Tag: India

India – Havas has announced the acquisition of Indian consultancy firm PR Pundit, marking the debut of Havas’ public relations arm Red Havas in the Indian market. On closing, the firm will be rebranded as PR Pundit Havas Red. 

Archana Jain, founder and managing director at PR Pundit, will continue to lead PR Pundit Havas Red, and will be reporting to Rana Barua, group CEO of Havas India and James Wright, global CEO of Havas Red.

PR Pundit has been a valued affiliate of Havas in India for some time. This acquisition cements the association and enhances Havas’ capabilities to extend public relations services in India as part of its bouquet of creative, media and healthcare offerings. 

In parallel, Havas Red’s continued international expansion adds important new expertise and geographic reach to the network’s global clients. The entry in the Indian market is the network’s second addition in 2023, following the opening of Havas Red South Africa earlier in the year.

Speaking of the acquisition, Jain said, “Joining Havas will enable us to enrich our services and geographic reach for the benefit of our clients. We are excited to lend our expertise and entrepreneurial drive as well as share our local PR understanding with Havas Red in our common goal of undertaking benchmarking work and fostering long term partnerships, with our people and clients. Our relationship is based on shared values to elevate service capabilities, open doors to new opportunities and embrace best practices from around the world.”

Meanwhile, Barua commented, This acquisition once again reinforces our commitment of delivering comprehensive and impactful solutions to our clients. In our endeavour to offer integrated end-to-end communication solutions, we identified that the PR function was a missing piece.”

She added, “This acquisition brings together, two extremely powerful entities, Havas Red which has presence across 15 global markets with unmatched influence and reach, and PR Pundit, one of the most respected PR agencies in India with unparalleled brand reputation and a robust clientele. I welcome team PR Pundit to the Havas India family. Together with Havas Red, I look forward to the beginning of an exciting journey.”  

Lastly, Yannick Bolloré, chairman and global CEO at Havas, commented, “We are thrilled to welcome PR Pundit to the Havas family. The synergies between PR Pundit’s expertise, Havas India’s clients, and the global PR clients of Havas Red are exceptionally strong, setting the stage for many meaningful collaborations.”

He added, “With the backing of Vivendi and their extensive entertainment assets in India, the expansion into PR, communications and social media is a strategic move that aligns perfectly with the evolving landscape of the market and industry.”

Mumbai, India – Global luxury brand Balenciaga has signed a strategic long-term franchise agreement with Reliance Brands Limited (RBL), the retail arm of Reliance Industries Limited, to officially launch its brand in the Indian market.

In this new partnership deal, RBL will serve as Balenciaga’s sole partner and will have exclusive rights to launch the brand in the country. This is RBL’s second partnership with parent group Kering, which houses the luxury fashion brand, among others.

The fashion brand’s first-ever standalone store in India is located at Mumbai’s Jio World Plaza and will house Balenciaga’s latest collection of men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, shoes, bags, accessories, eyewear, and jewellery.

As its first foray into the Indian market, the fashion brand’s store design follows its experiential raw architecture concept that’s conceived to question the nature of authenticity, leaving surfaces intentionally raw and adding evocative details like simulated corrosion or rough edges.

Since its inception in 1917, the global luxury brand has continued its vision through boundary-pushing collections, which have expanded to include women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, accessories, and objets d’art.

Darshan Mehta, MD at Reliance Brands Limited, said, “Few brands have actually embraced the opportunity for creative reinterpretation and reinvention quite like Balenciaga. Their avant-garde and ingenious creations, bold use of the logo, and consequent cult in the fashion industry have already created a strong footing throughout the world. It’s the most opportune time to introduce the brand to the country, as the Indian luxury customer has matured and using fashion as a form of creative expression of their individuality.”

Mumbai, India – McDonald’s India (West and South), owned and operated by Westlife Foodworld Ltd., has launched its first-of-its-kind ‘EatQual 2.0’ initiative that makes McDelivery more inclusive with a new colour-blind-friendly ordering platform.

The campaign initiative aims to make food ordering more enjoyable and easy for colorblind consumers in India.

In this new initiative, McDonald’s India launched a new feature on its McDelivery app and website that uses a special algorithm to display the menu in colours that are appropriate for the user. The new feature will help colour-blind people see the real colours of the food and drinks, helping them make more informed decisions about what they want to order.

The newly updated feature can be accessed by users when they update the McDelivery app and website. Individuals who are colour blind can select from three colour enhancement options: ‘green-red’,‘red-green’, and ‘blue-yellow’

Also included in the campaign is the release of a heartwarming brand film that will give the viewers a perspective on colorblindness and explain how this feature on McDelivery will help consumers with colorblindness improve their experience of viewing their food on the McDelivery app and website before placing an order.

To ensure a wider reach of the campaign, McDonald’s India has partnered with stand-up comedian and influencer Kenny Sebastian, who also has colorblindness. They also tapped advertising company DDB Mudra, who has been present since EatQual’s inception, to strengthen this global purpose platform around inclusion.

The fast food chain’s new campaign is rooted in the idea that there are a huge number of people in India who are actually colorblind but go unnoticed. This campaign is an extension of their EatQual initiative in 2020, which aims to improve accessibility and inclusivity for people with various disabilities.

The brand launched the initiative on World Sight Day, raising awareness about the campaign through a panel discussion featuring renowned ophthalmologist Dr. Hemalini Samant, Mr. Aniruddh Kothari, a photographer who is also colorblind, and Mr. Arvind R.P., Chief Marketing Officer, McDonald’s India (W&S).

Speaking on the campaign, Arvind R.P., chief marketing officer at McDonald’s India (W&S), said, “We at McDonald’s are on a mission to make delicious feel-good moments easy for everyone, and we literally mean ‘everyone’. Born from this mission, our EatQual campaign underscores our commitment to breaking down barriers, ensuring that every customer is able to access the brand easily, feels welcome, and has a great experience every time they choose to eat with us.”

“Recognising that we ‘eat with our eyes first’ and acknowledging that colorblindness is a widespread reality, we took the initiative to make our McDelivery app and website more accessible. We hope those with colorblindness will enjoy using this new feature to see the crave-able visuals of their favourite iconic products before ordering, just like all other consumers,” he added.

Rahul Mathew, chief creative officer at DDB Mudra Group, also shared, “We’ve always believed that EatQual is more than just a campaign; it’s a journey that McDonald’s is on. With every intervention, we hope to enhance the eating experience, making it a little more equal for everyone. That’s why we work closely with the community to help us understand what they might be missing and how we can bridge that gap.”

Meanwhile, on the partnership, Kenny Sebastian said, “I feel really happy to partner with an iconic brand like McDonald’s on this initiative that makes its services more inclusive and easily accessible to colorblind people like me. I am sure the McDelivery experience will now be easier to navigate through. I look forward to using the feature to view delicious food images on the app before making my pick”.

Singapore – Skincare brand Olay has partnered with Publicis Groupe One Singapore for the launch of its newest campaign that targets the gender disparity in India’s STEM field. 

The campaign is part of the latest instalment of its #STEMTheGap initiative and aims to shed light on the glaring absence of female mentors and role models in India’s STEM workforce.

As part of the campaign, Olay India collaborated with filmmaker Anand Gandhi to launch a digital film that delves into India’s rich history of remarkable women in STEM. The digital film will pay homage to and showcase the inspiring stories of luminaries like Dr. Anandibai Joshi, Kamala Sohonie, Dr. Janaki Ammal, and Kalpana Chawla, among others.

The film will highlight the urgent need for more female role models in STEM today and will also shed light on the societal biases deterring young girls from pursuing STEM careers by emphasising the crucial role of female mentors in the field.

Aside from the digital film, Olay also launched the beta version of a web-based virtual chat mentor that will offer guidance and information to aspiring young girls seeking to enter the world of STEM.

The virtual chat mentor, a supplement to Olay’s mentorship programme,will provide the user with knowledge, resources, and encouragement on their journeys. It was created with the help of successful women in different STEM fields in India, such as Shannon Olsson, founder and global director at Echo Network; Swarna Manjari, communication designer; Dr. Vandana Prasad, community paediatrician and public health professional; and Tarunima Prabhakar, tech and policy research at Tattle Civic Tech and Carnegie India, to name a few.

Olay’s campaign is crafted based on the results of their commissioned survey, which found a huge gap between female STEM graduates and those who actually made it into the workforce in India. A staggering number of its respondents also mentioned the need for female role models in STEM as a way to influence them to pursue their careers.

To encourage future women in STEM, Olay also continues to partner with LEAD, a school EdTech provider in India, to sponsor STEM scholarships for 250+ underprivileged girls. These scholarships aim to empower girls across India by providing them with financial support for STEM education and career development.

Priyali Kamath, senior vice president of skin and personal care at Procter & Gamble (P&G) Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa, explained, “For decades, Procter & Gamble’s legacy skincare brand Olay has maintained a deep understanding of women’s changing needs through science. At Olay, we understand the critical importance of female role models in the STEM field, and our commitment to bridging the gender gap is unparalleled. This year’s theme, centred on the significance of role models and the introduction of mentorship initiatives, highlights our commitment to ensuring every young girl knows that she can be the next leader in her field.”

She added, “Through initiatives like #STEMTheGap and our commitment to gender equality, we are working hard to double the number of women in STEM by 2030 and create a more inclusive and equitable future. We’re proud to recognise and support the next generation of women in STEM who will one day be making history in their respective fields and become role models for young girls in the future.”

Ajay Vikram, chief creative officer for Southeast Asia at Publicis Groupe, also commented, “There are many accomplished women leaders in STEM in India today. Yet, a ‘lack of mentors’ is often cited as a big reason why so few women make a career in STEM. This got us thinking. How do we not just celebrate the achievements of women in STEM but actually be useful—to be there at the very moment when needed, a friend and guide to any girl or woman looking for answers as they stand at the crossroads of choosing their path forward. Technology came in handy as a way to help, but  we can’t wait to see how much more Ai-shu can do to help women find their way to a future of their choosing.”

India – Popular apparel brand Levi’s in India has launched a new campaign titled ‘For Now, For A Lifetime’, which celebrates moments instincts and how they go onto be memories that stay with us, and ultimately shape each and every one of us.

The campaign, featuring Indian actress Deepika Padukone, depicts her impromptu adventure becoming the thread that ties together characters’ experiences from ordinary to extraordinary moments, capturing a spectrum of emotions from joy, to the rush, laughter, but also the calm and bittersweet.

Moreover, in pairing a dark denim shirt and lighter high-loose jeans or a perfectly coordinated, jumpsuit like look, Deepika Padukone brings a fresh and modern take to denim in this new campaign. Anchored by iconic product – timeless, but always on trend blue jeans, the for-all-seasons trucker jacket and a wide range of much-loved graphic tees.

Amisha Jain, senior vice president and managing director for South Asia-Middle East, Africa and Non-EU markets (SAMEA) at Levi Strauss & Co, said, “The ‘For Now, For A Lifetime’ campaign is an embodiment of what it truly means to Live in Levi’s® and how our product is so deeply woven into our consumers’ lives.”

She added, “This campaign, featuring Deepika Padukone, is a celebration of moments when you can truly be your most authentic self. Enabling this for our consumers is what we strive to do, from how we create our product to how we bring it alive for our consumers.”

India – Local pharmaceutical company Lupin has acquired five brands under the Italian pharmaceutical company Menarini. The brands include Piclin, Menoctyl, Sucramal O, Pyridium, and Distaclor. These legacy brands will help Lupin in further enhancing its diverse portfolio and solidifying its position as a leading pharmaceutical organisation in India.

Lupin has been exclusively marketing these brands in the Indian market since July 2021 under a distribution and promotion agreement with A. Menarini India Private Limited. This strategic acquisition for the Indian market marks a significant step forward for Lupin as it continues to expand its presence in India.

Nilesh Gupta, managing director at Lupin, said, “This acquisition aligns well with our strategic goal to broaden our presence in the Indian market. By offering a comprehensive range of products, our aim is to deliver even greater value to our stakeholders and the communities we serve.”

Meanwhile, Girisan Kariangal, managing director at Menarini India, commented, “Lupin has been successfully marketing the scope brands for Menarini since 2021, which has been a testament to our evolved collaboration. I am happy that Lupin will now carry forward their legacy with full trademark ownership.”

He added, “For Menarini, this transaction further signals our continued commitment to nurture and expand our Dermatology and Aesthetics portfolio and business. Menarini is a top 10 multi-national company in this therapeutic area in India and has witnessed strong organic and inorganic growth.”

India – VANTO, the premium luxury furniture brand, has awarded its creative and digital mandate to Hotcult, a part of PAD Group, following a competitive multi-agency pitch in Hyderabad. Hotcult will focus on reinvigorating the brand, developing a communication strategy, and creating compelling creatives to strengthen VANTO’s presence in the luxurious furniture market.

Hotcult’s responsibilities include creating consumer insight mapping, outlining brand architecture, putting the go-to-market (GTM) strategy into practice, and coming up with a comprehensive brand and launch strategy. Their duties also include planning crucial digital and creative campaigns, maintaining a social media presence, managing online responses, and performance optimization.

Speaking about the partnership, Gautam Reddy, founder of Hotcult, said, “It is always an honour when a client trusts you with their brand and gives you the complete communication mandate – strategic, creative &  social. We are delighted to introduce this unprecedented level of luxury to India.” 

He added, “This strategic move perfectly aligns with our vision to raise the brand to a coveted status among lifestyle and luxury enthusiasts nationwide. As Hyderabad emerges as a prominent destination in the luxury segment, akin to Delhi and other major metros, we are poised to be at the forefront of this exciting development.”

Meanwhile, Rupesh Kashyap, co-founder and chief content officer of Hotcult, said, ”We are elated and excited with the VANTO win. Armed with a deep understanding of their target audience and preferences, we’ve constructed an insightful cultural framework as a part of our content strategy. We’ve already created a distinctive world for VANTO in the ultra-premium furniture category and have crafted the brand positioning.” 

“We’re eagerly anticipating creating compelling content for all marketing and communication touch points. This wouldn’t have been possible without the trust of our valued clients”, Kashyap added. 

Adith Linga, COO of VANTO, commented about the partnership, “PAD Group (parent company of Hotcult) has orchestrated remarkable triumphs for numerous top-tier Indian brands, many of which have emerged as pioneers in their domains. Hotcult’s deep understanding of our sector aligns seamlessly with our vision, making them the perfect partner. We eagerly look forward to a dynamic and fruitful long-term alliance with them.” 

India – Posterscope, the OOH specialist agency from dentsu India, has announced the appointment of Pallavi Patil as vice president-strategy to oversee clients nationally and empower strategy across out-of-home, retail, activation, and rural marketing verticals.

In her new role, she will focus on delivering a fresh perspective on the agency’s strategic expertise combined with a rich blend of innovation to clients in the OOH space. 

Pallavi will align with Posterscope’s global vision, addressing complicated issues with simple, strategic, human-centric solutions. She will report to Imtiyaz Vilatra, managing director at Posterscope India.

Prior to joining dentsu, Pallavi led strategy in Madison OOH as their AVP. She has a career spanning over 18 years and has worked with Kinetic Worldwide (GroupM), TNS (Kantar), Nielsen, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and Force Motors.

Over the years, she has carved out expertise in marketing, research, and media strategy. She has also worked on some recognised and awarded OOH campaigns.

Imtiyaz Vilatra, managing director at Posterscope India, said, “We are thrilled to have Pallavi as part of the Posterscope family. With her wealth of experience and knowledge, I am confident she will bring a lot of value with fresh insights and ideas. I would like to welcome her onboard and am certain she will be instrumental to further scale our growth momentum.”

Commenting on her appointment, Pallavi added, “Embracing new opportunities, I step into this position with elation as I join Posterscope India. With experience as my guide, I am ready to contribute, learn, and thrive with the team in this exciting journey of growth and innovation.”

Mumbai, India – Integrated communications and advertising agency Laqshya Media Group announced new key leadership role appointments, with Amarjeet Singh Hudda promoted to chief operating officer, Yuvrraj Agarwaal for chief strategy officer, and Satyabrata Das for chief alliance officer in India. 

The new promotions underscore Laqshya Media Group’s commitment to nurturing internal talent and leveraging the expertise of industry veterans to drive innovation, growth, and client excellence. 

In his new role, seasoned professional Amarjeet Singh Hudda will manage Laqshya Solutions and Laqshya Assets under Laqshya Media Limited. Prior to his promotion, Hudda was working as COO for Laqshya Solutions.

He carries with him over two decades of industry experience and is widely acknowledged in the field of out-of-home (OOH) in India. He started working at Laqshya back in 2005 and has since been working on building a name for the agency in OOH advertising.

Meanwhile, in his appointment, seasoned business leader Yuvrraj Agarwaal will focus on shaping the organisation’s strategic direction and driving new business development for key clients.

He initially joined Laqshya as the group’s national head for new initiatives. Agarwaal brings with him over 24 years of experience in the media and advertising sectors, with expertise in digital transformations, strategy, and revenue generation.

Also part of the strategic promotions is media and entertainment veteran Satyabrata Das. He will take charge of crucial business alliances with both the corporate and government sectors, with the aim of strengthening Laqshya’s market position even further.

Das had three decades of experience prior to his promotion. He formerly served as a strategic alliance specialist and is known for building strong marketing communities. He is a cross-sector business transformation specialist who excels in various aspects of media and entertainment, from print to digital transformation and storytelling. 

The strategic leadership changes signify an exciting new chapter for Laqshya Media Group as it continues to evolve and expand its presence in the dynamic media and advertising industry.

Atul Shrivastava, CEO at Laqshya Media Group, stated, “We are proud to announce the well-deserved promotions of Amarjeet Singh Hudda, Yuvrraj Agarwaal, and Satyabrata Das. Their dedication, experience, and leadership will be instrumental in propelling Laqshya Media Group to new heights of success.” 

India – StepOne, a local marketing and events startup, has announced its expansion into Singapore after establishing its presence in India, particularly in HR tech, fintech, and retail sectors. This move marks the company’s strategic entry into the Southeast Asian market.

StepOne’s decision to open an office in Singapore is part of its strategic plan to build a presence across the globe. With this expansion, StepOne will be able to share its knowledge of experiential events with the business community in Singapore and provide convenience to its Indian clients who frequently plan events in South Asian markets.

Speaking about the expansion, Rajat Khaitan, founder of StepOneXP, said, “The Singapore base ensures StepOne is well-positioned to serve the entire Asia Pacific (APAC) region and will add to our credibility. With this strategic expansion, we’ll be able to offer cost-effective solutions to our existing clients who are keen on doing events in Southeast Asia, along with taking our incomparable solutions to Singapore and Southeast Asia-based companies.”