Sydney, Australia – Flare, the social and content offering by advertising agency Clemenger BBDO Sydney, has been appointed by cruise brand Carnival Cruise Line to handle its digital mandate.

Carnival Cruise Line is deemed to be one of the most popular cruise lines in North America. It operates 24 ships designed to foster memorable vacation experiences.

Through the partnership, Clemenger BBDO Sydney will be working closely with media agency SPEED, which takes on responsibility for the cruise line’s media strategy and buying.

Kara Glamore, Carnival Cruise Line’s vice president for Australia, commented they are excited to work with a partner who they know is going to deliver the communication vision they have for the Carnival brand, and Flare’s breadth of abilities will assist in focusing the content to drive impact with the customer.

Meanwhile, Pete Bosilkovski, the CEO of Clemenger BBDO Sydney, shared that with vaccination rates soaring and the eventual return of cruising feeling closer on the horizon, they are all looking forward to adding a bit of fun to their lives, and no one does fun like Carnival. 

“We’re excited to partner with Carnival, to help develop a digital and social media program to get people excited about future family fun holidays. I’m also really thrilled for the Flare team who put forward a brilliant pitch response, and continue to go from strength to strength with their innovative social media thinking,” said Bosilkovski.

Lewis Steele, Clemenger BBDO Sydney’s head of social, said, “With Carnival, we’ve developed an approach that will allow an unprecedented level of flex and optimization for the brand. We can’t wait to produce the work and get it out into the world, it’s going to be a whole lot of fun.”

Just recently, Clemenger BBDO in Sydney has appointed Steele to assume the role of head of social, and was tasked to lead the agency’s Flare Sydney.

Bangkok, Thailand – Marketing communications agency FCB Bangkok in Thailand has announced that it has bagged the creative and digital mandate account of nutritional malted drink Ovaltine across four markets in Southeast Asia, namely Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia, and Cambodia.

Through the appointment, FCB Bangkok will lead the creative and digital mandate for the Brand, powered with 360- degree communication strategies aimed at defining the overall brand strategy and the portfolio strategy, as the brand charts its course for the next phase of growth.

For Tutiya Disphanurat, managing director at FCB Bangkok, this has been one of the agency’s toughest pitches in recent times, as it combines insights and understanding from four countries in order to increase engagement with the brand.

“Understanding the brand’s tone and business nuances in various markets was topped by the need to delve more deeply into the relationship of Moms & Kids and gain insights and cultural patterns. Over one and a half months of pitch preparation, we developed an integrated strategy to strengthen Ovaltine’s presence in these markets. The big win also showcases FCB’s strong network in SEA, with great minds coming together, across geographies, working with local and regional insights to make this win possible, together,” Disphanurat said.

Ovaltine, a rich Swiss heritage for over 100 years, features a strong brand awareness and enjoys a good reputation as a nutritional malt drink for kids and adults alike. Ovaltine is a nutritious and delicious drink brand enjoyed by millions of families around the world for its rich malt taste and nutritional value. 

For Pawika Tongtavee, marketing director of Ovaltine for the Southeast Asia market, they chose FCB Bangkok due to ‘their outstanding strategic capabilities and unique creative vision for Ovaltine’.

“FCB Bangkok’s strength lies with strategy, and they are the perfect partners who will help us take the brand to the next level. The passion of the team and the leadership towards the brand, coupled with high energy level and teamwork, is exactly the mix we were looking for,” Tongtavee stated.

New Delhi, India – Digital insurance policy provider ACKO General Insurance in India has tapped Dentsu Webchutney to handle its digital and social media duties for the company, with its entire operations offered through the digital platform.

Dentsu Webchutney, which operates as the official digital creative agency of dentsu India, won the account after a multi-agency pitch.

With ACKO setting new benchmarks for customer experience in an otherwise slow-moving category, Dentsu Webchutney comes in with a specific goal to grow ACKO’s place in the market, with an always-on social excellence approach.

Ashish Mishra, executive vice president for Marketing at ACKO General Insurance said that they are absolutely thrilled to be joining forces with Dentsu Webchutney, adding that partnering with them to lead their charter on digital marks the beginning of a journey that is filled with intent and backed by action.

“We are certain that Dentsu Webchutney, with their nuanced understanding of the digital landscape, will fuel our vision to be the country’s most loved general insurance brand,” Mishra said.

Meanwhile, GD Prasad, vice president at Dentsu Webchutney, the agency will continue to push the bar for the team in what has turned out to be a year of fantastic partnerships with disruptive new brands for the agency.

“In a short time, ACKO has established itself as a disruptive brand that every player in the category will soon follow. To partner with them, is to take another step into the deep end of the impact of digital technologies. We have the enviable chance to build a brand whose actions are aligned with its values,” Prasad stated.

Mumbai, India – Digital agency Yellophant Digital has won the integrated digital mandate for Mezaya, the authentic Turkish and Lebanese Baklava brand in Mumbai, India.

Mezaya deems to be the first among the few food brands in the country that provide freshly baked handcrafted traditional Mediterranean Baklavas that comes from the traditional recipes. It offers vegetarian desserts and uses ingredients directly sourced from the Mediterranean region.

The partnership will see Yellophant Digital managing and amplifying Mezaya’s 360-degree digital marketing duties, including creative strategy, SEO, and media spends, as well as website maintenance, and social media marketing across digital platforms, among others.

Shazia Ahmed Sheikh and Raies Sheikh, the co-founders of Mezaya, shared that after scouting across various agencies, they have now found the right ROI-driven agency that understands Mezaya’s long-term vision and can justify the spending meticulously.

“Baklavas are something that is new to the audience and we are thrilled to collaborate with Preksha and her team. Yellophant Digital has been brilliant in terms of providing solutions to brand challenges. Mezaya is really excited about this collaboration with Yellophant Digital and looks forward to seeing the brand’s overall performance and increasing ROI in the forthcoming days,“ the co-founders said.

Meanwhile, Yellophant Digital’s Co-Founder Preksha Seth commented that they are delighted to have Mezaya on board and they look forward to strategizing and managing the brand’s digital marketing duties and introducing this Mediterranean delight to the Indian audience on a creative platter.

“Our extensive experience of collaborating with F&B establishments comes in handy at this point. Being an ROI-driven agency, we plan to execute ideas that yield significant results in a brief time,” said Seth.

In April this year, Yellophant Digital has also nabbed the digital marketing mandate of ExpertMFD, India’s collaborative initiative to create financial entrepreneurs for the mutual fund industry. The agency was tasked to bolster the brand’s digital presence.

India – Dentsu International’s digital-first end-to-end media agency iProspect in India has recently won the digital mandate for commercial banking company AU Small Finance Bank.

AU Small Finance Bank is an Indian scheduled commercial bank that offers banking services such as personal banking, online banking, internet banking, and business and corporate banking, as well as insurance, and loans, among others.

Through the partnership, iProspect will be responsible for handling the overall digital duties for AU Bank including performance and branding campaigns. The agency will also utilize its proprietary tools and solutions to help the brand achieve its digital marketing objectives through innovative digital campaigns.

Commenting on the new partnership, iProspect India’s CEO Rubeena Singh said that they are delighted that their in-depth domain experience of the BFSI sector won them the digital mandate. 

“We are excited to partner with AU Bank and work towards driving business growth and achieving their brand KPIs. We look forward to delivering our best services to the brand through the intersection of brand, tech, media, and communication,” added Singh.

Meanwhile, Uttam Tibrewal, the executive director of AU Small Finance Bank, shared that over the last few years there has undoubtedly been a fast-track shift towards digital adoption among customers. 

“As a tech-led Bank focused on offering customer-centric solutions, we are continuously working to optimize our customer engagement through digital media. The partnership with iProspect India is an important step in that direction which will strengthen our data-driven approach to digital marketing and media planning,” said Tibrewal.

In April this year, iProspect in the United States has also been selected as the global paid media partner of online employment platform LinkedIn. The partnership will see the agency managing the platform’s digital media strategy and buying across all of its business units.

Singapore – Global digital media agency M&C Saatchi Performance has won the digital mandate for beverage company Beam Suntory for its key markets in the SEA region, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as the Philippines, and Cambodia.

Headquartered in the United States, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Japan’s Suntory Holdings. It deems to be the third-largest producer of distilled beverages globally and is also producing alcoholic beverages.

As per the mandate, M&C Saatchi Performance will be responsible for the digital media planning, buying, and strategy of Beam Suntory brands in SEA such as Jim Beam, Auchentoshan, and Roku, as well as Strong Zero, among others.

Commenting on the partnership, Adeep Gupta, the managing director at Beam Suntory SEA, said, “We’re very happy to bring M&C Saatchi Performance on board as our partners on some of our most prestigious brands. Digitalization is a key theme to reach and engage consumers and we’re thrilled to partner with the team to set a new benchmark in SEA.”

Meanwhile, M&C Saatchi Performance APAC’s Managing Director Kabeer Chaudhary commented that it is an exciting opportunity for the agency to be chosen as Beam Suntory’s digital media agency, and they are looking forward to leveraging their deep market knowledge to drive transformative digital strategies in an industry that has traditionally been focused on offline media. 

“Over the next year, we’ll be working closely with the Beam Suntory team to consolidate their digital presence in Southeast Asia and hope this will be the beginning of a long-lasting relationship,” said Chaudhary.

Christian Gladwell, the CEO at M&C Saatchi Performance, also commented that they are delighted to welcome Beam Suntory to the M&C Saatchi Performance family of clients and look forward to driving their business growth across SEA. 

“I am confident that leveraging the expertise of our team in the region will undoubtedly fasten Beam Suntory’s connection to today’s digital audiences,” said Gladwell.

Mumbai, India – Plumbing and piping manufacturer Astral in India has awarded the digital marketing mandate of its expanded portfolios, namely Astral Pipes, Astral Foundation, and Astral Adhesives, to advertising agency Chimp&z Inc.

Astral is a manufacturer and provider of Chlorinated PolyVinyl Chloride (CPVC) piping, plumbing, and drainage systems in India. It offers piping technologies, quality products, and services to residentials and industrial customers in the country.

As per the mandate, Chimp&z Inc will be responsible for the social media management, SEO, paid media, and website maintenance of Astral’s brands. The agency will also be emphasizing the unique touch-points and employing innovative digital tools of the three Astral entities.

Commenting on the new partnership, Kairav Engineer, the vice president of business development at Astral, said that they look forward to enhancing the brand’s digital presence through the partnership.

“Astral enjoys a great deal of trust and sizable equity in the Indian market. Always a step ahead with innovative products and smart solutions, Astral brands have been trailblazers in their respective industries. Our aim now is to amplify our digital communication with social media strategizing, video marketing, influencer marketing, and all the other upgraded digital tools,” said Engineer.

Meanwhile, Chimp&z Inc’s Vice President of Growth and Operations Ashish Duggal shared, “We are thrilled to be associating with a group of brands that strive to set benchmarks with all their initiatives – the Astral Ltd. Chimp&z Inc’s integrated approach on the digital front clubbed with the brand’s efforts to serve consumers to the best of their abilities can be the inception of a strong alliance that delivers some remarkable work overtime.”

The accounts will be managed by the agency’s Mumbai office.

In April this year, Chimp&z Inc has also nabbed cookware manufacturer Vinod Cookware‘s digital communications duties and was tasked to lead the brand’s social media strategy, creatives, and digital PR, as well as performance marketing.

Mumbai, India – Digital agency Yellophant Digital has won the digital marketing mandate for ExpertMFD, India’s collaborative initiative to create financial entrepreneurs for the mutual fund industry.

The partnership will see Yellophant Digital managing ExpertMFD’s digital marketing duties, such as creative and content solutions, social media management, and digital campaign strategy, as well as media planning and buying, and ORM, SEO, and SEM.

According to the agency, the Indian Mutual Fund industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the country and there is an enormous opportunity for potential entrepreneurs to participate in the industry’s growth story. With this, Yellophant Digital plans to educate and give insights to potential entrepreneurs about the brand through targeted strategy on all digital platforms.

Himanshu Vyapak, the managing director of the Center for Investment Education & Learning (CIEL), said that they have about 2.3 crore unique mutual fund investors in India, and the growth in mutual fund distributors have not kept pace with the growth of assets in the mutual fund industry.

He further shared that they try to build a strong foundation and a cohesive growth environment for future financial experts to create Atmanirbhar India, which translates to ‘self-reliant India’, by providing a full-stack end-to-end platform for anyone who wants to become a mutual fund distributor. Vyapak stated that they are truly thrilled to join hands with one of India’s leading AMCs and they look forward to seeing Yellophant Digital give them a digital presence across all the platforms and help them reach more people and create mutual fund entrepreneurs of the future.

“This is a big opportunity and as 90% of the Indian audience has become social media savvy, we want to create a huge impact on various digital platforms. We understand that Yellophant Digital knows how the industry works and we are thrilled to see how they will make ExpertMFD a brand that reaches everyone. That is the reason we have collaborated with Yellophant Digital and I am confident that working together will help our brand reach new heights,” added Vyapak.

Meanwhile, Preksha Seth, the co-founder of Yellophant Digital, commented, “We look forward to working with ExpertMFD, which focuses on creating new financial entrepreneurs. It is the first time in India that all of the Mutual Fund Industry is coming together to create a revolution in investing. We are fortunate and grateful that we have this responsibility to build the digital-first brand from inception. We are super excited to come up with insight first thoughts for the brand and use social media to amplify the same.”

Mumbai, India – ART Fertility Clinics, the global institution of reproductive medicine in India, has set its eyes on amplifying its digital presence, and they have chosen independent digital marketing agency Social Beat, to boost its digital marketing in the country. 

The Middle East-headquartered ART Fertility Clinics deems to be one of the leading institutions in the fertility sector globally and is known for its knowledge and latest advancements in Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). Recently, private equity firm Gulf Capital has invested $30M in ART Fertility Clinics to help the brand expand in India. The firm’s investment will enable the fertility chain to open 18 clinics in different parts of the country over the next 12 months.

Aside from their main website, the clinic currently has its digital footprint on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. At present, it uses its social media channels to share reliable information on health and fertility. Through the new partnership, Social Beat will be responsible for handling the India branch’s digital media planning and performance marketing to accelerate patient acquisition.

CEO of ART Fertility Clinics India, Vinesh Gadhia said, “We are pleased to appoint Social Beat as our digital marketing partner. As we embark upon a new journey in India, we believe with their strong experience and capabilities, Social Beat will be able to drive our narrative in a compelling manner and build brand trust in India”

Meanwhile, Vikas Chawla, the co-founder of Social Beat, commented that the agency is thrilled to join ART Fertility in its growth journey, as the fertility segment is growing at a rapid pace, and they are looking to leverage their digital capabilities to educate, as well as acquire patients. 

Rachna Ganatra, the head of strategy and business development of Social Beat, said, “Our vast experience in providing digital marketing services for brands in the healthcare sector, particularly patient acquisition will help us drive success for ART Fertility. We are looking forward to narrating ART fertility’s brand story to the audience through innovative and engaging campaigns.”