Tag: Rohan Mehta

  • Asian Paints turns ‘Mera wala blue’ into ‘Meri wali blue’ for women in blue

    Asian Paints turns ‘Mera wala blue’ into ‘Meri wali blue’ for women in blue

    MUMBAI: Talk about a fresh coat of inspiration! Asian Paints has added a vibrant twist to its iconic Mera wala blue with the launch of Meri wali blue, a heartfelt campaign celebrating India’s women cricketers and the fans who bring the game to life from their living rooms.

    Part of the brand’s ongoing Har ghar blue narrative, the new film beautifully captures how cricket, while played on the pitch, truly lives in Indian homes, in the cheers, emotions, and shared pride that colour every household blue.

    Conceptualised by FCB Kinnect and directed by Good Morning Films, the film traces the journey of a blue jersey, from a tailor’s careful stitching to a young girl’s gleeful cry of “Meri Wali Blue” as she spots her hero Harmanpreet Kaur’s number on it. The message is simple yet stirring: India cheers for India Wala Blue.

    The campaign extends Asian Paints’ deep association with cricket, following its smart integrations during the India vs England series and Asia Cup earlier this year. The brand has painted itself firmly into the nation’s sporting story. This time, by championing the rise of women’s cricket and the growing chorus of fans rallying behind it.

    Asian Paints Ltd MD & CEO Amit Syngle said, “Cricket brings families, friends, and neighbours together. With Meri Wali Blue, we’re proud to celebrate India’s women cricketers, whose grit and grace continue to inspire millions.”

    FCB Kinnect CEO Rohan Mehta added, “Building on an idea that’s shaped culture and giving it fresh relevance is powerful. With just one word, Meri Wali Blue carries hope and belief for generations of women athletes.”

    As group executive creative director Yogesh Mani Pradhan put it, “It’s not just an ad,  it’s a rallying cry for today, turning nostalgia into a new cultural moment.”

  • Henna Pande returns to FCB Kinnect as EVP – north, ready for a new chapter

    Henna Pande returns to FCB Kinnect as EVP – north, ready for a new chapter

    MUMBAI: FCB Kinnect has welcomed back Henna Pande as executive vice president – north. Following a well-deserved sabbatical in 2024 to focus on personal well-being, she is set to steer the agency’s Delhi operations towards further expansion and innovation.

    With over 15 years in the industry, Pande played a pivotal role in strengthening Kinnect’s presence in the north. During her six-year tenure, culminating as vice president (North), she expanded the Delhi team from 15 to over 100 professionals and worked with global clients such as Amazon, Nokia, Bausch + Lomb, vivo, and Vistara.

    “Rejoining FCB Kinnect feels like returning home,” Pande shared. “Having built the Delhi operations from the ground up, I look forward to this next phase. Working with Rohan Mehta and Chandni Shah has always been an exciting, high-impact experience. Now, with Neville and Priyanka driving an idea-first culture, we have a distinct advantage in turning bold creative thinking into measurable success. The ambition and vision at Kinnect are unparalleled, and I am eager to set new benchmarks and make a meaningful impact.”

    FCB Kinnect & FCB/SIX India CEO Mehta described Pande as a driving force in the industry, with a keen understanding of business and a strong ability to blend innovation with operational excellence.

    COO Shah added, “Pande has been instrumental in shaping our presence in the north. She understands what makes Kinnect unique – a culture built on creativity, agility, and seamless collaboration. With her back in Delhi, we are poised for even greater success.”

  • TVS Raider invites bikers to experience ‘Call of the Wicked’

    TVS Raider invites bikers to experience ‘Call of the Wicked’

    Mumbai: TVS Raider has launched a bold campaign titled ‘Call of the Wicked’, inviting riders to unleash their inner ‘wicked’ and feel the ultimate thrill of the ride. Conceptualised by FCB Kinnect, the campaign embodies the brand’s spirit of embracing one’s most wicked self, powered by the brand’s all-new iGO feature and upgraded performance.

    In a captivating film designed for Gen Z thrill-seekers who crave speed, power, and individuality, this film is a cinematic masterpiece which takes viewers on an adrenaline-fueled journey through a vibrant cityscape, showcasing the stylish new look and standout features of the TVS Raider. Inspired by superhero lore, the film evokes the feeling of riding to answer the ‘call of the wicked’.

    FCB Kinnect & FCB/SIX India CEO Rohan Mehta said, “A truly powerful idea speaks volumes, even in silence. By transforming a sharp insight into a cinematic experience, we’ve captured the bold spirit of the TVS Raider in a way that’s as unforgettable as the ride itself.”

    FCB Kinnect group executive creative director (South) Nishant Pratap added, “The new Raider epic is a pure adrenaline kick at 24 frames a second. Our intent was to stay true to our wicked roots and celebrate the million-plus Raiders out there. Being the fastest in its class, skinned in the spanking-new Nardo Grey, we just had to make a film that deserves announcing its arrival.”

    The campaign is live across digital and television.

  • SBI & FCB Kinnect make loans a source of festive joy

    SBI & FCB Kinnect make loans a source of festive joy

    Mumbai: While consumers often enjoy making lifestyle upgrades during the festive season, the idea of taking a loan can be daunting. To change this perception, SBI, India’s largest public sector bank, has launched the ‘Celebrations Unlimited’ campaign, celebrating Indian consumers making significant purchases during the festivities.

    Conceptualized by FCB Kinnect, the campaign highlights SBI’s multi-loan offerings — car loan, gold loan, personal loan, and loan against Mutual Funds—that can enhance celebrations. Instead of a serious finance message, the campaign uses humor to show that taking a loan can be a cause for celebration, connecting with potential customers and positioning SBI as a preferred choice for festive loans.

    SBI DMD (retail – PB & RE) G. S. Rana said, “We’re not just offering loans, we’re empowering people to achieve their dreams. Festivities make even the smallest celebrations more joyful, and with the offerings we have, there’s no reason why loans can’t be celebrated as well.”

    FCB Kinnect & FCB/SIX India CCO Neville Shah added, “This is the time where you bring new joy into your life. Why let anything stand in the way, especially when the product is here to make it happen? So why not celebrate it? That’s exactly what we did.”

    FCB Kinnect & FCB/SIX India CEO Rohan Mehta said, “Relatability fosters a sense of connection and draws people closer to the brand. Many individuals share similar feelings about taking out a loan. FCB Kinnect has once again demonstrated how a simple insight can transform into a powerful creative idea that truly resonates.”

  • Upasana Naithani joins FCB Kinnect as SVP (West)

    Upasana Naithani joins FCB Kinnect as SVP (West)

    Mumbai: FCB Kinnect has announced the appointment of Upasana Naithani as senior vice president (west). This appointment highlights the agency’s commitment to broaden the expansion strategy for the Western market, home to its largest clients and significant business interests.

    Upasana moves from Wunderman Thompson, where she was vice president & CSD.

    In her new role as SVP (West), she will draw on her experience to scale the agency’s Mumbai client base, explore new markets, and drive strategic initiatives. She will also lead her teams in fostering collaboration with the new creative leadership, enhancing FCB Kinnect’s position as a creatively-led integrated agency.

    Upasana has previously been associated with renowned brands such as Spotify, Flipkart, Hershey’s, Kotak Mahindra, ICICI Bank, Colgate Palmolive, Ultratech Cement, Truecaller, iQOO, Paytm, NPCI, JSW Brand, Unilever, Elle, Ponds, and Sunsilk, among others.

    Her work on UltraTech’s ‘Baat Ghar Ki’ campaign earned accolades at the EFFIES, while Sunsilk’s ‘Thick and Long’ campaign won an Abby. She also received awards for Unilever Corporate’s ‘Project Sunlight’ at IDMA and Elle18’s ‘Make Your Own Shade’ at Kyoorius, among other recognitions.

    With over 15 years of experience, Upasana has also worked with companies like Dentsu Webchutney, Reliance Retail, Infectious Advertising, VML, BC Webwise and Flying Cursor Interactive, among others.

    FCB Kinnect & FCB/SIX India CEO Rohan Mehta said, “Upasana’s extensive experience with leading brands across various categories will be instrumental in helping us expand our presence in our largest market, by gaining a deeper understanding of client needs. I am confident that she will be crucial in strengthening relationships with both new and existing clients, providing them with creative solutions to their business challenges.”

    Naithani added, “Rohan and Chandni’s vision and leadership has established a solid foundation for success. In a landscape where many large agencies grapple with balancing traditional and modern practices, Kinnect’s approach is remarkably refreshing. Their commitment to continuous learning and positive embrace of change is what truly excites me about joining the Kinnect family.”

  • FCB Kinnect appoints Yogesh Mani Pradhan as group ECD (west)

    FCB Kinnect appoints Yogesh Mani Pradhan as group ECD (west)

    Mumbai: FCB Kinnect has appointed Yogesh Mani Pradhan as group executive creative director (west) to lead creative work at its Mumbai office. With over two decades of experience at Ogilvy, Yogesh has worked with brands including Castrol, Mondelez, Bajaj Chetak, Adidas, Amazon, ITC Vivel, and Mumbai Indians. His notable campaigns include ‘Truckasana’ for Castrol, ‘Sit Together’ for Cadbury Dairy Milk, ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ for Vogue, and ‘I Will Wear Out Plastic’ for UNEP.

    Speaking about the appointment, FCB Kinnect & FCB/SIX India CEO Rohan Mehta said, “I am thrilled to welcome Yogi to the Kinnect family. His extensive experience in advertising and creative work with a wide range of brands will undoubtedly elevate our creative capabilities. Fondly known as the work-dad, he is exactly what our talent needs – someone to mentor them and build them through the rigour of advertising. Together, Yogi and Neville form a dynamic duo – their complementary partnership promises to deliver exceptional work for our clients.”

    FCB Kinnect & FCB/SIX India CCO Neville Shah added, “Yogesh brings with him great ideas, invaluable experience, and sage-like calm. Here to uplift the quality and the craft of the Mumbai office, I am super excited to be reunited and working with him.”

    FCB Kinnect group executive creative director Yogesh Pradhan said, “I look forward to working with the Mumbai team to cultivate a vibrant creative culture and camaraderie. I’m thrilled to be part of the FCB Kinnect family as it gathers momentum towards becoming a powerhouse integrated creative agency.”

  • FCB Kinnect & Flipkart curates ‘After Dark #IYKYFK’ campaign

    FCB Kinnect & Flipkart curates ‘After Dark #IYKYFK’ campaign

    Mumbai: Tapping into Gen Z’s late-night shopping habits, Flipkart launched the ‘After Dark #IYKYFK’ (If You Know You Flipkart) sale ahead of the big billion days sale. The campaign featured glow-in-the-dark billboards near popular spots, like Mumbai’s Carter Road and Delhi’s Cyber Hub, visible only at night with QR codes for exclusive access. Audible billboards were also placed at these hotspots, while engagement was driven through X, Instagram, push notifications, and dating apps.

    Speaking on the campaign, FCB Kinnect & FCB/SIX India CEO Rohan Mehta said, “A fun creative idea, a deep understanding of the new-age consumer, and flawless execution, all working together to deliver a great creative solution for Flipkart Big Billion Days. Our relentless drive to leverage multiple touchpoints creatively turned this idea into a truly integrated and unforgettable experience.”

    FCB Kinnect & FCB/SIX India CCO Neville Shah added, “The sharpness of the business problem resulted in an effortlessly creative solution. Reaching the right audience was only half the battle. Think of it like finding the party. With this campaign, we didn’t just point to the party; we gave night owls a reason to stay up and party with us, all night long.”

  • Flipkart and FCB Kinnect Unveil ‘Big Sale of Small Things’

    Flipkart and FCB Kinnect Unveil ‘Big Sale of Small Things’

    Mumbai: As we focus on larger aspects of life, it’s common to overlook smaller items that may seem less important. To address this, the Bengaluru-based e-commerce giant will launch the ‘Big Sale of Small Things’ to highlight items people often forget when preparing for the Big Billion Days (BBD) sale. The campaign aims to remind shoppers of easily overlooked products, including fashion and lifestyle accessories, books, small electronics, home décor, and more.

    Simply put, small things have big discounts on Flipkart’s ‘Big Sale of Small Things’. True to the distinctive tone of bizarre humour, this campaign has the internet in splits.

    Speaking on the integrated campaign, FCB Kinnect CCO Neville Shah said, “We’ve always said, the idea comes first. And that’s what has won here. A simple thought that makes you think. What do we do when we need small things? Making that funny was a whole other story. But so much fun working on these with the team. Truly gratifying.”

    FCB Kinnect & FCB/SIX India CEO Rohan Mehta added, “Being a fully integrated agency is what we set out to be – and this, our first campaign for Flipkart goes to show what we can do when we leverage all our offerings to service the idea best. A perfect example of how creativity can be an economic multiplier.”

  • FCB Kinnect appoints Nishant Pratap as group executive creative director (South)

    FCB Kinnect appoints Nishant Pratap as group executive creative director (South)

    Mumbai: FCB Kinnect, an exciting creatively led integrated agency, has appointed Nishant Pratap as the group executive creative director (South). This move highlights the agency’s dedication to continuously enhancing its capabilities and talent in a full-funnel manner, reinforcing its role as a comprehensive partner to brands.

    This strategic appointment is part of FCB Kinnect’s commitment to developing top-tier creative departments, aimed at producing innovative and impactful work across all potential media platforms.

    Recently, the agency also appointed Neville Shah as its Chief Creative Officer to transform the agency’s creative culture and exceed global benchmarks.

    Driven by a passion for crafting bold, impactful work, Neville brought Nishant on board to lead creative excellence and accelerate the growth of FCB Kinnect’s Bengaluru office.  

    He moved from Ogilvy India, where he was executive creative director. Nishant has also worked previously with McCann Worldgroup and Lowe Lintas.

    With nearly 19 years of experience, he has been pivotal in launching and building renowned brands such as Tata Sky, Britannia’s Treat and GoodDay, TVS Apache, Mumbai Indians, IDFC Bank, Tata Salt, Tanishq, Titan, Taneira, Fastrack, Park Avenue, Cadbury, and The Live Love Laugh Foundation.

    His legendary body of work comprises the creation of iconic campaigns such as #HeeraHoTum for Tanishq, #YouDoYou for Fastrack, #FindYourJoy for Titan, and #UnityBar for Cadbury. Additionally, Nishant played a pivotal role in launching India’s first awareness campaign on depression for TLLF, featuring Deepika Padukone.

    Nishant’s work for Happy Life Welfare and The Dabbawala Foundation’s ‘Share My Dabba’ campaign has been recognised at the D&AD Awards and the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

    Beyond his professional achievements, he is a published poet, and a spoken word performer, and runs a popular YouTube cooking series called GastroPup.

    Speaking on his appointment, FCB Kinnect & FCB/SIX India CEO Rohan Mehta said, “I am excited to welcome Nishant to the Kinnect family. His remarkable creative talent and proven track record position us perfectly to deliver impactful and unique solutions. Nishant’s keen eye for detail and deep understanding of branding are exactly what we need to drive creativity as a catalyst for economic growth. I look forward to seeing more innovative and impactful work for our brands in the South.”

    FCB Kinnect CCO Neville Shah added, “Nishant is here to help bring our new vision to life. He brings with him a wealth of experience and a warm approach to leadership. Nishant will strengthen our reputation as a creative powerhouse delivering great value for our clients through great ideas. I’m so very excited to have him come aboard.”

    FCB Kinnect group executive creative director (South) Nishant Pratap said, “I’ve got butterflies, elephants and lions in my tummy at the prospect of joining FCB Kinnect. There’s a lot of good jujus going around this wonderful place and I can’t wait to add to it and work with a brilliant creative team. Can’t wait to create some magic, joy and glory.” 

  • FCB Kinnect appoints Neha Mishra as chief talent officer

    FCB Kinnect appoints Neha Mishra as chief talent officer

    Mumbai: FCB Kinnect has announced the appointment of Neha Mishra as chief talent officer, a role she will also assume for FCB/SIX India. She moves from erstwhile VMLY&R, where she was chief people officer for India.

    In this pivotal role, Neha will spearhead the development and execution of the agency’s talent strategy, with a focus on pioneering skill-building and talent initiatives across FCB Kinnect’s offices in Mumbai, Delhi NCR & Bengaluru. Her work will strengthen the agency’s dedication to fostering a people-centric and value-driven culture.

    Her appointment is a strategic move to bolster FCB Kinnect’s dedication to fostering a collaborative environment and advancing the best talent across its diverse agency portfolio.

    With over 23 years of experience, Neha has worked with companies like VML & Glitch, IL&FS, Bombay Dyeing and Birla Sun Life Insurance, among others. She is also a Clinical Psychologist by education and a certified Life & Leadership Coach.  

    She also transformed performance management processes into robust, technology-driven programs, and created career development opportunities to support professional growth. In her previous roles, Neha focused on enhancing workforce diversity, elevating inclusion standards, and fostering an emotionally supportive work environment.

    Speaking on the appointment, FCB Kinnect & FCB/SIX India CEO Rohan Mehta said, “Neha’s depth of understanding of new-age talent practices, along with her warm and approachable demeanor will be instrumental in building a culture that is empathetic, insightful, and well-rounded. I am confident that, under Neha’s leadership, Kinnect will continue to strengthen its position as the country’s leading integrated agency, delivering world-class capabilities to its clients.”

    FCB Kinnect & FCB/SIX India chief talent officer Neha Mishra added, “I deeply believe that a progressive and inclusive culture that promotes meritocracy, innovation and boldness is the bedrock of a successful organisation. I look forward to working closely with Rohan, Chandni and all kinnectors to accelerate the agency’s growth journey, with people at the heart of it all!”