Tag: WPP

87 of India’s best modern marketing campaigns honored at MMA Smarties

Mumbai – MMA Global India unveiled the winners of the 13th edition of Smarties India 2024 at a glittering gala event in Mumbai on 11 October, recognizing the country’s most impactful and innovative marketing campaigns. These campaigns have demonstrated exceptional creativity, strategic brilliance, and measurable business impact across various industries. With 87 total metals given including 10 most prestigious industry awards, SMARTIES India continues to set new benchmarks in marketing excellence.

SMARTIES winners are ranked on the Business Impact Index developed in collaboration with WARC, which highlight the top brands, agencies, publishers, media agencies etc per the true business impact they created through their campaigns. Winners are also now certified in partnership with RECMA, the leading media agency research organization, ensuring that they are recognized in globally acclaimed platforms.

This year’s awards showcased outstanding work across diverse categories ranging from FMCG, OTT, retail, BFSI to technology, B2B and more. Among the top categories this year were AI Marketing, Connected TV, Creator/Influencer Marketing, Brand Experience and emerging tech categories all reflecting the industry’s rapid shift towards technology-driven and consumer-centric strategies.

MMA APAC & Global Head, CEO Rohit Dadwal shared: “It’s always inspiring to see how creativity and data can come together to create truly remarkable campaigns. This year’s SMARTIES winners have done just that, embracing AI and new technologies to deliver results that speak for themselves. Congratulations to all the winners, and a big thank you to our jury chairs, jury and screeners for their hard work and dedication. As we recognize these achievements, I’m reminded of the critical importance of continually innovating and adapting in today’s fast-paced marketing landscape.”

Grand Unveil of Smarties musical logo or ‘Mogo’

MMA Global India also established the sonic identity of Smarties worldwide by launching the official Smarties musical logo or ‘mogo’ at the Gala. It was unveiled with a delightful performance by Rajeev Raja, and the mind behind the MMA-member company BrandMusiq that helped create the mogo. Not only does the mogo have a catchy ring to it, but also strong resonance with the distinguished values that Smarties represents. It drives the Smarties ethos of marketing excellence back home, and was very well received by the audience with its dynamic and impactful launch.

Key partners for the event included ShareChat & Moj, Silverpush, Glance Advertising, Blis, Hybrid, and Storyboard18, amongst more.

10 Industry Awards Given

SMARTIES honored top performing brands, agencies and companies across categories recognising them as industry wins of the year.

Grand Prix / Best in Show – Gatorade Turf Finder

Most Resilient Brand of the Year – Olay

Advertiser of the Year – Mondelez India Foods Pvt. Ltd

Brand of the Year – Cadbury Celebrations

Publisher of the Year – Amazon Ads

Media Agency of the Year – Wavemaker India

Creative Agency of the Year – Leo Burnett India

Digital Agency of the Year – Interactive Avenues & Performics India

Holding Agency Company of the Year – WPP India

The jury was led by three esteemed jury chairs – Shailendra Katyal, Managing Director of Lenovo; Deepika Bhan, President – Packaged Foods, Tata Consumer Products; and Rohit Bhasin, MMA India Board Member; President, Head – Affluent, NRI, Business Banking and CMO, Kotak Mahindra Bank.

Tata Consumer Products president – Packaged Foods, & Smarties Jury Chair Deepika Bhan said: “As a jury chair, it was a privilege to witness the extraordinary caliber of work submitted. In an era where innovation and consumer engagement are key, these campaigns showcased the true potential of creativity combined with data to drive significant business results in the FMCG sector.”

Key Trends Highlighted in Smarties India 2024:

1 AI Marketing & Connected TV: These emerging categories saw a remarkable number of entries, indicating the industry’s growing focus on leveraging AI and new media to drive marketing innovation.

2 Retail Media: As retail media continues to evolve, the winning campaigns demonstrated how brands are tapping into phygital experiences and omnichannel strategies to connect with consumers in meaningful ways.

3 Creator/Influencer Marketing: This category remained a magnet for creative excellence, with campaigns that effectively engaged niche communities and built authentic connections through influencers and celebrities.

MMA Global India Country Head and BOD Member Moneka Khurana shared her thoughts:
“Congratulations to all the winners of SMARTIES India 2024. The campaigns we’re celebrating are truly shaping the future of marketing excellence. Each winner showcases the very best of not only creativity and innovation but true business impact. At MMA, we’re committed to a future proof showcase of campaigns that empower marketers and brands to continue driving digital maturity and transformation at scale in our rapidly evolving industry.”

The gala was preceded by Smarties Unplugged to decode the future of marketing excellence witnessed within the work submitted at Smarties, a pre-gala conference that saw thought leaders discussing AI marketing, creative tech, and the evolving consumer mindset in the digital age. It was a day well spent with sessions and masterclasses that inspired attendees with actionable insights on shaping the future of marketing.

Jury Highlights

Lenovo & Smarties Jury Chair, managing director, Shailendra Katyal remarked: “Judging the SMARTIES entries this year reinforced the importance of integrating technology into every aspect of marketing. The winning campaigns stood out for their ability to seamlessly blend creativity and technological advancements, especially in categories like AI Marketing and Connected TV. These campaigns represent the future of marketing excellence and set high standards for the year to come.”

The diverse pan-industry selection jury comprised leaders from Havas Media, Lionsgate Play, FCB, Jio, Domino’s, Abbott, Flipkart, WPP, Dentsu, Mindshare, Niti Aayog, Times Network, LoveChild by Masaba, Zee5, Genpact, amongst many.

The final set of deliberations spread over a 3-day enriching jury meet to decide on the metals by our marketer-only jury comprising diverse categories represented by marketers from Myntra, Hindustan Unilever, Tata, HDFC, Marico, Aditya Birla Group, Pepsico, MakeMyTrip, Godrej, Castrol, Wipro, Nivea, Perfetti, Leela, Hershey, HP, amongst more; with Kantar, serving as the official jury observer, ensuring the highest standards in evaluation.

Embed: Explore the full jury roster here.:

Here are the winners:


Award Sub Category	Gold	Silver	Bronze
PURPOSE DRIVEN MARKETING
Brand Purpose / Activism	Gatorade Turf Finder – PepsiCo (Leo Burnett India)	Meet AI-SHU – P&G (PG One)	YiPPee Create Magic – ITC Ltd (Interactive Avenues)
Social Impact Marketing	LULUMELON EOSS – HDFC Bank (FCB Kinnect)	Castrol Pragati Ki Paathshaala – Castrol (Mindshare India)	Google Search “Bolne Se Sab Hoga” – Google Search (EssenceMediacom) & Gatorade Turf Finder – PepsiCo (Leo Burnett India)
Diversity & Inclusion	Meet AI-SHU – P&G (PG One)	EatQual Colours – Hardcastle Restaurants (DDB Mudra)	Google Search “Bolne Se Sab Hoga” (EssenceMediacom) & #ItAllStartsWithAName – Tata Starbucks (Wavemaker India)
MARKETING IMPACT
Brand Experience	Gatorade Turf Finder – PepsiCo (Leo Burnett India) & Cadbury Silk Story of Us – Mondelez India (Wavemaker India)	NA	Maa’s Message – A Divine AR Intervention – Unilever (Mindshare India)
Instant Impact / Promotion	ITC Masterchef’s Snacking Revolution – ITC Ltd (Performics India)	The RAZORPRENEUR Challenge – Bombay Shaving Company (Revolio) & Halloween Hacks – Perfetti Van Melle (Wavemaker India)	KitKat – Snap In Half – Nestle India (Eleve Media)
Customer Journey Marketing	A surprise for 8 Billion People – Mondelez India (Wavemaker India)	LEGO launches lifted market share – LEGO & Aashirvaads Data-Driven Approach to Premiumization – ITC Ltd (Performics India)	SIWO: Turning speechless India into Playful India – Mondelez (Wavemaker India)
Product and / or Service Launch	Every cricket enthusiast will play on Dream11 – Sporta Technologies (Wavemaker India) & CaratLane Service Launch – CaratLane (BBH India)	NA	LEGO launches lifted market share – LEGO
Real-Time Marketing	Ghar Ek Mauka Ek – UltraTech Cement (Mindshare India)	Thums Up Utha Apni Side Bata – Coca-Cola (EssenceMediacom)	Gatorade: Turf Finder – PepsiCo (Spark Foundry Publicis Media)
Small Budget Big Impact	Gatorade: Turf Finder – PepsiCo (Spark Foundry – Publicis Media)	Innovative Use of Paid Search – Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles (Havas Media India Private Limited)	Pediasure: Nurturing Healthy Growth for Children – Abbott Healthcare Pvt Ltd (Starcom)
IMPACT MEDIA
Omnichannel Marketing	Oreo Bola Mat Bol (Oreo says don’t jinx it) – Mondelez India (Wavemaker India)	Your Stage; Your Story – Coca-Cola India (EssenceMediacom)	#ThisAdIsMyStore Lights Up Diwali for Homepreneurs – Mondelez India (Wavemaker India)
Cross Digital Media Marketing	Cadbury 5Star Nothing University – Mondelez India Pvt. Ltd. (Wavemaker India)	SIWO: Turning speechless India into Playful India – Mondelez India (Wavemaker India)	When India had its #fingerscrossed!- Nestle India (Zenith Media) & Truly ‘Open’ By Axis Bank Axis Bank (Performics India)
Social Media Marketing	When GenZs took a breaking love break! – Nestle India (Zenith Media)	Offline (OOH) to Online (Social) Search Movement – Google Search (EssenceMediacom)	Squeezing back the summer fun – PepsiCo India (Leo Burnett India)
Creator / Influencer / Celebrity Marketing	Every cricket enthusiast will play on Dream11 – Sporta Technologies (Wavemaker India)	Karan ‘Badtameez’ hai_Amazon miniTV show launch – Amazon miniTV (SoCheers) & Doctors Day – Hopes restored, heroes honoured – Sun Pharmaceuticals (Wavemaker India)	How Cadbury 5 Star ‘Erased’ Valentine’s day – Mondelez India (Wavemaker India)
Gaming, Gamification & E-Sports	4th Umpire – Britannia Industries Ltd (Schbang)	Multi-Screen Reality drives dividend for Domex – Hindustan Unilever (Mindshare India)	ConFUSEing Controller -Game On, Parents Off: The S – Mondelez India (Wavemaker India)
EMERGING TECH MARKETING
Data Insights / Contextual Marketing	Gatorade Turf Finder powered by Google Maps – PepsiCo India Holdings Pvt Ltd (Leo Burnett India)	India’s 1st Voice Enabled brand experience on OTT – Google Search (EssenceMediacom)	Aashirvaads Data-Driven Approach to Premiumization – ITC Ltd (Performics India) & Castrol MAGNATEC – Gaadi Chalao, Tractor Nahi – Castrol India (Mindshare India)
Connected TV	Castrol MAGNATEC – Gaadi Chalao, Tractor Nahi – Castrol India (Mindshare India)	Banega Toh Badhega India – AsIndiaBuildsIndiaGrows – UltraTech Cement Ltd (Mindshare India)	Fire TV Drives Brand Uplift for a L’Oréal Launch – L’Oréal (Wavemaker India)
Programmatic	#MyBirthdaySong a Personalized AI Symphony – Mondelez India Pvt. Ltd. (Wavemaker India)	Maa’s Message – A Divine AR Intervention – Unilever (Mindshare India)	1947 per cent more history – Britannia Industries Ltd (Talented Agency)
E-COMMERCE MARKETING
Integrated Ecommerce Innovation & Live Streaming	NA	LEGO launches lifted market share by 53 per cent @23X RoI – LEGO & Building EV category on Amazon: Achieving 77x ROAS – Hero MotoCorp.)	Engaging Baby Audiences: Baby & Toddler Store – Himalaya Wellness Company
O2O / New Retail / Innovative & New Tech Sales Channels	Co-creating festive campaigns on Quick Commerce – Mondelez India Foods Pvt. Ltd. (Wavemaker India)	Blinkit Single Mode x Erase Valentine’s Day – Mondelez India Foods Pvt. Ltd. (Wavemaker India)	Reshaping the EV landscape – Matter EV (Flipkart)
CREATIVE
Customer (CX) / User Experience (UX) & Design	Cadbury Silk Story of Us – Mondelez India Pvt. Ltd. (Wavemaker India)	Personalizing Celebrations with AI #MyBirthdaySong – Mondelez India Pvt. Ltd. (Wavemaker India)	Ultimate Gaming SetUp: A Multi-Brand Success Story – Intel
Personalization	Royal Stag: A Billion Films for a Billion Fans – Pernod Ricard India Private Limited (Wavemaker India)	SIWO: Turning speechless India into Playful India – Mondelez India (Wavemaker India)	NA
Short or Long Form Video	How Cadbury 5 Star ‘Erased’ Valentine’s day – Mondelez India Pvt. Ltd. (Wavemaker India)	Meet AI-SHU – Your New STEM Mentor – P&G (PG One)	Google Search – Dhoondege Toh Milega – Google India (Toaster India) & Castrol MAGNATEC – The Bombay Journey – Castrol (Mindshare India)
AI MARKETING
AI-Powered Audience Engagement	Join The Copverse – Prime Video’s AI adventure – Amazon Prime Video (Interactive Avenues)	Personalizing Celebrations with AI #MyBirthdaySong – Mondelez India Pvt. Ltd. (Wavemaker India)	#Riseupfrombeingfriendzoned with Pepsi – PepsiCo (Spark Foundry, Publicis Media)
Innovative Use of AI in Advertising	Dark Fantasy – Biting into a million fantasies – ITC Ltd. (Interactive Avenues)	Cadbury Silk Story of Us – Mondelez India Pvt Ltd (Wavemaker India)	1947% more history – Britannia Industries Ltd (Talented Agency) & Half CA enabled ‘Full’ Income tax return filing – Amazon India (SoCheers)
AI-Driven Creative Excellence	Personalizing Celebrations with AI #MyBirthdaySong – Mondelez India Pvt. Ltd. (Wavemaker India)	Cadbury Silk Story of Us – Mondelez India Pvt Ltd (Wavemaker India)	SIWO: Turning speechless India into Playful India 0 Mondelez India (Wavemaker India) & Half CA enabled ‘Full’ Income tax return filing – Amazon India (SoCheers)

Next Stop: Smarties Global

The India winners now move on to the regional and global SMARTIES stages, competing alongside campaigns from over 45 countries, with 10,000+ global entries vying for top honors in modern marketing excellence.

October 14, 2024

Britannia, Google Cloud & WPP agencies partner to launch BourbonIT

Mumbai: Britannia Industries, in collaboration with Google Cloud and WPP’s media services company Mindshare and global creative company VML, has announced the launch of Britannia BourbonIT, a pioneering platform utilising generative AI (GenAI) technology to transform recipe creation and culinary experiences in India. This unique initiative, spearheaded by Britannia’s iconic Bourbon, marks a significant milestone in the Indian market, underscoring the power of advanced AI to redefine consumer experiences.

Britannia BourbonIT combines technology and creativity to enhance consumer engagement. Using Google Gemini’s multimodal capabilities, the platform adds a creative twist to traditional recipes, generating visually appealing culinary creations. It offers a smooth user experience with APIs developed using Google Cloud Functions to handle various input formats efficiently. A profanity filter is integrated to ensure content quality and brand safety.

Users can submit recipes in formats such as YouTube videos, HTML links, images, or text. BourbonIT, with Google’s Gemini Flash, adds a Bourbon twist to each recipe, creating an engaging experience for consumers.

Britannia CMO Amit Doshi said, “The launch of BourbonIT marks a key moment in Britannia Bourbon’s journey, demonstrating our dedication to delivering innovative and superior taste experiences. This initiative reflects Britannia’s commitment to evolving with the times while maintaining the flavors that have made Bourbon a household name. This collaboration with Google Cloud and WPP’s Mindshare and VML highlights Britannia’s leadership in adopting cutting-edge technology, setting a new benchmark for AI-driven experiences in India. The teams have worked collaboratively to bring this initiative to life, and their efforts are set to elevate consumer engagement to new heights. The launch of BourbonIT is just the beginning, paving the way for future innovations that will continue to redefine consumer interactions in the culinary space.”

Google Cloud India VP and country MD Bikram Singh Bedi said, “Our work with Britannia and WPP is a testament to how generative AI can drive consumer engagement. The innovative campaign BourbonIT leverages Google’s state-of-the-art generative AI capabilities to deliver unique experiences.”

Mindshare CEO for South Asia, Amin Lakhani said, “We are incredibly excited to launch ‘BourbonIT’. A significant step forward in how AI can enhance our everyday lives, and in this case, our culinary experiences. This innovative application developed by WPP’s Mindshare and VML and powered by Google Gemini, seamlessly blends cutting-edge technology with user-friendly design, making it simple for anyone to unlock their inner chef and explore a world of flavourful possibilities.”

VML’s CEO in India – Babita Baruah said, “We are excited to collaborate with Britannia Bourbon on this innovative project for the iconic brand. By ‘bourbonizing’ users’ own recipes, we aim to bring Britannia Bourbon into every household in a fun and meaningful way to deliver lasting impact, using technology to drive value with a creative twist.”

Britannia Bourbon, long valued for its classic appeal, has evolved to meet changing consumer tastes. The collaboration with Winkin’ Cow to create Britannia Winkin’ Cow Bourbon Shake highlights this evolution. This new product combines the legacy of the original Britannia Bourbon biscuit with a fresh approach, offering consumers a novel way to enjoy their favorite biscuit.

Steps to Bourbon IT the recipe:

● Scan the code on the Britannia Bourbon pack

● Share the link of your favorite recipe or simply type your favourite dish and give it a Bourbon twist

● Submit your Bourbon creation and stand a chance to win a trip to Switzerland and Amazon cashback*

BourbonIt can be accessed via mobile devices here: https://bourbonit.in/ *T&C applied

September 12, 2024
GroupM Strengthens India Operations with appointment of Praseed Prasad as chief growth officer

Mumbai: GroupM India, WPP’s media investment group, today announces the appointment of Praseed Prasad as chief growth officer. In its newly created role, Praseed will lead GroupM’s growth, marketing and communications. The role is further designed to accelerate GroupM’s growth and strengthen its position as the industry’s leader in media investments and marketing partner.

In his new role, Praseed will oversee strategy and operations for GroupM’s business development, growth, marketing, and communications to clients, employees, and industry audiences. He will work closely with the agency and GroupM leadership to identify growth opportunities, develop integrated solutions that leverage the skills and expertise of the industry’s deepest bench of talent, and effectively communicate GroupM’s value proposition.

Praseed, returning back to GroupM, brings a wealth of experience to this position. Prior to joining IceCream Labs in 2015, he held key roles within GroupM, including heading Digital Trading and overseeing digital investments for all GroupM clients. His diverse background also includes stints at Flipkart, where he ran the Ads Agency Business and led Media and Partnerships, as well as at Google, where he managed Media Operations for EMEA markets and later ran the Google APAC Agency and Partner business.

GroupM South Asia CEO Prasanth Kumar said, “It is great to have Praseed back to GroupM as Chief Growth Officer. His extensive experience in understanding client needs, strategic initiatives, industry knowledge, and cross-functional collaboration positions will help us enhance our market growth. His track record underscores his ability to navigate complex ecosystems and deliver results. We anticipate that his leadership will directly benefit our clients and the brands we work with, driving innovation and enhancing performance.”

Praseed said, “I am delighted to return to GroupM where I grew during the early days of my career and spent more than a decade setting up new business units and functions. I look forward to strengthening opportunities for our clients and brands that will allow me to apply my experiences to help grow the GroupM business onwards and upwards. Am excited to collaborate with all the agency teams to help drive our clients’ business impact and deliver them exceptional growth.”

Praseed will be based out of GroupM’s Bangalore office and report into Prasanth Kumar.

July 3, 2024
GroupM elevates Ashwin Padmanabhan to chief operating officer, GroupM South Asia

Mumbai: GroupM, WPP’s media investment group, today announces the elevation of Ashwin Padmanabhan as chief operating officer for South Asia.

Ashwin, will now oversee a streamlined structure that brings together GroupM’s extensive and diversified key practices. This includes Influencer Marketing, Content, OOH offering and Nexus. Investments, Trading, Partnerships, Motion and Entertainment will continue to be part of his portfolio. Ashwin’s strategic vision will play a pivotal role in seamlessly integrating GroupM’s diversified services, to develop and deliver a best in-class solution that unlocks value for clients and GroupM.

As the current President of GroupM Investments, Trading, Partnerships, Motion and Entertainment Ashwin’s commitment to innovation and process-driven excellence has solidified GroupM’s position as a leader in client-centric and technically advanced media solutions.

GroupM South Asia CEO Prasanth Kumar said, “Ashwin’s deep understanding of client requirements and industry ecosystems and his proven track record ensures a seamless alliance across respective domains. He will continue to drive synergies across multiple practices emphasizing simplicity and consolidation to consistently deliver outstanding client work.”

Padmanabhan said, “Clients today are looking for bespoke operating strategies that help transform their businesses and GroupM has always been an architect of new approaches when it comes to its clients. I look forward to working with our teams to drive long-term success for brands, bringing effectiveness and optimization to our services that generate enduring impact.”

Ashwin will continue to be based out of Gurgaon and report to Kumar.

July 2, 2024
Fourth modern marketing Reckoner by Group M and MMA Global India: 60+ experts on winning with AI

Mumbai: GroupM, WPP’s media investment group and MMA Global India launched the 4th edition of the Modern Marketing Reckoner 2024: Winning with AI at the 13th edition of MMA IMPACT Delhi. The report explores how AI is not merely transforming the 4 key pillars or Ps of marketing (product, place, price & promotions) but is revolutionizing organizations from the ground up, marking an irreversible change. MMR bears cutting-edge POVs from 65+ industry leaders, AI practitioners and decision makers across the digital transformation ecosystem.

Amid ongoing AI debates, it’s vital to recognize that human intelligence remains central to many innovations, particularly in marketing, which is fundamentally about understanding people. The report explores AI’s potential to enhance marketing, from gaining consumer insights to transforming product design and the consumer journey. It discusses AI’s dual role as both evolutionary and revolutionary, integrating tools like predictive text and chatbots across various marketing functions, including e-commerce and campaign execution, while emphasizing the importance of measuring marketing ROI.

GroupM South Asia CEO Prasanth Kumar said: “The Modern Marketing Reckoner 2024 is a comprehensive guide for marketers who aim to succeed with AI. This report offers valuable insights, carefully researched data, and real-world examples of how AI can be leveraged in marketing. What sets it apart is the inclusion of perspectives from over fifty industry experts across diverse domains, whose human intelligence and experience in powering AI is truly invaluable.”

Marketers and agencies are swiftly delving into groundbreaking technology, discerning between superficial novelties and truly transformative tools, with key imperatives:

● Marketers value high-quality, authentic internal data like brand essence, past communication, consumer insights, cohort responses, platform performance, packaging details, pricing, and customer reviews to ensure AI models are authentically trained for real-world application.
● Organizational transformation is vital for maximizing AI’s impact in marketing, involving integration across Finance, Technology, CMI, sales, and Talent Management, with rapid evolution in budgeting, talent management, and a “Test and Learn” approach.
● Investment in Data & MarTech is increasing, with shared ownership of implementation and utilization among Marketing, Finance, and Technology leaders.
● AI is driving transformation in agencies, fostering new integrated models centered on AI-enabled platforms for seamless collaboration and co-creation.

MMA Global India head & BOD member Moneka Khurana said: “The grand launch of the Modern Marketing Reckoner (MMR) at IMPACT Delhi marks a pivotal moment for the industry. The report provides actionable insights into AI’s transformative impact on the 4 Ps of Marketing – Product, Place, Price, and Promotions. By compiling wisdom and foresight from over 60+ industry leaders, it equips marketers with the strategies and frameworks needed to win with AI-driven marketing, fostering innovation and drive growth. At MMA, we are dedicated to empowering marketers to navigate and lead people and machines in unison to deliver business growth and marketing excellence.”

June 10, 2024
Mindshare ropes in Kalyan Undinty as head of E-Commerce

Mumbai: Mindshare, the media services company that is part of GroupM and WPP, has announced the appointment of Kalyan Undinty as the Head of E-Commerce.

With over 17 years of diverse experience spanning E-Commerce, Sales, Marketing, and Supply Chain, Kalyan brings a wealth of expertise to his new role. A graduate of the esteemed Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode, Kalyan joins Mindshare from Reckitt, where he played a pivotal role in establishing and scaling a dynamic and sustainable E

commerce business over the past eight years.

Mindshare – South Asia CEO Amin Lakhani, said, ” His extensive experience in building and scaling e-commerce businesses will help us innovate and deliver exceptional results for our clients. As brands embark on a journey of growth and transformation, we want to help them leverage the power of e-commerce to redefine strategies and drive tangible value for them. Together, we will chart new territories, elevate customer experiences in the ever-evolving realm of digital commerce.”

Undinty said, “It’s an exciting opportunity to explore new avenues and create transformative experiences, driving sustainable growth in the e-commerce ecosystem. Together, we’ll utilize data-driven insights, consumer-centric strategies, and cutting-edge technology to surpass our clients’ and consumers’ expectations. I’m excited to join the team and help shape Mindshare’s e-commerce agenda.”

May 21, 2024
Priya Barve joins WPP as client lead for HUL

Mumbai: Priya Barve has joined WPP as India’s Client Lead for Hindustan Unilever Limited. Priya brings over two decades of experience in advertising and marketing, and has held leadership roles with Google, Mondelez, and Leo Burnett across Asia-Pacific. She brings a rich and diverse perspective on communications and media, having worked on both – the agency and client side, as well as with tech platforms.

She also encompasses a rich knowledge of the fast-changing consumer and digital landscape in emerging markets across Asia. Passionate about F&B, outside of work Priya is best known for having participated in MasterChef Asia in 2015.

Commenting on the appointment, WPP chief client officer for India, Shubha George, said: “A consummate professional, Priya brings a wealth of experience in aiding business success and digital transformation, as well as key local insights that needed to win in many Indias. HUL is one of WPP’s key clients, one with whom we have had the pleasure of working with for a number of years. We are delighted to see Priya joining the team to lead such an important client relationship and look forward to driving further business growth and innovation together with Unilever.”

May 2, 2024
Colgate Active Salt redefines oral hygiene with a new and improved formula

Mumbai: Colgate-Palmolive (India) Ltd has announced the launch of the renewed Colgate Active Salt, setting a new benchmark in oral hygiene solutions with an improved formula that tackles oral problems right at their inception.

Since 2005, Colgate Active Salt has served the nation by addressing early oral concerns, leveraging the unique benefits of salt ingrained in Indian oral care traditions. It is also Colgate’s number one brand in Tamil Nadu. Building upon this legacy, the all-new Colgate Active Salt introduces an improved and more potent formula to nip oral problems in the bud.

Speaking on the launch, Colgate-Palmolive India Sr marketing manager Ayan Guha said, “By unveiling the upgraded Colgate Active Salt, we celebrate the timeless wisdom ingrained in the power of salt, enhanced by Colgate’s science-led approach. Supported by a new campaign, we continue the journey of dramatic Colgate Active Salt advertising that has made the brand iconic over two decades.”

WPP@CP executive creative director Juneston Mathana added, “Whoever says they don’t fear the consequences of dental pain is clearly lying. We’ve all felt it, we’ve all feared it. It’s a pain that sends shivers down the spines of the most powerful people out there. This idea got our director, Harshik Suraiya, excited because it exposes our vulnerabilities in a relatable and light-hearted way.”

The ad film aims to underscore the importance of proactive oral care in an engaging manner, featuring a victorious politician, riding high on his recent win, is abruptly interrupted by a toothache after indulging in celebratory sweets. The events that unfold thereafter serve as a vivid reminder that oral discomfort can strike unexpectedly but with Colgate Active Salt, you can say goodbye to pain and fear!

The campaign has been rolled out in Southern and Eastern markets , across television, digital and other media platforms. Colgate Active Salt is available nationwide through both online and offline channels.

April 2, 2024
GroupM conceptualises largest outdoor innovation in Kolkata for Eveready batteries

Mumbai: GroupM, WPP’s media investment group, partnered with Eveready Industries India Ltd. to create an innovative visual spectacle in the outdoor landscape of Kolkata. A larger-than-life innovation for Eveready Ultima alkaline batteries has been strategically introduced on Kolkata’s most popular flyover, Maa Flyover.

The busiest flyover in Kolkata where a billboard-sized 80 x 30 got a makeover by putting up a gigantic 44ft x 25ft battery featuring the Ultima range of batteries showcasing its superior power over regular batteries in an intriguing manner turning out to be a veritable eye sore.

The installation amplified the brand’s impact and awareness, resulting in the most talked about OOH billboard & ignited conversation on social media, which helped the brand blossom and give Kolkata some “Red”.

GroupM OOH Solutions managing director Ajay Mehta said, “We are delighted to have executed such a remarkable campaign for Eveready and to be their partner in this campaign. The innovative installations draw inspiration from the energy in Ultima’s battery portfolio. The creative installations are influenced by the energy found in Ultima’s array of batteries. The campaign demonstrates both technological proficiency and a commitment to long term and innovative solutions thanks to the hard work that went into the planning and execution.”

SBU Head (Batteries & Flashlights) VP Anirban Banerjee said, “The Out of Home Innovation has wonderfully captured the passersby attention of the revamped Ultima battery series from the house of Eveready with smarter appeal and long-lasting power with larger-than-life innovation. The new and improved Ultima batteries, push our boundaries, with 400% and 800% longer-lasting performance, highly suitable for the high drain devices. The larger-than-life batteries installation turned out to be a veritable eyesore showcasing its superior power.”

March 21, 2024
VML announces new market leadership team for Asia Pacific

Mumbai: Global brand, customer experience and commerce agency VML has announced its new in-market leadership team across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

Uniting more than 5000 employees across 25 offices in 13 markets in APAC, the new structure has been designed to provide best-in-class support for VML’s clients across the region, featuring market leaders with robust local knowledge and deep expertise spanning customer experience, brand experience and commerce.

The announcement comes as WPP creative agencies Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R unify to create VML – the world’s most advanced and largest creative company.

VML works with a diverse range of blue-chip client partners across various industries in APAC, including Ford, The Coca Cola Company, HSBC, Unilever, Nestle, GSK, Zespri and more.

Under the leadership of newly appointed VML APAC Co-CEOs Audrey Kuah and Yi-Chung Tay and with its regional principal offices in Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney, the restructure sees the appointment of the following market leaders (by region) from 1 January, 2024

ANZ

In Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), Tom Tearle, VMLY&R ANZ CEO is appointed to the role of CEO, VML ANZ. Gavin Bain, Wunderman Thompson CEO for Australia moves to the role of VML chief consulting officer, ANZ and Managing Director, Perth, Australia.

Southeast Asia

Singapore: Nimesh Desai, Wunderman Thompson CEO for Singapore, has been appointed as VML CEO, Singapore. Rhys Taylor, VMLY&R managing director, Singapore, takes on the role of VML Chief Client Officer, Singapore, focused on ensuring the new VML is providing the full suite of capabilities to its clients.

Indonesia: Samir Gupte, CEO, Wunderman Thompson, Indonesia, has been appointed CEO, VML Indonesia.

Malaysia: Kenni Loh, CEO, VMLY&R Malaysia, has been appointed CEO, VML Malaysia.

Philippines: Golda Roldan, CEO, Wunderman Thompson, Philippines, has been appointed CEO, VML Philippines.

Thailand: Parattajariya Jalayanteja, CEO Wunderman Thompson, Thailand has been appointed CEO, VML Thailand.

Vietnam: Ha Nguyen, VMLY&R CEO, Vietnam, has been appointed CEO, VML Vietnam.

East Asia

In China, Kevin Zhu, VMLY&R China CEO, has been appointed CEO VML, China, and Carter Chow Wunderman Thompson CEO for Greater China, steps into the role of President, VML China.

Hong Kong: Maggie Wong, CEO, Wunderman Thompson, Hong Kong, has been appointed CEO, VML Hong Kong.

Japan: Ichiro Ota, CEO, VML & Ogilvy Japan remains in his position; while Akira Suzuki, CEO, Wunderman Thompson Japan, moves into the role of COO, VML Japan.

Taiwan: Even Teng, CEO, Wunderman Thompson, Taiwan has been appointed CEO, VML, Taiwan.

South Asia

India: India is a key market for VML and we are taking the time to ensure that our teams are led by the most capable leaders for our employees and clients. We will announce India’s leadership in Q1 2024.

Commenting on development, VML APAC Co-CEO Audrey Kuah said: “We are thrilled to introduce our new APAC leadership team, who represent the cream-of-the-crop across two of the most awarded creative agencies in the region. As we unify our storied agencies, there is an exciting opportunity to redefine the possibilities of creativity and set the stage for more innovative and effective work.”

“At VML we are dedicated to creating connected brands which matter to the consumer and drive growth for our client partners. Working closely with our leaders across our APAC network, we are well positioned to provide the best possible solutions to our clients’ most pressing business problems via an integrated suite of capabilities which are unsurpassed in the region, VML APAC Co-CEO,” Yi-Chung Tay added.

December 19, 2023