rapidly. Contract is uniquely positioned to take advantage of this and I am confident I will be able to facilitate this process by partnering with the senior management team.”

In his 19 years of experience Barua has served varied roles like COO of RED FM and the head of marketing for Radio City where he successfully repositioned the radio station to make it amongst the top two stations in the country.

He started his career in advertising having worked at HTA (JWT), Ogilvy, McCann and Y&R. His category experience includes working with brands like Renault, eBay, ING Life, Godrej, Reckitt Benckiser, J&J, Gillette Parker, Microsoft, HP, Tata Tea, Zydus Cadila, Levers, Tata AIG & AIA, Marico, Virgin Atlantic, and ITC.

February 4, 2013