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Tag: Wunderman Thompson

  • WPP acquires Cloud Commerce Group to strengthen its commerce offering

    WPP acquires Cloud Commerce Group to strengthen its commerce offering

    Mumbai: International advertising group WPP has acquired Cloud Commerce Group (CCG), a UK-based technology company that helps brands to market, sell and deliver their products across e-commerce platforms and marketplaces globally, such as Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and Wayfair.

    CCG will merge with Wunderman Thompson’s global network offering, Wunderman Thompson Commerce, a platform that aims to support brands across the e-commerce journey including the connection of customer acquisition and multi-platform commerce with inventory, warehousing, and partnerships.

    CCG helps brands market, sell and deliver to customers working with some of the most widely-used online marketplaces, while also supporting European retailers and wholesalers through its software integration. It also works with brands such as Ford, IBM, Mars, and Mondelez. The multi-channel e-commerce software platform employs over 100 people across Europe.

    This acquisition reflects WPP’s ongoing investment into strengthening its commerce offer for clients and is aligned with the group’s accelerated growth strategy and focused M&A approach, building on existing capabilities in the areas of experience, commerce and technology, stated the company.

    “Clients look to WPP to help them market, sell and fulfil across multiple e-commerce channels and marketplaces,” stated WPP CEO Mark Read. “With over £1 billion in revenue transacting through its platform, Cloud Commerce Group already has demonstrable scale and success in managing the complex omnichannel commerce needs of global brands. I am excited about how CCG’s expertise will further strengthen the breadth and depth of our commerce offering to deliver growth for our clients.”

    Founded by Mark Hallam and Stuart Forrest in 2015, the e-commerce solutions company is headquartered in Lancaster, England and will see its 100-plus employees across Europe join WPP as a result of the merger.

    “The team at WPP are excited by our existing roadmap for developing the Cloud Commerce Pro platform and expanding our marketing services through Cloud Seller Pro and, with the investment and experience WPP bring in growing businesses, we will be able to achieve those goals faster and take on new integrations and markets,” said the statement.

    “This acquisition by WPP is the next step of the journey for CCG and we are excited about the opportunities this will present to our hard-working team and growing customer base,” it added.

  • Everyuth Naturals forays into body lotion segment with new TVC campaign

    Everyuth Naturals forays into body lotion segment with new TVC campaign

    Mumbai: Skincare brand Everyuth Naturals has made a strategic entry into the body lotions segment with its new range of body lotions. The brand has rolled out  a TVC campaign, which is conceptualised by Wunderman Thompson India and aims to strike a chord with young consumers who are seeking relief from dry skin, albeit in a natural way.

    “Everyuth Naturals is among the top facial skin cleansing brands in the country and a leader in the face scrubs and face masks segment,” said Zydus Wellness CEO Tarun Arora. “We are happy to extend our expertise in providing effective skincare leveraging natural ingredients in the new segment of Body Lotions. Everyuth Naturals now embarks on an exciting new phase where it has the scope to become a more holistic skincare brand.”

    The high decibel campaign will air in eight key languages across GECs and all digital platforms. 

    “While conducting extensive consumer immersions, we came across two critical insights – unlike popular belief dry skin is not just a winter-only problem and second the young girls are peeved with the inadequacy of the current lotions that are usually either sticky or ineffective,” stated Wunderman Thompson Mumbai SVP & executive business director Samarth Shrivastava. “The campaign brings alive the youthful and happy vibe of the brand that is refreshingly different in the clutter of category communication.”

  • Wunderman Thompson appoints James Hammond as APAC head of healthcare

    Wunderman Thompson appoints James Hammond as APAC head of healthcare

    Mumbai: Wunderman Thompson has announced the appointment of James Hammond to the newly created role of head of healthcare for the APAC region. Hammond is currently based in Hong Kong and shall begin his new assignment in November, said the company in a statement.

    Hammond previously worked with WPP Health Practice International as APAC client lead and global client EVP for close to a decade. He then went on to J-lab Asia where he forged an independent network of healthcare agency partnerships across the APAC region as principal. During the same time, he was simultaneously working with Klick Health USA as a regional partner.

    “James brings with him a deep understanding of the unique needs of the healthcare industry in APAC. We are thrilled to have such a prolific industry leader drive our health practice forward,” said Wunderman Thompson International CEO Ewen Sturgeon.

    With over 25 years of experience, Hammond has led agencies across the United States, North Asia, and Australia, working with large multinational brands such as J&J, GSK, Nestle, Pfizer, Sanofi, and Gilead.

    “This is a very exciting time to be joining Wunderman Thompson. The agency has built a unique offering at the intersection of creativity and technology. I believe this is a great fit for healthcare clients looking to build more integrated customer experiences,” said Hammond. “We have big ambitions in this region as we continue to build our consumer healthcare business and extend our offering to prescription healthcare clients.”

  • Isobar’s Shamsuddin Jasani joins Wunderman Thompson South Asia as CEO

    Isobar’s Shamsuddin Jasani joins Wunderman Thompson South Asia as CEO

    Mumbai: Wunderman Thompson has appointed Shamsuddin Jasani as chief executive officer for South Asia, effective 1 November.

    Jasani will report directly to Wunderman Thompson International CEO Ewen Sturgeon. “We are pleased to have Shams join our Wunderman Thompson leadership, and believe he is the natural successor to continue propelling our South Asia business forward,” said Sturgeon.

    The development comes on the back of chairman and group CEO – South Asia Tarun Rai moving into a new role as executive director of strategic initiatives, APAC.

    Jasani is a veteran of the industry, having launched Isobar in India in 2008 and growing it from a two-person team to over 300-strong across South Asia. Under his leadership, his team has been recognised as one of the top digital agencies under the Brand Equity Agency Reckoner and won multiple awards including ‘Digital Agency of the Year India’ for three times. Jasani was also awarded ‘Digital Agency CEO’ by Media Ace and has been featured on Impact Magazine’s ‘Digital Power 100’ list, two years in a row.

    “It’s a great honour, but an even greater responsibility, to join such an iconic brand as Wunderman Thompson, with an amazing legacy. I am really excited to not only continue this legacy but to take it to greater heights with the combination of creative, data, commerce and technology,” Jasani commented. “I believe at Wunderman Thompson we have all the ingredients to be the partner of choice for the growth and transformation of brands and business in India.”

  • Sugar Free, Katrina Kaif come together to unveil ‘Fitness Ka Pehla Kadam’

    Sugar Free, Katrina Kaif come together to unveil ‘Fitness Ka Pehla Kadam’

    Mumbai: Homegrown low-calorie sweetener brand owned by Zydus Wellness Ltd, Sugar Free marked the launch of its campaign ‘Fitness ka Pehla Kadam’, featuring leading Bollywood actress, Katrina Kaif. With the intent to inspire its audience to consider healthier alternatives to sugar as a lifestyle change, the TVC drives a larger focus and awareness on the brand’s Stevia range named Sugar Free Green.

    As a part of this association, Katrina Kaif will be the face of the parent brand Sugar Free and its extensions – Sugar Free D’lite chocolates, said the company. The TVC will go live in seven Indian languages and the campaign will see manifestations in print and on digital and social media platforms, it added.

    Conceptualised by Wunderman Thompson, the campaign revolves around the actor, who in a playful interaction nudges the consumers to start their fitness journey by switching to Sugarfree from sugar, thereby taking their ‘Fitness Ka Pehla Kadam’.

    “Over the last year, we’ve seen an uptick in our low-calorie sweetener portfolio as more consumers graduate towards holistic lifestyle changes, opting for healthier alternatives in their daily diets. With Sugar Free Green we have only taken this proposition further by providing our consumers with an added advantage of Stevia- a natural sweetener,” said Zydus Wellness, chief operating officer & director, Tarun Arora. “Bringing Katrina Kaif on board as SugarFree’s new brand ambassador is a step toward accelerating this growth and strengthening our position as the market leader.”

    Katrina Kaif said, “As a fitness enthusiast I know how important discipline is; especially when it comes to what you eat. I’m happy to announce my association with Sugar Free, a brand that has been at the forefront of making it easier for all of us to be able to start a fitness regime by cutting out the empty calories from sugar. There is a natural synergy in the way we see fitness and getting healthier as an organic lifestyle movement allowing you to make the choices that are right for each individual.”

    Speaking about the TVC, Wunderman Thompson’s senior VP & executive business director, Samarth Shrivastava stated, “The present behaviour of the consumer is such that they plan a lot of small initiatives but find it difficult to execute all plans. This is where Sugar Free steps in, it’s the first easy step towards fitness, it’s an ally for the consumer towards their fitness goals. And that’s what is brought out beautifully through the film.”

  • Godrej Ezee 2-in-1’s new digital films showcase its dual benefits

    Godrej Ezee 2-in-1’s new digital films showcase its dual benefits

    Mumbai: Godrej Ezee, the washing solution brand from Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL), launched a digital campaign with three films highlighting its Godrej Ezee 2-in-1 liquid detergent + fabric conditioner for regular clothes.
     
    The films depict how the product is an effective solution that aims to provide convenience along with cost reduction, with its one-step formula. Conceptualised by Wunderman Thompson Mumbai, the films aim to showcase the dual benefits of detergent and fabric conditioner in a single product.

    Through these digital films, the brand aims to emphasise the latest 2-in-1 innovation as an all-purpose, all-year-round offering. It can be used for office wear, kids wear, daily wear, bedsheets and more, said the company.

    The first film features the steep monetary benefit Godrej Ezee 2-in-1 offers with the goodness of liquid detergent + fabric conditioner in one vis-à-vis buying a liquid detergent and fabric conditioner separately leading to double the cost.
     

    The second film highlights that the clothes washed with Godrej Ezee 2-in-1 remain fresh and look brand new even after multiple washes whereas regular detergents make the clothes lose their shine and colour after a few washes.

    The third film showcases how Godrej Ezee is not only for winters now and that the new Ezee 2-in-1 is a perfect one-step solution to wash regular clothes, every day.

    “With Godrej Ezee 2-in-1, we have not only expanded our detergent portfolio but also introduced a category redefining innovation,”  said GCPL CEO – India and SAARC, Sunil Kataria. “Our offering is a first-of-its-kind product which combines two formats into one. Godrej Ezee 2-in-1 saves money for the households and ensure clothes remain fresh and fragrant. The digital films are conceptualised to highlight these key USPs that make the product stand out. We also intend to reiterate the message amongst consumers that Ezee is now a regular clothes detergent brand as well.”

    “We wanted to communicate that the new Godrej Ezee 2-in-1 has more than just 2 reasons that make it the preferred detergent,” said  Wunderman Thompson Mumbai, VP & ECD, Steve Priya. “Each film highlights a key point along the consumer journey. From creating awareness of its superior cleansing with care credentials to making the sensible choice of not paying almost double for a liquid detergent and fabric conditioner. And also reminding buyers that Ezee is not just a ‘winter specialist’ for your woolens.”

  • Shell shines a light on women’s quest for mobility

    Shell shines a light on women’s quest for mobility

    Shell India has unveiled its latest campaign, ‘Great Things Happen When We Move’, which celebrates the indomitable spirit of Indian women, their dreams, and aspirations along with their inspiring journeys. Shell has launched three new brand films that showcase inspirational stories of mobility thereby bringing alive the brand’s partnership and commitment to this nation as catalyst of change.

    ‘Great Things Happen When We Move’ is a campaign about the people who displayed unconquerable courage and motivation to realise their ambitions by doing one simple thing – moving forward. The campaign has been specifically launched ahead of International Women’s Day to encourage Indian women who face towering challenges in their quest for mobility.

    The films, directed by filmmaker Arunima Sharma, are based on the stories of three amazing women, and mobility is at the heart of each. The first film highlights the story of Yogita Raghuvanshi, India’s first female truck driver who could not pursue her career in law as she took the responsibility of being a single mother after her husband passed away. The second film celebrates Geeta Tandon who walked out of an unhappy marriage and tried her hand at several things to support herself and her children. She found her calling when she became Bollywood’s leading stuntwoman. The third film showcases how travel expert Sumitra Senapaty, founder of Women On Wanderlust, encourages women to travel to over 50 destinations around the world.

    The core assertion of these films is to establish that mobility is a key enabler of people’s progress and it holds specifically true for women.

    Shell Companies India chairman Nitin Prasad said, “India is one the fastest growing economies in the world and we acknowledge the role that mobility plays in a nation’s progress. At Shell India, we are constantly working towards understanding the needs of our customers and pioneering products and services that enable this mobility, especially for women as their journey is not easy. Ensuring that women have an equal participation in all areas of work, at all levels and in all locations is our constant endeavour. We have fuel stations entirely run by women, an all women crew that installs canopies at our sites under construction, about one third of the working professionals/ employees in Shell business operations are women and we continue to encourage an interest in STEM education for our young bright minds across schools and colleges. We are proud of the journey we have made so far but there is a lot more that needs to be done and we are committed to keep moving forward on this path and make a brighter future.”

    Director Arunima Sharma said, “It's been a privilege to direct the new Shell campaign. I strongly resonated with these powerful stories that Shell and the team at Wunderman Thompson chose to tell. Yogita, Geeta and Sumitra are so different from each other, but are connected by the idea of finding their freedom by overcoming odds. As these stories are based on real women, for me it was important to have honesty and authenticity in the treatment of the films.”

    Wunderman Thompson vice president & ECD Siddharth Prasad said, “We didn’t want to just ‘narrate’ a story to viewers. We wanted them to be a part of the journey and rejoice in the protagonist’s success. Hence, the scripts were written from the point of view of an observer, someone who became a casual participant in a day in the life of our heroines. The narrative is very organic, the characters are real and believable. Inspiring stories; but designed to engage rather than impress.”

  • Tata Pravesh’s steel door is #AkelaHiKaafiHai

    Tata Pravesh’s steel door is #AkelaHiKaafiHai

    NEW DELHI: With the aim to convince Indian customers to try out doors made of materials other than wood, Wunderman Thompson South Asia has created a quirky campaign for Tata Pravesh, selling the unique proposition of getting a steel door.

    Titled #AkelaHiKaafiHai, the film features Badhai Ho fame actor Gajaraj Rao and is directed by Alok Kulkarni. The film is produced by Small Fry Productions. 

    The 360-degree campaign will be anchored by TV and supported by print, OOH, POS, and digital.

    Wunderman Thompson India CCO Senthil Kumar said, “Wooden doors continue to be coveted in spite of their obvious drawbacks. The film aims to break the mindset of potential Tata Pravesh consumers for whom doors = wooden doors, trying to get them to question if wood is good enough. The objective is to pique their interest enough for them to enquire about Tata Pravesh steel doors with strength of steel and elegance of wood and eventually show wood the door.” 

    Tata Steel Ltd chief – services & solutions P Anand said, “When buying a door or window for their house, consumers in India mostly consider wood.  Therefore, to establish a new category of steel doors and windows, the problems with wood needed to be brought to the forefront. The new Tata Pravesh film – 'Akela Hi Kaafi Hai' with Gajraj Rao as the brand endorser, attempts to put Tata Pravesh in the consideration set of consumers by offering a one stop solution against the drawbacks of wood.” 

    Wunderman Thompson, Kolkata ECD & VP Arjun Mukherjee added that the setting of the film and the characters had to resonate with consumers in tier-2 and tier-3 towns — the target audience for  the brand. Driven by excellent performances from Gajraj Rao and Saanand Verma, the film makes the point that when you are opting for a wooden door you are “making a big mistake that you’ll live to regret.” 

  • Ghadi wears a mask to say prevention is better than cure

    Ghadi wears a mask to say prevention is better than cure

    NEW DELHI: What is the simplest thing anyone can do to protect themselves and their loved ones from the pandemic that is raging across the country and the world? The answer lies in remembering to wear a mask every time we step out. Yet, this simple message has either not reached everybody or is simply being ignored or forgotten.

    Ghadi detergent has decided not just to reach out and remind millions but walk the talk themselves.

    In an initiative conceptualised and executed by ADK Fortune Communications, a WPP company and part of Wunderman Thompson South Asia Group, the most powerful and effective medium was used to drive this message home – the Ghadi detergent pack. The pack reaches millions of Indian households, even in areas where the reach of TV and other mass media is extremely limited. So, to spread awareness and reach the maximum number of households, the Ghadi pack was utilised.

    Ghadi covered its logo (the very face of the brand) across its entire range of detergents, with a printed mask to remind and inspire people to wear a mask. And emblazoned on every pack is the message: Bachaav Mein Hi Samajhdaari Hain (It makes sense to save yourself), to underline the importance of putting on masks to check the spread of the Coronavirus.

    To further scale up this message, Ghadi supported this initiative with a digital film directed by Pradeep Sarkar. It shows a young girl in a shop who makes her father realise that the best way to show you care is by wearing a mask – just like the pack itself. Produced by Apocalypso Filmworks Pvt Ltd, the film will be released across India in five regional languages with a full-blown PR and social media campaign.

    RSPL joint MD Rahul Gyanchandani said, “As a category leader, Ghadi has always believed in making a positive impact. In these troubled times, using our pack and then extending the campaign to other mediums seemed like the best way to bring about a change in behaviour and further build upon our connection with our massive consumer base.”

    ADK Fortune Communications VP & ECD Nakul Sharma commented, “It started as a small idea; a unique way of connecting with the consumer. But with the client backing it fully, this initiative by Ghadi is now actually impacting people and their thinking. For Ghadi, this is just the beginning. We truly want our mask-wearing initiative to become the starting point of a mass movement.”

    In the coming days, Ghadi plans to distribute 10 lakh masks across India for free. 

  • Ajeeta Bharadwaj joins Wondrlab as chief strategy officer

    Ajeeta Bharadwaj joins Wondrlab as chief strategy officer

    NEW DELHI: Platform-first startup Wondrlab has appointed Ajeeta Bharadwaj as chief strategy officer. Bharadwaj will be based out of Mumbai and will oversee the entire strategic planning function at the agency. She will report to Wondrlab co-founder and managing partner – content platform Rakesh Hinduja. 

    Bharadwaj’s mandate at Wondrlab involves taking a deep dive into human journeys via a platform-first lens. She will leverage her cross-category experience of brand insights and human behaviour to create world-class go-to-market strategies for clients’ businesses.

    Rakesh Hinduja said, “I can think of no one better to lead Wondrlab’s strategy piece than Ajeeta. We have worked together extensively and I know the excellent thinking that she can bring to the table. Ajeeta isn’t just a strategist, but someone who deep dives into a client’s business to create contemporary solutions. I am confident that she will harness all her knowledge and experience at Wondrlab to help clients win strategically.” 

    In a career spanning 20 years, Bharadwaj has worked with the Publicis network for 18 years and led the strategic planning function for Leo Burnett Mumbai before moving on. She was also the national planning director at Wunderman Thompson.

    “There is an infectious energy about Wondrlab and I look forward to adding to it. I have worked with Saurabh, Rakesh and Vandana and have seen the transformational solutions that came out of this collaboration. I also find the focus on platform-first thinking, extremely relevant. As consumers, we use different platforms differently and adding this understanding to strategy can get the brand entrenched better in the purchase process. It is an exciting vision and the attempt will be to consistently look for data-backed, dynamic solutions that deliver on this,” she said.

    Apart from creating an agile planning team that brought home metals from Effies, Cannes, Spikes, and WARC Strategy Awards, Bharadwaj was also a global champion of the Leo Burnett branding system ‘Humankind’ and is expected to drive tools and data-based planning culture in the agency.