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Tag: WPP media

  • Hero Cycles pedals into the record books with ‘Har Gully Hero’ ride-a-thon

    Hero Cycles pedals into the record books with ‘Har Gully Hero’ ride-a-thon

    MUMBAI: Hero Cycles, in partnership with WPP Media and RED FM 93.5, has officially entered the Guinness World Records for creating the largest online video album of people riding bicycles — a high-octane finale to its wildly successful ‘Har Gully Hero’ campaign.

    With over 5,800 verified entries flooding in from across India, the campaign didn’t just clock record views — it sparked a full-blown pedal-powered revolution. Targeted at kids aged 6–14 and their nostalgia-loving parents, Har Gully Hero reignited a national passion for outdoor play at a time when screens are winning the battle for attention.

    Billed as India’s largest cycling movement, the campaign reached over 16 lakh citizens across 23 cities, uniting schools, housing societies, and cricket academies in a massive show of community spirit and wheeled fitness.

    Taking it a gear higher, Hero Cycles rolled out limited-edition IPL co-branded bikes with Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals. RED FM kept the campaign buzzing with a high-decibel mix of radio activations, an infectious anthem, and RJ-fuelled meet-ups that gave the campaign its signature swagger.

    By blending purpose with pedal power, Hero Cycles didn’t just break a record — it created a movement. And in the process, reminded India that the real playground isn’t a screen, it’s the street.

    Hero Cycles head – marketing, Pallavi Gupta said, “At Hero Cycles, we’ve always believed that cycling is more than just mobility but a movement. With Har Gully Hero, our vision was to bring back the joy of outdoor play, especially for children growing up in a rapidly evolving digital world. Setting a Guinness World Record is a proud milestone, but what truly matters is the impact we’ve made on communities across India. We are full of gratitude for every child, parent, school, and partner who made this possible. This is just the beginning of a larger movement towards a fitter, more active India.”

    WPP Media South Asia COO Ashwin Padmanabhan said,” Har Gully Hero’ is more than a campaign, it is a cultural revival. It’s a celebration of India’s street sport culture and an urgent call to bring movement back into children’s lives. Achieving a Guinness World Record is a proud moment for all of us and reflects the power of purposeful storytelling at scale.”

    He further said, “This campaign not only rekindled the joy of cycling and gully cricket but also showcased how a brand-led initiative can unite a nation through one pedal, one gully, and now, one world record at a time. With Har Gully Hero, Hero Cycles plays a catalytic role in championing outdoor play and physical fitness, proving how brands can shape healthier, more connected communities.”

  • WPP Media officially rises from GroupM, blending AI and ad muscle in $60bn makeover

    WPP Media officially rises from GroupM, blending AI and ad muscle in $60bn makeover

    MUMBAI: WPP has pulled the plug on GroupM and plugged in something slicker: WPP Media, its all-new, AI-charged global media company. The move signals a seismic shift in the advertising giant’s playbook, as it bets big on “creative personalisation at scale” in the AI age.

    The newly minted outfit unites more than $60 billion in annual media investment across 80-plus markets and claims to work with over 75 per cent of the world’s top advertisers. Mindshare, Wavemaker and EssenceMediacom aren’t going anywhere—they’re now operating as bespoke agency brands under the WPP Media umbrella, powered by shared tech, data and production firepower.

    At the heart of this revamp is WPP Open, the group’s AI-enabled marketing platform backed by a cool £300m annual investment and heavyweight AI partnerships. It’s billed as the ultimate integration engine—fusing creative, production, data, commerce and media delivery in one turbocharged stack.

    WPP Media CEO Brian Lesser explained: “Consumers already expect advertising to be relevant and engaging and buying experiences to be seamless; those expectations are only going to accelerate in the age of AI. WPP Media is built for a world in which media is everywhere and in everything. By investing in our AI-powered product, integrating our offer with data and technology, and equipping our people with future-facing skills, we’re helping our clients to stay ahead of rapidly changing consumer behavior and unlock the limitless opportunities for growth that AI will create.”

    WPP CEO Mark Read highlighted: “We believe that WPP is the strongest marketing partner for the world’s leading brands in the AI era, where technology and talent converge. The move to WPP Media continues our strategy to simplify and integrate our offer for clients. While GroupM was built for a time when media scale mattered most, WPP Media reflects the power of AI, data and technology and simpler, more integrated solutions.”

    It’s not just about the tech, though. The company says it’s doubling down on people—investing in learning and development to future-proof talent for the AI-powered marketing world.

    Points out Read: “Our vision for the future is clear – marketing that is informed by data, led by seamlessly connected teams of brilliant people, and full of new opportunities for our clients.”

    To spread the word, WPP is rolling out a cross-channel B2B blitz aimed squarely at CMOs and C-suite suits. The message: AI is here, it’s hungry, and it needs humans to thrive.

    In true WPP flair, the relaunch isn’t just a name change. It’s a brand makeover, a tech upgrade, and a culture reset—all rolled into one. As the world’s biggest advertisers brace for an AI tidal wave, WPP Media is positioning itself as the surfboard.

  • GroupM reveals 2018-19 ad investment forecast

    GroupM reveals 2018-19 ad investment forecast

    MUMBAI: GroupM, the investment group of WPP Media, has revealed its updated 2018-19 ad investment forecasts. The growth projections for 2019 are also mentioned from 3.9 per cent to 3.6 per cent, with total new investment anticipated to reach Rs 1.33 lakh crore ($19 billion) instead of the Rs 1.61 lakh crore ($23 billion) earlier predicted.

    The group revealed that the recent US dollar appreciation versus just about every other currency led to the suppression of the predicted growth. Stress on the auto category stood out in feedback from GroupM’s worldwide network, as did the absence of any rebound in CPG investment with traditional media.

    While China remains the largest contributor to the group, 2019 will be its sixth successive year with single-digit ad growth and mark its lowest growth rate yet recorded. Following China, the other top contributors are USA and India. India is expected to contribute Rs 9500 crore ($1.35 billion) of growth.

    GroupM futures director Adam Smith said, “GroupM’s still strong but slightly fraying 2018 view ties to macro questions: tighter money, China’s slowing growth, and the potential for pricey trade wars.”

    He added, “Real interest rates are edging up globally, but serious potential problems remain limited to a fragile five – Argentina, South Africa, Brazil, Turkey, and Venezuela.”

    GroupM forecasts that ten countries will provide 83 per cent of all 2019 growth.