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Tag: Vicks

  • Karan Veer Mehra wins COLORS’ ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 14’

    Karan Veer Mehra wins COLORS’ ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 14’

    Mumbai: COLORS’ ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’ has crowned Karan Veer Mehra as the ultimate khiladi of its fourteenth season, with Krishna Shroff and Gashmeer Mahajani as the first and second runners-up, respectively. This season, hosted by Rohit Shetty, took place in Romania, marking the show’s debut in the country. Over nine weeks, viewers experienced a range of never-before-seen stunts, including sky-high plunges, underwater challenges, and contestants facing a bear for the first time. The season was presented by Hyundai, powered by Charged, with special partners Indica Easy Hair Color, Vicks, and Berger Paints.

    Karan’s journey highlighted his courage and composure under pressure as he tackled extreme heights and intense obstacles. He impressed viewers and earned the respect of his fellow contestants through sportsmanship and encouragement. Rohit Shetty frequently praised Karan for his tenacity and strategy. Karan not only walked away as the ultimate khiladi of the season but also captured the hearts of millions with his perseverance.

    Commenting on the season and Karan’s victory, Rohit Shetty said, “What a rollercoaster ride this season has been! Romania threw everything it had at us, and our amazing group of contestants performed very challenging stunts with a smile. It is beyond commendable that Karan Veer Mehra almost never lost his footing as he faced never-seen-before challenges. Congratulations to him for winning this game-changing edition and writing his own story of courage. I thank the viewers for showering their love on the show and cementing its place among the top reality shows year after year.”

    Banijay Asia and Endemol Shine India group chief operating officer, Rishi Negi said, “As we wrap up the 14th season of ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’, we at Endemol Shine India are proud to have made a quantum leap into uncharted territories of fear. Congratulations to the well-deserved winner Karan Veer Mehra, who overcame the new challenges curated especially for this edition. This season, we set out to rewrite the rulebook of reality television, and going by the audience’s love, we’ve succeeded undoubtedly. It was thrilling for us to put together a season that marked so many firsts. None of this would have been possible without the support of COLORS, ensuring that the heart-racing action of ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 14’ reached every corner of the nation.”

    Talking about his victory, Mehra said, “Exploring the world of reality television with COLORS has been an exciting and life-changing journey. I can’t even begin to put into words the surreal feeling of achieving something I once thought was impossible. Winning this season was unthinkable without the guidance of the one and only action king, Rohit Shetty sir. My fellow contestants weren’t just competitors, they were comrades in this battle against fear and some of them have become my friends. The real heroes of my journey are the viewers, who loved and supported me. This victory is not just mine—it belongs to everyone who stood by me.”

    As the grand finale unfolded, Alia Bhatt and Vedang Raina took center stage, celebrating the season’s end while promoting their upcoming film, ‘Jigra.’ In a fun twist, they challenged Rohit Shetty to a humorous task, where he sat through a video montage that humorously poked fun at Shalin Bhanot. The audience laughed as Rohit mimicked Shalin’s iconic walk with perfect timing.

    The finale also featured Shalin Bhanot and Gashmeer Mahajani performing “Aaj Ki Raat,” highlighting their chemistry. Alia auditioned for Rohit Shetty’s cop universe, portraying a fierce Sherni Cop, delivering a memorable lesson to a group of kidnappers who abducted her on-screen brother, Vedang. Additionally, a lucky commoner lived out their Khiladi dream as the Hyundai Drive to Win finalist, performing a thrilling stunt alongside Karan Veer Mehra. The event concluded with an exciting sneak peek of Bigg Boss 18, featuring the new theme, “Time Ka Tandav,” generating buzz for what’s next.

  • Vicks introduces new ‘Vicks Roll-On’

    Vicks introduces new ‘Vicks Roll-On’

    Mumbai: With a legacy of powerful relief and care of over 125 years, Vicks the World’s #1 selling cough and cold brand continues its effort to innovate towards providing superior products that allow families and friends to care for one another.  The brand has announced the launch of the New Vicks Roll-On for fast relief from headaches – it’s 3rd innovation in India over the last 12 months after the launch of Vicks ZzzQuil Natura (from the World’s #1 Sleep Aid Brand) for occasional sleeplessness, and New Vicks VapoRub Steam Pods, its first steam inhalation capsules globally.

    The brand continues to innovate in India.

    Sahil Sethi, Category Leader, Consumer Healthcare, P&G India, “Vicks has helped relieve cough, cold, and flu symptoms for generations of Indians. We stay committed to build on this legacy by always listening to what our consumers need and incorporating these insights across our product formulations and packaging. With our New Vicks Roll-On, we are proud to introduce a fast and on-the-go relief for headaches that often accompany cough and cold symptoms.  Headaches can affect people at any time, causing discomfort and impacting the ability to carry on with daily tasks. Especially designed for our Indian consumers, the new Vicks Roll-On offers Fast Action in just 2 minutes, it comes with a roller ball technology and non-greasy formula that allows for on-the-go headache relief.”

    According to Vicks Research & Development director Dr. Jaspreet Kochhar,   “The New Vicks Roll-On is a superior product formula containing high strength Ayurvedic ingredients like Pudinah (Menthol) and Karpoor (Camphor), formulated to meet the needs of Indian consumers.  It is especially designed to provide swift, effective, and on-the-go solution for those unexpected moments when a headache threatens to derail your day. The packaging is unique with it being the first roll on with a key chain, to provide convenience and portability to solve for those moments when one needs it the most. This roll-on product has a pleasing and well loved Vicks aroma making it useable even when outside home.”

    Vicks launched its latest offering with a quirky ‘Jeb mein Vicks toh sardard fix’ new television commercial showing how a headache could strike at the worst time but you can get a quick fix with new Vicks Roll-on. The protagonist, a scientist, receives good news about his space mission but is unable to show his excitement as he is troubled by his headache. When suggested to use the new Vicks roll on, the scientist gets quick relief from his headache and is able to celebrate the achievement.

    The new consumer friendly Roll-On comes with the classic Vicks key chain to make it easy for consumers to carry the relief they need with them wherever and whenever they need it.

  • Vicks ropes in Ranveer Singh and Samantha Prabhu for new campaign

    Vicks ropes in Ranveer Singh and Samantha Prabhu for new campaign

    Mumbai: India’s leading cold and flu solution, Vicks, has rolled out a new campaign film for its two-in-one roll-on inhaler.

    South star Samantha Ruth Prabhu joins Vicks’ brand ambassador, Bollywood superstar Ranveer Singh, for the campaign.

    The campaign film smartly depicts how an individual is unable to focus on daily activities when they suffer from a headache and a blocked nose.

    The duo came together in the film to showcase the benefits of the Vicks’ two-in-one roll-on inhaler, with Samantha as a police officer, stopping a sickly Ranveer, who is seen breaking the signal. Ranveer is shown to have trouble focusing and tells Samantha about his terrible runny nose and headache. Samantha then hands him a Vicks’ inhaler with a two-in-one benefit, which gives Ranveer instant relief from his blocked nose and headache.

    Expressing his excitement for the newly launched campaign, Procter and Gamble Indian Subcontinent category leader for personal healthcare Sahil Sethi, said, “In India, inhalers have been synonymous with Vicks. We are excited to have Ranveer and Samantha come together for the very first time, to share the double benefits of Vicks’ two-in-one roll-on inhaler in providing relief from both – a blocked nose and headache.”

    Speaking on the campaign, Vicks’ brand ambassador Ranveer Singh said, “I loved the thought behind this campaign, and it was great teaming up with Samantha for Vicks. We all go through blocked noses and headaches quite often amidst our hectic schedules, and facing both symptoms together can negatively impact our focus. The Vicks’ two-in-one roll-on inhaler is smart as well as handy to use and is sure to become a go-to product for many of us.”

    “My family and I have been Vicks’ users for as long as I can remember, and hence this campaign was a perfect opportunity for me. Through this film, we are trying to convey that Vicks’ two-in-one roll-on inhaler is a pocket-friendly way to tackle colds and headaches, even when you are outside and not at home!,” commented Samantha Ruth Prabhu on her association with Vicks.

  • Anand Gandhi’s brand film for Vicks wins big at Creative Circle Gong Awards, Singapore

    Anand Gandhi’s brand film for Vicks wins big at Creative Circle Gong Awards, Singapore

    Mumbai: After a hiatus in 2020, the Creative Circle returned with the annual Gong Awards to celebrate creative excellence in advertising. The event held on Sunday in Singapore had set this year’s theme as Create/Change. Celebrated Indian filmmaker Anand Gandhi (the maker of “Ship of Theseus” and “Tumbbad”) won silver for Best Direction for his work on the Vicks – Touch of Care Campaign. The film titled “Care Lives On” is a micro biopic of Dr Dnyaneshwar Bhosale who gave his life treating children with Covid-19.

    “Dr Dnyaneshwar Bhosale dreamed of building robust, empathetic systems of care and medicine. This film is a glimpse into the vision and commitment that he had for his community,” shared Gandhi. “It’s a call to togetherness, a reminder of the debt that we as a society owe to all those who’ve perished while saving our lives. I am grateful to the people at Vicks and Publicis Singapore for getting me on board to bring this story to life.”

    Gandhi has also directed several decorated, high-impact narrative brand films. His “One In a Million” film for Vicks had previously won four Cannes Lions in 2019, the most for a single campaign from India, including a Silver Lion and three Bronze Lions for Creative Strategy, Film Craft, and Film Healthcare. It also won three silvers at Spikes Asia for direction, script, and casting in the Filmcraft category. Gandhi’s Lifebuoy ‘Help a child reach 5’ campaign won Bronze Cannes Lion in 2017 for creative effectiveness, along with the ‘Grand Prix’ in PR, and ‘Silver’ in Healthcare at Spikes Asia 2016. He has also worked with Gillette, Google, and other brand partners.

     

  • Cannes Lions 2019: Vicks ‘One In A Million’ #TouchOfCare only Indian campaign to win 4 metals

    Cannes Lions 2019: Vicks ‘One In A Million’ #TouchOfCare only Indian campaign to win 4 metals

    MUMBAI: Vicks ‘One in a Million’ #TouchOfCare continued its winning spree at Cannes Lions 2019, bringing home 4 metals for the campaign. With one Silver Lion in the Film for Single-market Campaign category, and three Bronze Lions for Creative Strategy, Film Craft, and Film Healthcare category, this campaign notched up the highest wins for a single campaign from India.

    This film is the second issue of the award-winning Vicks #TouchOfCare campaign in India and focuses on a young girl who has a rare skin condition, Ichthyosis.

    While India is a modern nation, the majority of it is still uncomfortable around people who are born with a disability. The disabled generally find themselves excluded from society, which reflects in attitude towards adoption of disabled children. In the past year, out of 29.6 million orphans in India, only 42 with disabilities found a home.

    Talking about this issue meant taking an entire system head-on. However, as a brand that believes ‘Every child deserves the touch of care’, Vicks took action with an emotional viral film and campaign featuring Nisha, an adopted girl filled with dreams and aspirations and an unconventional face.

    The unconventional campaign captures her journey of transformation through the love and care of her adoptive mother, Aloma. Propagating the idea of giving unconditional love and care to people beyond biological relationships, Vicks ‘One in a Million’ #TouchOfCare is deeply rooted in ethos that ‘Every child deserves the touch of care’.

    While last year Vicks #TouchOfCare broke the internet and went on to win several prestigious awards, including the top five best Global Campaigns of the World Sabre, this year’s Cannes wins only go to demonstrate the power of brand communication that is rested in genuine purpose.

    Speaking on the win, Ritu Mittal, Country Marketing Manager, Vicks India said, "#TouchOfCare campaign is very close to my heart and it has been a pleasure to be a part of the campaign since its inception. Vicks ‘One in a million’, like its predecessor Vicks Generations of Care, is part of the larger #TouchOfCare campaign, which chronicles extraordinary, real-life stories of people providing unconditional care. Both the #TouchOfCare campaigns do not stop at being an example of evocative storytelling, but aim at influencing a positive change in the audience mind set. The campaign's continued recognition at Cannes and other global award platforms, only goes to reinforce that P&G’s ethos of brands being a force for good and a force for growth, have been in the right direction."

  • Guest column: Digital campaigns for social change

    Guest column: Digital campaigns for social change

    India’s digital transformation is proceeding at a breakneck pace. As a generation, we are fortunate to be witnessing the unprecedented absorption of digital in our lives. Digital has the power to orient young populations into better thinkers and conscious citizens, and exponentially enhance the power of campaigns turning them into mass movements. For brands and agencies, there has not been a better time than this age of the viral wave to come together to right the wrongs and transform the social order. Here are a set of fundamental learnings to gulp before you ideate a development campaign.

    Think issue first, brand second

    While we may argue that the cause must be apparently contextual to the brand’s vision, as responsible citizens, we must remember that issues are looming, the social atmosphere seems bleak and the need for corporations to step forward and drive action has never been greater. Having a direct connect between the brand and the issue is archetypal, but there is also a great assurance of consumer-confidence in atypically championing a cause and changing the public discourse. A campaign crafted with concern for the issue, compassion for people and conviction in the idea will find a brand to front it with full might.

    Vicks, a brand with a lineage in the Family Care segment, with its ‘Touch of Care’ campaign went beyond the traditional definition of a family, emphasising how a simple step of affection, unbound by blood or reason, can give someone’s life a new purpose.

    Discover your social conscience

    To change the way people live, you need to change the way people think. That requires you be a better citizen yourself, be empathetic to people and problems, and have clear intent. Look beyond issues that only affect you, instead those that affect the population at large.

    Suicides are an issue grappling nations, as pressures around academics, careers and relationships rise. While suicide by a person impacts the immediate society around the person, it took the Suicide Prevention India Foundation to convey through #GiveSubtitlesToSuicide, that all that is needed is an alert and patient ear to one’s problems, to identify subtle signs of suicidal behaviour and to address them timely. Not only did the campaign uniquely leverage the subtitles feature on YouTube, but also had a genuine conscience to delve into a crisis and create empathy among peers for each other to help in times of distress.

    Research is key, mobilise stakeholders – civil and political

    Delving deep into the subject allows you to understand the social, economic and political complexities surrounding it and identifying the barriers to change. Research is indispensable and mustn’t be limited to the realm of the theory available online. Identify stakeholders responsible for the problem, those affected, those pioneering solutions for it.  The takeaways gathered become the rationale for a strategy which has been critically developed and sensitively constructed.

    #KidsNotForSale, a disruptive sale showcased by Save The Children on snapdeal.com went beyond the edge to expose gruesome, lesser reported stories of children trapped in trafficking situations.

    The research was uncompromising. It resonated with key opinion leaders including celebrities and MPs and led them to lend their voice of support.

    Attach issues to capitalism

    It is a myth that the multitude of social problems surfacing in India concerns only the underprivileged, while the urban and affluent are immune to them. Danger is knocking on the door for all and the urban that have access to information to curb the damage tend to ignore it more often than not.

    Stakeholders have to be made to realise how not solving the issue will directly impact them and have a long term bearing on their life and commerce.

    #StartALittleGood by HUL impeccably weaves in issues of nature conservation and thoughtfully picks the protagonists of the campaign.

    The messaging of reducing your shower time to save water is age-old, but the creative route of placing a glass shower in the middle of a drought-affected desert and to draw that inconsistency is fit to provoke an indifferent urban resident to rethink his habits.
     
    Don’t think big

    You are combating issues that are age-old, rooted in culture, and that has only gotten complex over time and civilizations. Base your campaign strategy in a specific target group and geography. Aim to affect change at the most local level with concrete actions, gauge impact and then tread forward. Small can lead to scale.
     
    A pilot matters

    Testing what you create, on a targeted focus group can hold evidence for the potential of the strategy and uncover areas that need work before the campaign is rolled out.

    A cause needs no day

    If you have an impending crisis and an idea to tackle it, don’t wait for a topical day. As ambitious as it may sound, one initiative sparked by you could save a child from getting trafficked, a couple in love from getting killed for honour, an ailing person battling for life in the wait for an organ. Got an idea, convert it!

    Close Up’s latest #FreeToLove movement is a fresh wave that the world needed in this critical climate of resistance.

    Be remembered

    Your audiences are going through kilometre-long timelines. The challenge is to create messaging that cuts through a cross-section of audiences. Simplicity is your weapon.

    We all remember some remarkable ads of the decades gone by not just because of linear, appointment viewing of the television, but also because of great themes and character iconography. Break down complex information into a language that resonates with all, create messaging that educates and entertains, imagery that is iconic and a delivery format that is disruptive and you will be one step closer.

    Engagement beyond hashtags and petitions

    Trending hashtags and rising numbers on online petitions are great. But, go beyond. Capitalise the time spent by your audiences on digital and use them to fuel community interventions and ground movements. Encourage the young – the protagonists of social media – to initiate change at home, engage families and peers into a debate, introduce positive practices, and question the political regime or media to change the landscape.  

    Sustain

    People resist change. Making them think differently is difficult, and sustaining that change is even more challenging. The intent for change has to be consistent, ideation has to be continuous, engagement has to grow, and if behaviourial responses from communities get mature, you have won!

    Thinktanks of agencies – this is the hour. The social sphere can be transformed dramatically. Are we ready to push the envelope and write the alternate narrative?

    (The author is Group Head for Video Strategy and Production, at WATConsult. The views expressed here are her own and Indiantelevision.com may not subscribe to them)

     

  • Will never look at rebranding Vicks: P&G India

    Will never look at rebranding Vicks: P&G India

    MUMBAI: Nearly all of us remember the Vicks ad that went viral last year featuring transgender social worker Gauri Sawant and her daughter Gayatri. The ad touched and moved many. In the second phase of the campaign, Vicks has launched a new digital campaign for its #TouchOfCare brand proposition.

    ‘One in a Million’ is yet another inspiring story, this time of Nisha, a young girl who has Ichthyosis, a genetic skin condition. The transformation of Nisha due to the love and care provided by her adoptive parents Aloma and David Lobo, forms the crux of this digital video.

    Created by Publicis Singapore, the story is a first-person narrative by Nisha, an orphaned girl with Ichthyosis who was abandoned by her biological parents when she was just two weeks old.

    Ever since the company launched its first digital movie in 2017, people have been curious and anticipating #TouchOfCare to turn into a series and a long term campaign. Though the multinational corporation did not see the campaign becoming this big and receiving the response that it did, P&G Healthcare regional associate brand director for Asia Maithreyi Jagannathan said that the objective of the campaign was to drive on the equity of the brand and make it beyond just a cough and cold brand so that people don’t think of P&G only when they are sick.

    2017 Vicks #TouchOfCare ad:

    The new digital campaign is another example of cause marketing that seems to be the recent trend in the industry. Nearly everyone wants to associate with a cause and showcase that in their advertisement. It may often become a challenge for a marketer to distinguish the media spends between cause driven campaign and functionality driven campaign. P&G however seems to have it sorted as Maithreyi confirms that while this is more of a creative campaign, the company will continue to use its functional campaigns on all media platforms.

    The Gauri Sawant film went massively viral on digital as it was a digital-first campaign and only after the team saw the phenomenal response it received, it decided to leverage other traditional mediums to promote the campaign. Similarly, for this second phase of the campaign, while it has kicked off with digital, as and when the campaign grows bigger, it will use a mix of television and print to reach the masses.

    Content driven marketing is becoming larger by the day and P&G does not want to be left out on it. Mentioning that it has to be a balance between data driven content and functional advertising, Vicks India country marketing manager Ritu Mittal added, “Content driven marketing is a lot more data driven today because the clear objective is that you need more people to see it. Nobody will share functional advertisement on their social media but thousands will share a powerful content.”

    2018 Vicks #TouchOfCare ad:

    Vicks has been around for over a decade and many may see the brand as a grandmother brand that the Gen-Z may not completely resonate with. So much so that the formulation for Vicks hasn’t changed in the last 128 years. So, is there a dire need for brand Vicks to reinvent itself? P&G clearly doesn’t seem to think so. Mittal said, “You change the brand positioning only when the brand is not working and Vicks has been doing great numbers for us and so we don’t need to rebrand the product.”

    Whether the decision to stick to the traditional form of Vicks works for or against the brand, only time will tell. But maybe the #TouchOfCare campaign was indeed a saviour for the company to get the millennials’ eyeballs as they are all about cause buying.

  • 2017 – The year of long-format ads

    2017 – The year of long-format ads

    MUMBAI: It’s the beginning of a new year! We are pumped up and optimistic about the year ahead and what new challenges it will throw up for the ever-changing, dynamic, uncertain and fast-evolving advertising industry. But what we are assured of is that we will continue to see some fascinating, some magnificent and a few lousy ads thrown in here and there in 2018 as well.

    Let’s pause for a minute and take a look back at how the ad industry fared last year. The key highlights included — growth of long format films, evolution of six-second ads, brands taking the digital route to connect with consumers and influencer marketing making it big.

    The first thumb rule of advertising that ad honchos vouch for is to understand your audience and engage them with well-written storytelling. But having a 20-second timer noosed around your neck doesn’t allow creative minds to conjure up enthralling stories that build an emotional connect with the consumer while also delivering the product information. The definite advantage of shorter commercials from a media investment POV is that clients can afford to run the spot more often, for a longer period of time.

    But in 2017, long-format ads showed themselves as serious contenders fighting for audience attention. What helped their growth was that both the makers and viewers embraced the magic of long-format storytelling. It was soon known that the engagement in it is higher allowing for better brand building. With television ad rates skyrocketing, marketers took the plunge into the more economical digital bandwagon that allows both freedom of time and creativity. Clients can choose to run an ad between 1-15 minutes or even longer without cost constraints. In an earlier interview with Indiantelevision, Mindshare South Asia CEO Prasanth Kumar said that some stories need longer duration and compelling ads will keep the audience hooked.

    There are five ways to buy ad slots digitally—cost per thousand impressions (CPM), cost per click (CPC), cost per lead (CPL), cost per thousand (CPT) and cost per fixed buy (CPFB) without a minimum or maximum limit. YouTube, arguably the most popular platform for ads, charges per view giving the power to advertisers to choose. Instances of viewers skipping ads before 30 seconds are not counted as a charge.

    Digital ad is usually measured by click-through rate (CTR). CTR is the ratio of the number of times the ad is clicked to the total number of ad impressions. Success cannot be measured by CTR alone because an ad which is viewed but not clicked may still have an impact. Large formats usually attract 1-2 per cent CTR as opposed to small formats, which generate anywhere between 0.5 and 1 per cent.

    Cost per click (CPC), also known as pay per click, is used to direct traffic to websites, where an advertiser pays a publisher only when the ad is clicked. CPC is used to assess the cost effectiveness and profitability of internet marketing. In case of CPC, price for an entertainment content click would be as low as Rs 2 while a high transacting piece of content like travel could be upwards of Rs 30-35.

    2017 witnessed a plethora of brands taking the digital-first long format route right from insurance to FMCG, electronics and e-commerce. The product to be sold either took a step back or was incorporated seamlessly into the story.

    Indiantelevision brings you a compilation of the most touching, memorable and effective brand stories told in a longer ad film, by Indian brands in 2017:

    LG Technical School ad:

    Vicks ad:

    Ghadi detergent ad:

    Kashmir Tourism ad:

    Amazon Diwali ad:

    Kolkata Times Durga Puja ad:

    Parachute Hot oil ad:

    Also read:

    BFSI’s changing communication in the digital era

    Guest column: Ads that didn’t work!

    How iProspect’s Vivek Bhargava foresaw a digital future two decades ago

    The year of sex scandals

  • Vicks launches #TouchOfCare campaign

    MUMBAI: Vicks, a brand synonymous with care globally, has launched a heartwarming new campaign ‘Touch of Care’. It reasserts the importance of care while challenging and seeking to redefine what family is in contemporary society. The campaign leads with the idea that ‘Family is where Care is’ portraying the real life story of an orphan and her newfound ‘mother’.

    Created by Publicis Singapore, the story is told in the first person by the orphaned girl Gayatri herself. The film beautifully captures how Gauri cared for Gayatri as her own, against all odds, with deep compassion and love. The story reflects the challenges that Gauri faces from the rest of society, as a transgender woman.

    The Vicks Brand has stood for Family Care in India for over 50 years. However, family today is not always as tightly defined as it once was. With the changing face of life across India and an increasing number of people living away from their traditional environments –the idea of family now goes far beyond just biological connections or sharing a surname. Vicks has therefore adopted this bold and progressive stance- that above all else, it is care that is the ultimate definition of what a family is.

    According to P&G CEO Nitin Darbari: “Vicks has always been about the gentle touch of a mother’s care, as she caresses and gives relief to her child. With the #TouchOfCare campaign we are going a step further and expounding the importance of care beyond just the traditional perception of family. The campaign shows how people who, though not connected by blood, end up being family through care itself”.

    Publicis Singapore CCO – global clients Ajay Thrivikraman commented “Looking for a way to express this powerful idea was both a heartening and humbling experience, once we realized that stories of extraordinary care are all around us in real life, and we are honoured that Gauri and Gayatri gave us an opportunity to share their story of care with the world.”

    Publicis Communications APAC chief strategy officer Ed Booty said: “Great brands don’t just reflect safe and accepted norms, instead they dare to set agendas in culture at large. That is our ambition with this work for Vicks – to give the timeless idea of Family Care a fresh and contemporary meaning.”

    Film director Neeraj Ghaywan said: “It was an immensely gratifying and inspiring experience to put together Gauri and Gayatri’s story. #TouchOfCare questions our conventional understanding of a mother and what constitutes a family.”

  • Leo Burnett Group appoints Saurabh Varma as regional chief strategy officer

    MUMBAI: Leo Burnett chief strategy officer Singapore and Malaysia Saurabh Varma has been elevated to the post of regional chief strategy officer for the APAC region. He will report directly to Leo Burnett Asia-Pacific president Jarek Ziebinski.

    In his role as regional chief strategic officer, Varma will oversee all heads of strategy and planning directors across all Leo Burnett Group offices in the region. He will be responsible for ensuring that strategists of all planning disciplines across Asia-Pacific are properly trained and well-equipped.

    He will also head a regional effectiveness council which will comprise key effectiveness leaders overseeing sub-regions of Southeast Asia, North Asia, India and Subcontinent and Australia which Leo Burnett will be launching in the near future. Varma will continue as a member of the Leo Burnett Worldwide HumanKind Standards Board and represent Leo Burnett Asia-Pacific on the Leo Burnett Worldwide Global Planning Board.

    Varma joined Leo Burnett in 2007 and has more than 14 years of aggregate experience in the industry having worked across multiple categories including retail, FMCG, banking and finance and consumer durables. During this time he has worked on brands such as Indian Oil, Lakme, Vicks, Nivea, Fosters, Philips, HP, Blackberry, Samsung, Friesland Campina Asia-Pacific (Dutch Lady/Foremost/Frisian Flag), MCYS and United Overseas Bank.