Tag: India

India – Dentsu Creative India has named Abhijat Bharadwaj as chief creative officer (CCO) of Dentsu Creative Isobar in a strategic move to strengthen the company’s creative vision. 

Bharadwaj will report to Amit Wadhwa, CEO of Dentsu Creative India, and Sahil Shah, president of Dentsu Creative Isobar, and will collaborate closely with the executive team to advance the agency’s creative strategy. He will concentrate on significantly enhancing Dentsu Creative Isobar’s creative prowess and unique talent pool, which have been developed over the years through collaboration with many renowned Indian and international companies. 

Bharadwaj has over 17 years of expertise in advertising, having directed campaigns for companies including Mercedes-Benz, Godrej, AM/NS, Star Sports, and Swiggy. His campaigns include “Netflix for All,” Bhuvan Bam’s Pizza Hut campaign, and the Indian Super League’s “Yeh Diwali Football Wali” campaign.

Bharadwaj was the creator behind the “Teen Ka Dream” Adidas World Cup advertisement. His career has included crucial positions at leading agencies such as Leo Burnett, McCann, and Creativeland Asia. He also led Star Sports’ premium sports vertical, where he played a key role in promoting football, tennis, and Formula One in India. Abhijat, known for his unwavering pursuit of creative brilliance, mixes strategic thought with boundless excitement in his current position.

Dentsu Creative Isobar’s dedication to developing remarkable brand experiences rooted in creativity in the modern, multi-platform, digital-first world is further demonstrated by the appointment of Bharadwaj. His direction will be crucial in establishing new standards for creativity, encouraging an innovative culture, and developing a vibrant group of up-and-coming creatives. 

Sahil Shah said, “Abhijat’s entry unlocks a new level of growth for us. In today’s day and age, brands need a creative agency that solves problems, regardless of platforms or mediums, because that’s how non-linear and multi-platform the consumer is. And in this new era, I believe we have a phenomenal talent pool, with strong creative capabilities and the right culture to be in the pole position. With Abhijat leading our creative from the top, I am certain we are now a team to beat.” 

Speaking about the appointment, Amit Wadhwa said, “Abhijat is not just an exceptional creative talent but a visionary leader for this new age. His passion for excellence in both work and team building will set new industry standards. Alongside our formidable team of creative leaders, we are confident that Abhijat will propel us to new heights of success and recognition.” 

Lastly, Bharadwaj said, “Joining an iconic global brand like dentsu is truly exciting. My goal is to unlock new opportunities for Dentsu Creative Isobar in India and build a best-in-class team that delivers creative solutions and exceptional value for our clients.”

Mumbai, India – Cheil X, an independent full-service agency under the Cheil SWA Group, has appointed Anurag Tandon as its chief growth officer.

In his new role, Tandon will be leading the newly opened Mumbai office in addition to the growth charter and expand Cheil X’s business operations in the city.

Tandon enters this role with over 20 years of experience as a seasoned business leader on units such as DDB Mudra West, and WT, Mumbai where he was responsible for managing the P&L, key client relationships and top line growth.

His other stints include Ogilvy and Leo Burnett, as well as extensive brand management experience having worked across multiple categories with large global brands like UL, Volkswagen, McDonald’s and J&J to name a few.

Speaking on his appointment, Tandon said, “Cheil’s ambition to grow its new business and build a creative reputation promises to be a journey filled with challenges and opportunities in equal measure. I’m excited to be part of building a new business ground up and I know I have the support to help realise this ambition.”

“I believe we have the vision, the expertise and the plan to quickly carve out a meaningful share of the market and establish ourselves as a key player. I am looking forward to this journey of collaborating with like-minded individuals, leveraging our collective creativity and drive to rapidly propel the Cheil X brand forward,” he added.
 
Meanwhile, Sanjeev Jasani, COO at Cheil SWA, commented, “We are thrilled to welcome Anurag as he takes over the reins of our Mumbai office. Anurag is a well-known name in the industry with a reputation for delivering benchmark worthy work for clients across a wide range of industries. He is a valuable asset to the organisation and we look forward to working with him.”

New Delhi, India – VaynerMedia has announced that it has officially launched in India, marking the agency’s sixth office in the Asia-Pacific region and 13th globally. The agency has been working closely with Fortune 500 clients in India for two years and operated in strategic partnership with local agency Step1.

Through the official launch, VaynerMedia India will be led by Salman Moin as its country manager, and he will be reporting to Tim Lindley, managing director for Asia-Pacific at VaynerMedia. Step1 will also seamlessly integrate into the overall VaynerMedia family following the launch.

Speaking on the official launch, Lindley said, “India’s entrepreneurial spirit, rapid economic growth, and thriving pop culture make it one of the most exciting markets in the world right now. It brings together deep-rooted tradition and fast-paced innovation –– the ideal conditions for dynamic brands to thrive.”

He added, “Modern brands the world over have leveraged the power of social media to disrupt goliath incumbents; Indian businesses leverage social media on a whole new level to disrupt global dynamics, making it the perfect place for us to deploy our ‘social at the centre’ marketing model.” 

Meanwhile, Gary Vaynerchuk, CEO and co-founder at VaynerMedia, commented, “India’s deeply diverse cultural heritage combined with its rapidly growing economy and exploding social media landscape presents a truly unique and exciting opportunity for brands. The country’s entrepreneurial spirit and diverse culture coupled with our team’s passion, expertise, and VaynerMedia’s attention-first philosophy –– now this is a recipe for explosive growth.”

He added, “I have zero doubt that Tim and Salman will lead the team to an incredibly exciting future, and I’m excited to show the Fortune 500 brands in the region how to actually build brand in the new marketing world.” 

India – Milton, a home and kitchenware brand, has collaborated with Posterscope to produce an imaginative and vivid campaign titled ‘Milton Liya Kya?’. The campaign is intended to raise awareness of the brand’s bottle and tiffin collection, which is available in over 75 colours and styles with a unique twist. 

Milton provided the goods for every parent’s taste and need through the campaign, which was managed by Posterscope, an out-of-home (OOH) specialist agency from Dentsu India. This campaign acted as a reminder to encourage purchases as the summer holidays drew to an end. 

The campaign used digital out-of-home (DOOH) and traditional out-of-home (DOOH) media in key cities. It showed kids getting excited about their new school supplies, inspiring them to embrace school necessities wholeheartedly. 

Milton’s findings led to a heavy emphasis on South and West India as important prospective markets for the campaign. The goal of this geographic region’s focus was to increase impact and reach in areas with significant demand potential. The media environment in these markets helped the brand succeed by giving it the chance to reach a wide audience by combining traditional billboards, DOOH, and metro advertising. 

The agency used innovative features, including cut-out installations at eight strategic points and sequential lighting, to draw attention even more. The inner train logo and Metro wraps improved the campaign’s visual appeal and memorability. Posterscope demonstrated its innovative and agile abilities by managing the conception and implementation of these improvements in just 3–4 days. 

Speaking about the campaign, Imtiyaz Vilatra, managing director at Posterscope India, said, “We are proud to have partnered with Milton to bring this impactful campaign to life. With our in-house creative and strategic planning aid, we have been able to reach millions and reinforce Milton’s position as a leading brand in the homeware industry.”

Mumbai, India – The branded content division of Network18, News18 Studio, has announced the appointment of Bobby Pawar as creative consultant. Pawar will oversee creative projects and integrate cutting-edge solutions into brand strategies in close collaboration with the network’s branded content team in this capacity. 

Having worked in the advertising industry for more than 30 years, Pawar is known for his effective work for many different businesses. Over the course of his career, he has won over 400 honours. 

Pawar was chairman & chief creative officer of Havas Group before coming to News18 Studio. Additionally, he had positions as CCO at Publicis and JWT India, where he is credited with rebuilding the agencies’ creative reputations and financial success. 

Speaking about the appointment, S Shivakumar, president, News18 Studio, said, “At News18 Studios, we integrate newsworthy content with a story-first approach to drive conversations and achieve brand objectives. Having someone of Bobby’s stature with us will energise our creative endeavours and also inspire our young team. We look forward to Bobby helping us deliver more impactful solutions that resonate with our brand partners.” 

Meanwhile, Pawar expressed,“It’s an exciting step for me to help create powerful brand stories through engaging content after having done my bit in conventional advertising. I am thrilled to join the talented team at Network 18 and use my experience to push creative boundaries for effective solutions. I look forward to helping create compelling content that not only entertains but also inspires and engages audiences, and equally creates impact for brands.”

Mumbai, India – Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., India’s SUV manufacturer, has teamed with artists Santanu Hazarika and Abhishek Paatni of Nought One to produce a streetwear line inspired by the Mahindra XUV 3XO’s design and colours. 

The collection debuted today in Mumbai at the XUV 3XO “Tech Fashion Tour,” an exhibit property that highlighted Mahindra’s creative strategy for engaging with modern consumers. 

The clothing has been designed to incorporate design cues from the XUV 3XO, such as its diamond inserts and emblem, which connect the ensemble to the SUV’s style. The goal of this series is to draw in young customers who value automotive design in addition to contemporary fashion. 

Speaking about the partnership, Pratap Bose, chief design and creative officer, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., expressed, “Today, we are excited to showcase a collection that brings together our passion for innovation across our authentic SUV range with the dynamic world of fashion. The new XUV 3XO is the latest expression of Mahindra’s HEARTCORE Design philosophy. Designed to stand out from the crowd, the XUV 3XO takes the premium compact SUV to new heights of Design, Technology, and Innovation. This collection not only reflects the bold and distinctive features of the XUV 3XO but also complements the lifestyle and values of our younger consumers. 

He added, “Through this collaboration with Santanu and Nought One, whose work is always at the cutting edge of design and fashion, we are reaching out to new audiences and exploring new forms of expression.” 

Meanwhile, Santanu Hazarika and Abhishek Paatni said, “We are thrilled to partner with Mahindra on this unique project. This collaboration with the XUV 3XO is a perfect blend of our streetwear aesthetic with the standout design of this modern SUV. It’s an exciting challenge to translate automotive innovation into fashion, and we believe our customers will appreciate the creativity and authenticity behind each piece. This partnership reflects futuristic, functional clothing which blends with the aesthetics of the new age and a progressive future.” 

“This collaboration with Santanu Hazarika and Abhishek Paatni represents a new direction for Mahindra, connecting with a broader audience through fashion and lifestyle,” Hazarika and Paatni added. 

Gurugram, India – Havas Media Network India, Havas India’s specialist media branch, has announced the promotion of two senior leaders to key positions within the organisation. Uday Mohan has taken over as chief operating officer of Havas Media India, replacing R. Venkatasubramanian is now Havas Play’s chief operating officer. Both will continue to report to Mohit Joshi, the CEO of Havas Media Network India. 

Mohan will lead Havas Media India’s strategic growth plans and overall operations in his new position as chief operating officer. 

During his more than 16 years with Havas Media India, Mohan, who has more than 20 years of experience in the media business, has played a key role in the agency. His experienced leadership has brought the agency recognition for its creativity in a variety of industries and resulted in the acquisition of several clients. 

Venkatasubramanian took over Havas Play last year, when the specialised function was launched in India and a number of other countries across the world. 

Venkatasubramanian led Havas Play in a competitive market by supporting a number of IPs and initiatives across its sports, content, and entertainment divisions under his direction. 

Speaking about the promotions, Rana Barua, Group CEO, Havas India, South East Asia and North Asia (Japan and South Korea), said, “Uday and Venka’s elevations come at an important juncture for Havas Media Network India, as the agency experiences remarkable growth. Their strategic prowess and dedication have been instrumental in driving our agency’s success over the years and their elevation reflects our confidence in their vision and ability to continue fostering innovation, collaboration, and client satisfaction. I wish them all the best.”

Meanwhile, Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Network India, said, “With Uday and Venkat at the helm of their respective business divisions, Havas Media Network India has made significant strides, evident in the agency’s expanded client portfolio, new acquisitions, and strategic partnerships. This elevation underscores our unwavering dedication to fortifying our organisational framework by nurturing our in-house capabilities. Leaders like them are key to our goal of making media meaningful for our clients and the industry at large as their exceptional industry acumen is pivotal in leading a team as diverse as ours. I extend my sincerest congratulations to Uday and Venkat on their new roles and look forward to our continued trajectory of growth and success together.”

India – DDB Mudra Group has promoted its current national strategy head, Menaka Menon, to the role of president and managing partner for growth and strategy to lead the agency’s South office. 

Menon will take over Ranji Cherian, former president and managing partner, who successfully ran and scaled the south office for over 16 years and will now lead as the head of client excellence at the group.

In her new role, Menon will take charge of the operation and strategic thinking for clients based out of the Bengaluru office. 

With over 23 years of experience in business and strategy, she has experience across advertising, broadcast media, and strategic consulting. Menon has spent over 15 years in advertising, with stints at agencies such as FCB, VML, and Leo Burnett. 

Commenting on her new role, Menon said, “I am super excited about this new role and look forward to further strengthening the South operation and building a strong, closely knit team, geared towards creating great work that has the power to move people.”

Also speaking on the promotion, Rahul Mathew, chief creative officer at DDB Mudra Group, said, “We believe that everything we do is built on strong strategic pillars, be it our work or how we do our work. In her new role, Menaka will use her strategic background to add more value to our client’s business while building a strong culture of creativity in the office. Over the last few years, some of our best work has come from our South office, and I’m really excited to work with Menaka to push us to newer heights.”

Mumbai, India – Global digital agency DEPT® has been named Adobe’s Digital Partner of the Year in India, during the Best of Adobe Summit event held this week in Mumbai. This recognition acknowledges DEPT®’s deep expertise and nearly two decades of successful Adobe solution implementations. 

The 2024 Adobe Digital Experience Partner Awards were announced during the event, recognising alliance partners who have made substantial contributions to joint customer success, demonstrated proficiency in Adobe technology, and have continued to expand their Adobe practices in the Indian market.

“This recognition shows the continuous commitment our teams have to our Adobe partnership, which is nearly two decades strong. Adobe products allow us to design tailored digital experiences that elevate our clients’ engagement and success, helping them stay ahead”, said Yash Mody, Global CTO DEPT® Adobe Practice. 

DEPT® has continuously invested in its Adobe expertise, currently boosting a team of over 550 experts, and over 120 certified experts, helping deliver hundreds of projects across the entire Adobe ecosystem from Adobe Experience Manager and Adobe Real-Time Customer Data Platform and beyond. The agency had previously been recognised as Adobe’s Solution Partner of the Year for APAC in 2019, 2021, and 2022. 

DEPT®’s experience engineering approach—combined with the agency’s unique 50/50 split between tech and marketing—has helped clients such as HDFC Bank, Moody’s, HSBC, Tata Capital, Bajaj Allianz, Samsung, smart, and Tata AIA realise faster time-to-market and deliver hyper-personalised experiences across channels.

Mumbai, India – CleverTap, an all-in-one customer engagement and retention platform, has announced the launch of Clever.AI, its AI-powered customer engagement engine. 

For CleverTap, it aims to provide brands with the next generation of AI capabilities required for building human-like knowledge of customers and efficiently delivering personalised experiences that resonate with them, hence enhancing customer lifetime value.

The three core AI pillars of predictive, generative, and prescriptive AI form the foundation of Clever.AI. ‘Clever.AI’ uses these pillars to transform the way brands communicate with their customers, making their interactions more informed and effective. 

Talking about the launch, Anand Jain, co-founder and chief product officer, CleverTap, said, “We’re thrilled to unveil Clever.AI, a testament of our pursuit over the last several years in leading the way in adopting the latest tech to transform customer engagement. We will continue to innovate CleverTap’s All-in-One engagement platform with Clever.AI enhancing its precision in predictions, its ability to prescribe intelligent customer experiences strengthened by advanced product analytics and deeper persona profiling to ensure brands can build highly personalised experiences, and campaigns more effectively, ensuring every customer interaction is personalised and outcome-driven.”