Tag: India

India – Surjo Dutt has been appointed as the new chief creative officer (CCO) for the West and South regions at Dentsu Creative  India, starting from September 1.  In his new role , Dutt will be responsible for leading the agency’s creatives, coordinating with creative teams, and developing solutions that make use of modern creativity for brands and aid business expansion. 

He will be reporting to Amit Wadhwa, CEO of Dentsu Creative India, in his new position.

Dutt has 24 years of experience, worked on more than 400 projects spanning over 70 brands and 20 categories. His career includes positions as the former chief creative officer at FCB India, national creative director – North at Sapient Nitro, and vice president and executive creative director (ECD) at JWT.

He has worked with companies including Pepsi, Frito Lay, Hero Motocorp, GSK, Google, Uber, Vistara, Dominos, Pernod Ricard, Nokia, Airtel, Nestle, and British Airways over the course of his career.

Speaking on the appointment, Wadhwa expressed, “I am delighted to welcome Surjo as our creative partner on this exciting journey at DENTSU CREATIVE India. Having previously worked alongside Surjo, I am well aware of his incredible talent for building powerful brands – a quality he has consistently demonstrated across every project he has been involved in.”

He added, “His seamless grasp of strategic contributions and deep understanding of the contemporary media landscape make him the ideal candidate to embody our philosophy of ‘Modern Creativity’. I firmly believe that together we will produce work that will leave a lasting mark in the industry.”

Meanwhile, Dutt said, “Dentsu has established itself as a creative powerhouse in India, delivering impactful campaigns that have made a huge impact across various categories. The conglomerate’s work has garnered recognition not only within the industry but also at prestigious national and international award platforms. I am genuinely thrilled and deeply grateful for this incredible opportunity.” 

He added, “I extend my gratitude to Amit and the dentsu team for acknowledging the value of my work and approach. I am looking forward to playing my part in this exciting new phase of DENTSU CREATIVE’s journey in India. The fact that I have previously worked with Amit and thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it is the icing on the cake for me.”

India – With Meta’s new microblogging social app Threads reaching an all-time high of more than 150 million downloads in total during its first week, India is said to be the leading force in contributing to the success of Threads, accounting for approximately 32% of its total downloads globally, according to data revealed by data science agency data.ai Intelligence. 

Until now, the origin of Threads installations has been limited to a single global figure. The app has established the largest footprint in India, which has accounted for about 32% of its downloads.

Indian consumers have been known to flock first to new social platforms in the past, with ByteDance’s TikTok becoming a cultural phenomenon there before it ceased operating in the country. At the same time, India is also Twitter’s second-largest market in terms of both lifetime downloads and monthly active users.

The report also found that besides India with 32% of global downloads, other major contributors to Threads downloads hail from Brazil with 22%, the United States with 16%, Mexico with 8%, and Japan with 5%.

Mumbai, India – Havas Media Network India has emerged as the agency to handle the integrated media mandate of financial company Capri Loans, a brand of Capri Global Capital Limited.

Capri Loans has chosen Havas Media to boost its market presence and enhance brand recognition in the financial sector. They will specifically provide innovative media strategies and manage all aspects of media planning.

Moreover, Havas Play, with its combined expertise in sports, entertainment, and content, will also support Capri Global’s sports initiatives.

Basant Dhawan, group CMO of Capri Global, said they chose the Havas Media Network for its deep understanding of their vision and unique approach. He added that with Havas Media, their target audience will be more engaged through appropriate channels and achieve exceptional results.

In a statement from Mohit Joshi, CEO of Havas Media India, he assures that with their experienced team and strategic planning, they will create a significant impact and competitive financial landscape in India.

Uday Mohan, managing director of Havas Media India, commented on the collaboration, stating, “Our agency will provide comprehensive media services across multiple channels, ensuring a synchronized and targeted communication strategy to effectively reach the desired audience.”

Meanwhile, the account will be led by Manish Sharma, managing partner – West, Havas Media India, Mumbai office.

India – Cult.Sport, a local sports and fitness brand in India, has awarded its integrated creative mandate to advertising agency Wunderman Thompson India.

In this role, Wunderman Thompson India will be providing strategic and creative services for Cult.Sport on a global scale, as well as delivering differentiated content to create a niche for the brand among sports and fitness enthusiasts.

Shamik Sharma, managing director at Cult.Sport expressed his desire for more Indians to take up sports and fitness as part of their everyday lives, and sees the need for a creative approach to achieve it. 

Commenting on this new partnership, he said, “ In Wunderman Thompson India, we have found an agile agency that understands this sporting culture, which is evident through its award-winning sports films and campaigns. As a team, we plan to up the game and create some clutter-breaking communication for the brand.”

Meanwhile, Arjun Mukherjee, VP & Sr. executive creative director at Wunderman Thompson India, said, “Interestingly we are an office full of sports fanatics and this pitch was like a 100-metre dash that got our adrenaline flowing at every step. It was a high to present ideas for an awesome, homegrown, sports shoe brand and we are elated to be the first to touch the finishing line.”

India – Wunderman Thompson India has been appointed as the agency on record (AOR) for smartphone brand vivo in India. Wunderman Thompson was chosen to supervise Vivo’s product portfolio after a thorough review including multiple agencies. They will be in charge of three product lines: the V series, the Y series, and the Series T.

Wunderman Thompson will take responsibility in developing and executing integrated marketing campaigns and digital initiatives for the brand, with a focus on increasing product visibility, reinforcing positioning, and increasing consumer awareness in order to maintain product leadership.

Joy Chauhan, chief client officer at WT South Asia and managing partner at WT Delhi, said, “It’s a proud moment to partner with Vivo in a highly competitive category. At Wunderman Thompson, we inspire growth for ambitious brands, and we are excited about partnering with Vivo to provide business solutions and drive growth for the brand. With Vivo on an exciting growth trajectory, we are thrilled to be part of their growth journey and create stellar work on their new range of products.”

Meanwhile, Karun Arora, head of marketing communications at vivo India, said, “Consumer is at the heart of everything we do at Vivo. During the pitch, Wunderman Thompson team presented a consumer centric integrated approach that resonated with us. We are excited to welcome them as our AOR on product series, I am confident the team will support us in developing engaging communication that supports our overall vision and appeals to consumers at large.”

India – CenturyLaminates has recently launched a new campaign alongside Wunderman Thompson India, to promote its latest laminate lineup to consumers, angling it as a way of putting back fashion into the design of home furniture and decor. Said ad is made in collaboration with Manish Malhotra, a Bollywood fashion designer.

Malhotra, who has had a three-decade presence in the fashion and film industries, has entered the laminates market with the launch of CenturyLaminates by Manish Malhotra, a collection that exudes exclusivity and appeals to high-end consumers. This collaboration allows CenturyLaminates to reposition the competition, which is limited to discussing colours, patterns, textures, and finishes.

CenturyLaminates and Wunderman Thompson collaborated to produce a film series showcasing Manish Malhotra’s creations, aiming to inspire brand-conscious individuals and create a buzz in their social circles. The first film in the series, titled ‘The Video Call’, introduces stylish laminates and their potential impact on home aesthetics.

Keshav Bhajanka, executive director at Century Plyboards (India) Ltd., said, “I am so proud and delighted that CenturyLaminates has tied up with Mr Manish Malhotra, a designer par excellence, to bring this range of laminates to our customers. Over the last few years, we have been witnessing a sea change in customer behaviour & lifestyle. They are looking at brands to amplify their style quotient and enhance their personality. They are aligned with global trends and exposed to international styling.”

He added, “CenturyLaminates by Manish Malhotra introduces a designer of this stature into the laminates category for the very first time. This trend-beating genre of designer laminates – uber cool, super classy and a pride to own – is aptly described as Fashion for your Furniture. Discerning customers, interior designers and architects will now be like painters & sculptors – mixing & matching these laminates, making their imagination run wild as they create their own masterpieces.”

Meanwhile, Arjun Mukherjee, VP and senior ECD at Wunderman Thompson, Kolkata, commented, “Manish Malhotra is synonymous with films and fashion. The films play up this association in the minds of people, making them expect to see the new couture collection. The penny drop moment happens when you realize that for the first time ever MM has created Fashion for your Furniture.”

Vijay Jacob Parakkal, managing partner for East and South at Wunderman Thompson India, said, “The selection of laminates is predominantly guided by the aspects of design and colour, with brand playing a comparatively lesser role. We are positive that this campaign, including the very captivating films, showcasing the remarkable range of CenturyLaminates by Manish Malhotra will bring about a paradigm shift in the laminate purchasing process. By doing so, CenturyLaminates will be firmly established as the foremost choice in consumers’ minds, solidifying its leadership position in the industry.” 

India – To promote the Indian premiere of the horror film ‘Insidious: The Red Door’, local cinema chain PVR-INOX has embarked on a recent campaign to challenge one lucky winner to watch said film in one of their cinema chains. The catch? Watch it all alone.

The film for the campaign, directed by Titus Upputuru who founded The Titus Upputuru Company, shows the winner Vicky walking into a PVX-INOX chain. After settling down in the theatre, smiling to himself, he starts enjoying the film. But soon the scary scenes in the film start to take their toll on him and he begins to be increasingly frightened.

When he can no longer take the intense scenes from the film combined with the scary sounds, he runs down the stairs, tripping over and falling down. He quickly picks himself up and heads out. The horrors do not seem to be over him, as he senses something vile in his car, down the parking lot. 

Shony Panjikaran, general manager and head of Sony Pictures Releasing International in India, said, “We embarked on a thrilling journey with PVR INOX, creating a captivating tale to unveil the final chapter of Insidious. This horror-filled promotion explores the consequences when one dares to venture into the chilling world of fear, alone at a cinema.” 

He added, “From an Instagram contest that sparked an overwhelming response, Vicky emerged as the brave victor who stepped into the darkness, only to have his senses tested to the limit. Insidious: The Red Door delivers an unforgettable cinematic experience which needs to be witnessed on the big screen, like the grandest screens at PVR INOX.”

Meanwhile, Upputuru commented, “It is one thing to watch a horror film on a small screen at home. It is quite another to watch it on a big screen, alone! It was great fun shooting the film. The task was not just to capture the protagonist’s feelings and emotions but to manifest what was going on in his mind. That was the big challenge.” 

He added, “There were several elements that we used to create the atmosphere of fear. The colours, the mirrors, the lonely top shots, the red apparition, the creepy hands, the sounds, and the edit, all went into making the experience both real and surreal.” 

Mumbai, India – Humans of Bombay (HOB), a local storytelling platform, has launched a new YouTube talk show titled ‘The Humans of Bombay Show’. Saidshow aims to provide viewers with an unfiltered glimpse into intriguing concepts and the powerful real-life stories of ordinary people from all walks of life across the country.

HOB believes there is power in human stories; hence the program will bring these narratives to a larger canvas through its new YouTube show. With a vision to present raw and authentic tales of individuals from diverse sections of Indian society, “The Humans of Bombay Show” promises to inspire, educate, and entertain.

Moreover, the show will not only delve into the extraordinary experiences of everyday heroes but also explore compelling concepts, professions, and various categories such as metaphysical phenomena, life in the defense forces, and sex education.

Karishma Mehta, founder and CEO of Humans of Bombay, expressed her excitement about the new venture, stating, “The journey has just begun for ‘The Humans of Bombay Show.’ There are countless more stories waiting to be unearthed—those of ordinary people who have lived extraordinary lives. We invite you to tune in to the HOB YouTube channel, where stories ignite emotions and touch your very core.”

“The Humans of Bombay Show” will mark a significant expansion of HOB’s storytelling platform, bringing their signature style of authentic storytelling to a new medium. 

India – Carat India, the media agency under Dentsu, has recently named Sanchayeeta Verma as the new chief executive officer. In her role, she will directly report to Anita Kotwani, the media CEO of South Asia, at Dentsu.

Sanchayeeta will be based in Bangalore and be in charge of providing strategic direction to improve the agency’s growth trajectory. Along with this, she will concentrate on coaching the agency’s large talent pool, motivating people to investigate disruptive solutions that provide practical business results that put the needs of clients first.

By ensuring operations, Sanchayeeta will lead the development of new business possibilities and strengthen current client relationships, establishing herself as a dependable partner for customers. Additionally, she will integrate her work with the network’s global brand offering, which will further increase revenue streams in India.

Sanchayeeta is a senior business executive with 27 years of experience in the marketing, media, and advertising sectors. She developed her skills in managing a variety of sectors, including media, content, data, and technology, during the course of her career. Sanchayeeta had senior management positions before joining Dentsu, making contributions across several areas at GroupM’s Mindshare and Wavemaker. Moreover, she has also held roles in businesses like Lintas Media Group, JWT, Kiwi TTK, and others.

Speaking on her new role, she said, “Dentsu and Carat continue to be the front-runner in addressing critical industry issues such as audience attention, brand EQ and sustainable media. They continuously pioneer and lead in digital and CXM. I am very excited to join the Carat-Dentsu family. I look forward to Carat being a fantastic partner to its clients, as well as an ideal place for our employees and the planet at large, by marrying the warmth of ‘creating for people’ with the dynamism of media, content, data, and technology.”

Meanwhile, Anita Kotwani, CEO Media, South Asia, Dentsu, commented, “The network’s focus on strengthening our media businesses aligns with our global ambition. Getting the best people on board is, therefore, very critical. Sanchayeeta’s ethos and the value systems that drive Carat are inextricably linked. Her varied expertise in consumer research, business planning, and client leadership has kept her abreast of the shifting media landscape.” 

Anita added, “She is also dedicated to lifelong learning and staying ahead of the curve, making her an ideal candidate for this position. Carat has increased its scope over the recent year with notable wins such as Tata Neu, Tata Croma, Hero Vida, Times Pro, and others. Sanchayeeta will accelerate expansion and propel the Carat brand to the forefront of the Indian market.”

India- The media agency from Dentsu India, Dentsu X, has been chosen as the media partner by Berger Paints, a paint company in India and in the global paints and coatings sector. The media mandate was chosen through a competitive selection process involving many agencies. Berger Paints has selected Dentsu X for its advertising requirements. The account will be handled from the Densu X office in Kolkata.

The team at Dentsu, led by Anita Kotwani, CEO of media for South Asia at dentsu, will collaborate to develop strategies that will contribute to the brand. In order to increase brand value through traditional offline media channels, including print, television, and radio, on a national level, the agency will be in charge of managing media strategy, planning, purchasing, and implementation.

Regarding the achievement, Kotwani said, “The inclusion of Berger Paints to our portfolio holds massive significance. It represents a new chapter in dentsu India’s journey, characterized by a renewed sense of purpose and a clear direction. Our network has been actively engaging in competitive pitches, with an intrinsic focus on securing remarkable victories that propel us toward an exciting future. We firmly believe in driving meaningful transformations, embracing change, and nurturing our talented workforce to deliver client-centric solutions and exceptional services.”

Kotwani added, “Dentsu has played a pivotal role in propelling numerous brands towards a growth trajectory, leveraging our distinctive data-driven, consumer-centric design thinking, and strategic expertise. We have been at the forefront of deploying innovative media and content concepts to establish brand equity, ensuring sustained brand growth. However, efficiency and effectiveness remain paramount in our approach. The win of Berger Paints symbolizes the recognition of our strategic approach, and we are privileged to form a partnership with such a formidable brand.”

Meanwhile, KK Sai, senior vice president, and head of the decorative division at Berger Paints, said, “The insights that the dentsu X team brought to the table as well as their integrated media approach promises to give an innovative and bright spark to the media campaigns of Berger.”