Tag: India

Mumbai, India – Blis, the integrated planning and buying platform for advertising, is further expanding its operations in India with two new strategic roles. 

Blis has added to the investment in regional roles to drive growth and meet advertiser demand, now offering a truly national sales representation across India. The company welcomes new Head of Sales, Nabajit Nath, and Associate Group Head, Nived Kansal. 

Nath will be based out of Mumbai to lead the sales efforts across the region. Nath joins the team with more than a decade of experience in digital advertising and technology sales, including Paytm, Flipkart and Network 18. Most recently, at Paytm, Nath led the foundational sales team, driving growth and success for the business across a number of years.

On his appointment, Nath said, “I was drawn to the role due to the company’s strong people focus, and I’m determined to contribute to this dynamic, innovative, and fast-paced organization which pioneered location-powered advertising solutions.”. 

Supporting Nath in Mumbai is Ishika Sharma, who has recently been promoted to Associate Director West, and in the south, Sales Lead, Lloyd Joseph, who joined the Blis business in Bangalore last year.

The new Associate Group Head, Nived Kansal, meanwhile, will be leading the Delhi region for Blis. Kansal comes to Blis with over 10 years’ media experience across India, working at major global and local companies such as Google, LinkedIn, and most recently mobile ads provider Inmobi, where he was the Brand Solutions Expert across telco, consumer durables, OEM, and auto.

Commenting on the announcements, Emma-Jayne Owens, managing director for APAC at Blis, said, “We’ve driven significant growth across the APAC region over the past few years and I’m delighted to be building further momentum with our new hires. They join Blis to drive our ambition for an even stronger team across more regions in India, where their combined local knowledge, expertise and seniority in digital advertising and technology allows us to support market leading solutions and our clients’ businesses growth.”

India – DBS Bank India has unveiled its latest ‘One DBS’ brand campaign that captures the new benefits to customers from the expanded branch network across the country, with banking solutions for both individuals and businesses. 

The campaign featured a fast-paced brand film titled ‘Live More, Bank Less’ that talks about the bank’s ability to up the ante with the combination of its enlarged physical presence and much-awarded digital expertise. The campaign was made with Leo Burnett, who also led the film production and conceptualisation.

‘Live More, Bank Less’ also featured creative visuals highlighting DBS Bank India’s pan-Asia and pan-India presence, reiterating its position as the bank of choice when it comes to Asian connectivity. In addition to the expanded scale, the brand film builds on its purpose and commitment to responsible banking and expertise in sustainable finance.

Elaborating on the campaign, Shoma Narayanan, managing director – group strategic marketing and communications at DBS Bank India, said, “We are thrilled to announce the launch of our latest brand campaign that builds on the differentiator of our ‘phy-gital’ offering. DBS occupies a unique space in the Indian market and is the largest foreign bank in India by branch presence.”

She added, “Our new campaign underscores how we can bring together the best of both our global expertise and wide, local network to leverage our enhanced scale and create the best customer experience. As a purpose-driven bank, DBS is now uniquely positioned to harness our deep, regional insights and digital proficiency to deliver exceptional value to not only individuals and businesses across the country, but also to the community at large.”

Mayuresh Dubhashi, group executive creative director at Leo Burnett, also commented, “From an expanded presence in over 500 branches to being recognized as Asia’s safest bank for 14 years in a row, to being a trusted partner for small and big businesses; it’s truly a story of a bank that has a whole lot to offer, that lets you live more. A story told the DBS way.” 

The brand film will be promoted via a 360-degree campaign, including TV, outdoor, and digital media.

Mumbai, India – Communication strategy consultancy Pitchfork Partners Strategic Consulting has launched a specialised talent engagement practice, which aims to hone client capabilities to effectively communicate, build and retain trust among existing and potential talent.

Through the practice, Pitchfork Partners will offer consulting services to develop talent engagement, both internally and externally, create recruitment and retention campaigns, internal communique, as well as tactical actions meant to support the company’s overall talent objectives. 

Moreover, the consultancy likewise aims to simplify and streamline client requirements and deploy targeted strategies to meet client objectives in widening their aspirant pool and appealing to the best candidates. Its team of experts in communication strategy, public relations, social media, digital, and internal communication will also help firms embark on a 360-degree talent approach.

“Finding and retaining the right talent is not always easy and remains a primary concern for many organisations. While traditional motivations such as pay scales and benefits are important, the current workforce seeks inclusive and impactful experiences at the workplace too,” said Pannkajj D Desai, chief operating officer at Pitchfork Partners.

He added, “A winning strategy to make one’s firm attractive to potential and current employees is what will determine whether the employer will be successful or not.”

Last year, Pitchfork Partners has also been appointed by digital music firm Believe as its communication counsel to manage its brand strategies in India.

Mumbai, India – To avoid the misinformation about menstrual periods being ‘dirty and impure’, feminine-care brand Whisper under Procter & Gamble has released a campaign to shed light on the biology of periods and explain that it’s a natural process that happens in every woman.

Conceptualised with advertising agency Leo Burnett, the fourth edition of the #KeepGirlsInSchool campaign showcases ‘The Missing Chapter’ film. This aims to teach the biology of periods and enlighten both mothers and daughters on menstrual hygiene and using sanitary pads during monthly cycles. 

The campaign also comes after a study revealing that 1 out of 5 girls in India drop out of school every year due to lack of period education, whilst 7 out of 10 mothers are not aware of the biology of periods, seeing it as ‘dirty or impure’.

Girish Kalyanaraman, vice president and category leader of Feminine Care at Procter & Gamble India, said that the brand is dedicated towards period education to spread awareness about menstrual hygiene and giving sanitary pads to girls across the country. Therefore, they aim to educate mothers about the biology of periods and right sanitary products.

 “Our aim is to empower young girls to achieve their dreams by completing their school education without any gaps and to stop them from dropping out of school because of a biological process as natural as periods. Our consumers can make a huge difference in helping us bridge this gap,” Kalyanaraman added.

Whisper started to launch its #KeepGirlsInSchool campaign in 2020 to address all girls in India and enlighten them about the true science behind the said cycle. Moreover, Whisper has been conducting school and community programs to teach period education and give free pads to girls and mothers.

Mumbai, India – Denim brand Lee Jeans, in collaboration with integrated marketing solution provider CupShup and advertising agency Leo Burnett India, launches ‘#TheRealDenim’ campaign to announce the inauguration of its flagship store in Bengaluru.

The campaign started with week-long activation across multiple locations, including the #BrothersInBoxers initiative where four young boys wore boxers inside the stadium whilst holding placards saying that they ‘won’t be wearing any jeans until the real denim arrives’.

Moreover, the campaign also created a ‘friendly brand war’ to counter Lee’s competitive brand store. 30 ‘boxer brothers’ went around Brigade Road whilst holding placards. During the launch, they gathered in front of the competitor’s store.

In the post-launch phase, influencers and regular walk-ins participated in the campaign. They were asked to discard their old denim on Brigade Road and walked into Lee Jeans’ store dressed solely in boxers. In exchange, received ‘the real denim’ from Lee for free.

Moreover, the launching was graced by the presence of India’s famous content creator Jordindian who participated in unveiling the store.

Lokesh Kataria, CMO at Lee and Wrangler India, said that they executed the campaign and launch with a fun, disruptive idea, which successfully brought ‘party’ to the city whilst witnessing the crowds rally and cheer for the cause. 

Sourav Kumar, co-founder at CupShup, added, “Lee has always been a fun & friendly brand. We leveraged their tonality and translated it into a fun disruptive campaign that was in line with it. This gave the customers something to smile about and arouse their curiosity about the brand.”

Bengaluru, India – E-commerce marketplace Flipkart has launched a new advertisement alongside popular cricketer Shikhar Dhawan to invite viewers to move on from their old television sets into new ones for the optimal cricket viewing experience.

While focusing on promoting attractive offers on large-screen TVs through sellers during the ongoing cricket season, the campaign also encourages consumers to upgrade or exchange their old TVs for a better viewing experience. 

With Shikhar Dhawan as the protagonist, the campaign aims to reach out to consumers who are considering upgrading their TV sets, as well as those gearing up to enjoy the cricketing season.

Speaking about the campaign, Jagjeet Harode, vice president of large appliances at Flipkart, expressed his excitement about the new ad campaign, stating that the television segment has rapidly evolved in recent years, and Flipkart is committed to providing access to a wide selection of smart TVs from various brands to meet the changing needs of customers. 

“We are delighted to collaborate with ace cricketer Shikhar Dhawan to bring the best of the cricket season to our customers’ homes. With this association, we expect to bring a fresh wave of engagement with viewers, making it an ideal time to upgrade with Flipkart – adding a new dimension of excitement and entertainment to the lives of our customers,” Harode said.

Meanwhile, Dhawan commented, “Flipkart is providing access to attractive offers and exchange deals on the widest range of TV brands. I am thrilled to be associated with Flipkart’s TV sale campaign. With their wide range of TV brands and attractive offers, cricket fans can now enjoy a truly immersive viewing experience from the comfort of their homes. So, upgrade your existing TV with a new one because it’s time to move on.”

Mumbai, India – Indian payment services RuPay has launched a new campaign for the current season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a humorous ad that had cricketer Dinesh Karthik dealing with an unlikely predicament – trying to juggle and catch falling artefacts in a museum. A guy then appears offering Dinesh a ‘safe catch service’. 

The ad, conceptualised by DDB Mudra Group, is a metaphorical hit on RuPay’s ‘game-changing’ product which allows users to access their RuPay credit cards through the UPI platform. The Unified Payments Interface is an instant real-time payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) which facilitates inter-bank peer-to-peer and person-to-merchant transactions.

RuPay parent company NPCI has partnered with IPL to launch the campaign on the opening day of the season. The ad aims to highlight the benefits of RuPay credit card linkage on UPI, encouraging consumers to inquire with their bank about the feature.

Additionally, as part of the campaign, three other films developed by DDB Mudra Group will also be released throughout the league season. The films playfully describe how customers will be able to use UPI, whilst also enjoying rewards and the loyalty points program of their favourite credit card.

“We, at NPCI, are proud to share this path-defining offering of RuPay Credit Cards on UPI and believe it would play a significant role in India’s credit journey,” Praveena Rai, COO at NPCI, commented. “We have always looked to create innovative products facilitating convenience for better payments systems for the nation. Our partnership with IPL, just like the partnership between RuPay and UPI, will amplify our efforts in consumer awareness on the benefits of having access to credit on UPI. The RuPay campaign is witty and breaks clutter. We hope consumers enjoy the ads, as they do IPL.”

Meanwhile, Rahul Mathew, CCO & executive director of DDB Mudra Group, commented, “RuPay is the first credit card that allows you to pay through UPI. It’s such a breakthrough and disruption in the category. We felt a product that’s so differentiated and is a standout, needs work that is the same.”

The use of the card is live on cards issued by HDFC Bank, BoB Financial Services, Canara Bank, Indian Bank, Punjab National Bank, Union Bank of India, and Axis Bank. Other banks like Kotak Mahindra Bank shall also soon be live with their UPI functionality on RuPay credit cards. 

India – Wunderman Thompson India expands its client roster after winning the brand building mandate of Tata Astrum Super, a brand of hot rolled sheets from Tata Steel – a company which is associated with the agency for more than 90 years. 

Within the long-term partnership, Wunderman Thompson India has been working on brand-building projects for Tata Steel Corporate, and other retail brands like Tata Tiscon, Tata Shaktee, Tata Kosh, Tata Pravesh, and Tata Wiron.

In the new mandate, Wunderman Thompson India will help Tata Astrum Super brand in building a competitive edge so it can command a premium over branded & unorganized players, forge bonds with channel partners, and connect with end users. The agency will also help in maintaining the brand’s promise to resonate with both fabricators and end users.

Vijay Jacob Parakkal, senior vice president & managing partner at Wunderman Thompson Kolkata, said that they are pleased to have Tata Astrum Super into the Wunderman Thompson brand family, and they are confident in giving justice to the new mandate that they will handle.

Earlier this year, Wunderman Thompson India also bagged the strategy and creative remit of Czech automobile brand ŠKODA.

India – In a tribute to the large network of roads and highways of India, storage battery manufacturing company Exide has launched a new campaign to pay tribute to the various journeys in one of the largest countries in the world through various folk art styles and sounds that are being used across India.

The campaign, conceptualised by Wunderman Thompson India, set out to use traditional artforms like Gond, Kalamkari, Thangka, Pithora, Patachitra, Ganjifa, Kalighat, Madhubani, Bastar, Miniature Painting, Bhil, Pichwai, Chittara, Warli, Kurmli Sohrai and a lot more to be used for the animation of the ad.

Moreover, the soundtrack of the ad also takes cues from instruments intrinsic to India, like the Ravanhatta, Carnatic Mandolin, Dotara, Rabab, Tumbi Tanpura, Kanjeera, Tasha, Dhol, Dholak and Tabla.

Commenting on the campaign, Uttio Majumdar, chief marketing officer at Exide, said, “For an iconic brand like Exide that can truly claim a national presence and recognition, any piece of creative paying a tribute to it must also be as epic. The ‘Moving Canvas’ does that and shows how an iconic battery brand unites us and is behind millions of journeys across this massive country.”

Meanwhile, Senthil Kumar, chief creative officer at Wunderman Thompson India, commented, “It was time to bring alive the purpose of the brand that moves our nation in the most seamless narrative ever. The ‘Moving Canvas’ is a testament to how creativity can beautifully bring together culture and craft to celebrate the world’s most diverse country in every frame. Kudos to Uttio and the wonderful marketing team at Exide for choosing to amplify the brand expression through animation.”

Lastly, Arjun Mukherjee, senior ECD, and vice president at Wunderman Thompson Kolkata stated, “When we started this journey, the goal was that for an iconic brand like Exide, whatever we create must also be epic. This 2 minute [and] 5 seconds film that you see is actually 9 months and 12 days of our lives and is an ultimate tribute to the artists and artisans of India.” 

India – Advertising company DDB Mudra has announced the appointment of Saad Khan as its president and managing partner for growth and strategy to lead the business whilst building on strategic capabilities for its operations in the West region.

Khan brings with him an experience in building strategies for brands. He previously worked as chief strategy officer at agency FCB Ulka, where he oversaw strategies in Mumbai and Bengaluru.

He has also worked with food and beverage brands such as Coca-Cola, ITC foods and Amul; consumer goods company Reckitt Benckiser; automotive manufacturers Tata Motors, Honda and Volvo Cars; and industrial paint company Nerolac.

Rahul Mathew, chief creative officer at DDB Mudra Group, said that the company believes that its core to be great in creativity is built on strong thinking, and Khan will help in strengthening this belief.

This year, DDB Mudra has also appointed Menaka Menon as national strategy head and Nitin Pradhan as creative head for South.