Tag: India

India – Majority, or 86% of surveyed viewers in India, believe ads on streaming TV platforms boost a brand’s credibility, while 88% say they trust the brands advertised on these platforms, a report by Magnite revealed. 

The report reveals that streaming TV’s premium environment enhances brand credibility and trust, fostering consumer loyalty. This combination of trust and credibility significantly increases the likelihood of consumers making future purchases.

Magnite’s report also highlights that ads on streaming TV are notably more memorable for viewers. Compared to video-sharing platforms (VSPs), streaming TV achieves higher ad recall, with an 11% increase in unaided recall when an ad is shown multiple times.

This ad recall significantly impacts purchasing decisions, with 32% of streaming TV viewers in India stating they often buy a product after seeing it advertised.

Moreover, the report reveals that the premium nature of streaming TV drives positive brand outcomes. While 100% of streaming TV content is premium, nearly all (92%) of VSP viewers spend most of their time on non-premium content. Premium content fosters focused, intentional viewing, resulting in a highly engaged audience—86% of whom pay attention to ads in this environment.

“The combination of increased internet access coupled with smart TV adoption is powering the rapid growth of India’s streaming TV audience,” said Gavin Buxton, managing director for Asia at Magnite. 

“Our latest research highlights that advertising in streaming’s premium environment yields significantly better results than other digital formats. As streaming TV viewers in India increasingly opt for ad-supported content, advertisers who focus on integrating streaming into their media strategies have a unique chance to reach highly attentive audiences in a premium environment,” Buxton added. 

Prabhvir Sahmey, senior director of ad sales for India at Samsung Ads, also shared, “As the Indian market continues to embrace ad-supported streaming, Magnite’s research findings demonstrate that advertising on streaming platforms drives powerful results compared to other digital channels.”

“Amid the shift in consumer viewing habits, advertisers have valuable opportunities to plan their campaigns around premium streaming TV inventory. Streaming platforms that can consistently deliver an exceptional user experience, along with compelling content that meets the standards viewers have come to expect, will be able to retain subscribers and stand out in a crowded landscape,” Sahmey further explained. 

India – Only 18% of organisations in India are fully prepared to deploy and leverage AI-powered technologies, marking a decline from 26% a year ago, a report from Cisco revealed. 

The report found that all companies in India have increased urgency to deploy AI, driven mainly by CEOs and leadership teams. Additionally, 57% of companies are allocating 10% to 30% of their IT budgets to AI deployments.

Despite significant AI investments in areas like cybersecurity, IT infrastructure, and data analytics, many companies report that the returns are falling short of expectations.

According to the findings of the report, there is a decline in AI readiness across all pillars, with infrastructure identified as a key pain point, particularly in compute, data centre performance, and cybersecurity.

Only 21% of organisations have the necessary GPUs to meet current and future AI demands, while 36% have the capabilities to secure data in AI models with end-to-end encryption, security audits, continuous monitoring, and real-time threat response.

Despite prioritising AI investments, companies in India are also reporting underwhelming results. AI spending over the past year focused on cybersecurity (47% at advanced deployment), data analysis (44%), and data management (42%). However, half of respondents reported either no gains or returns falling short of expectations in enhancing, automating, or optimising operations.

With time pressing, Indian businesses are ramping up efforts and investments to embrace AI transformation. According to the report, 39% plan to allocate over 40% of their IT budgets to AI in the next 4–5 years, up from just 7% today.

Companies further recognise the need to strengthen AI readiness, with 55% in India prioritising scalability, flexibility, and manageability in IT infrastructure—highlighting key gaps that must be addressed for effective AI adoption.

“As companies accelerate their AI journeys, it’s critical they adopt a comprehensive approach to implementation and connect the dots to link AI ambition with readiness,” said Dave West, president for APJC at Cisco. 

“This year’s AI Readiness Index reveals that to fully leverage the potential of AI, companies need a modern digital infrastructure capable of meeting evolving power needs and network latency requirements from growing AI workloads. This must be supported with the right visibility to achieve their business objectives,” West added. 

Despite challenges unique to each pillar, the report highlights a common issue: a shortage of skilled talent. Companies identified this as the top challenge across infrastructure, data, and governance, underscoring the vital need for professionals to lead AI initiatives.

Anupam Trehan, VP of people and communities APJC at Cisco, said, “As the race to adopt AI picks up pace, talent will be a key differentiator for companies. There is already a shortage of skilled talent across various aspects of AI. This means companies will need to invest in their existing talent pool to meet the growing demand. At the same time, it is crucial that all stakeholders—the private and public sectors, educational institutions, and governments—work together to develop local talent so that the entire ecosystem can benefit from the immense potential that AI offers.”

India – WPP has bolstered its investment in India with the launch of a new state-of-the-art campus in Chennai, further solidifying the country’s role as a key growth market for the global company.

The new Chennai campus, WPP’s third in India following Mumbai and Gurgaon, is a key part of the company’s global strategy to create inspiring, collaborative, and flexible workspaces for its teams. 

Located at RMZ One Paramount, the new campus is designed to elevate the employee experience, offering a range of amenities including a dedicated food and beverage marketplace, EV charging stations, a daycare centre, permanent art installations by renowned artists, and a wellness terrace featuring a futsal court, running track, and yoga deck. Spanning over 62,000 square feet, the campus will initially accommodate more than 330 employees in its first phase, with plans to expand to 650 by mid-2025.

Additionally, in line with its net-zero commitments, WPP’s circular-designed campus incorporates sustainable materials and features such as grey water recycling, roof collection, on-site electricity generation, and regenerative architecture. RMZ One Paramount has also achieved LEED Platinum certification for its sustainability efforts.

By bringing together top talent, advanced technology, and world-class facilities, WPP can better support its teams in their career development and in delivering exceptional results for clients. 

WPP’s Enterprise Technology team in India is the first to occupy the new Chennai campus, with additional teams set to join in the future.

CVL Srinivas, country manager for India at WPP, said, “The scalability of our operations and expertise of our team in India makes it the prime location to power WPP’s global support functions, including the WPP Enterprise Technology team. WPP’s commitment to India through our investment in a new Chennai campus, with further campuses in Bangalore and Coimbatore on the near horizon, ensures the market will remain a significant growth driver for WPP.”

Mark Read, CEO of WPP, also commented, “India continues to be one of our fastest-growing markets thanks to its technological innovation, creative output, and specialist skillsets. WPP is committed to investing in India through our new campuses, creating spaces that foster collaboration, inspire creativity, and enable career development. In doing so, we are opening up new opportunities for our people in India and supporting our clients’ growth ambitions—both domestically, in the world’s most populous nation, and abroad.”

With a workforce of over 11,000, India is a key growth engine and WPP’s fifth-largest market, housing some of the company’s top-performing agency teams as well as vital global support functions.

The company also plans to expand its presence in India with additional campuses in Bangalore and Coimbatore in the coming years.

India – British Airways has launched a new TV advertisement and brand campaign tailored for the Indian market, featuring India-based colleagues as the stars, in celebration of its 100th anniversary of flying between India and the UK this month.

Titled ‘Family in the Skies,’ the campaign highlights British Airways’ passion and commitment to delivering exceptional service through its most valuable asset—its people. Developed in collaboration with British Airways’ UK-based agency Uncommon Creative Studio and its network of Uncommon Minds in India, the campaign features 25 colleagues prominently.

Additionally, an out-of-home campaign will showcase 78 more colleagues, reflecting the airline’s extensive team. The campaign was collaboratively designed by Indian and British creative directors Tushar Menon and Kate Lloyd, emphasising the strong partnership between the two creative communities.

The campaign film follows a young woman on a solo journey to the UK as she heads to the airport, supported by her community and family. When her van breaks down, panic sets in until a British Airways bus arrives. A crew member invites her and her family on board, where they share stories, food, and laughter, turning a stressful situation into a memorable experience. After an emotional farewell at the airport, the woman is taken under the crew’s wing as she continues her journey.

Through this poignant narrative, British Airways seeks to demonstrate its steadfast commitment to passenger care, highlighting the crew’s dedication to going above and beyond to foster familiarity and ensure that every journey is both comfortable and enjoyable.

The campaign film is further enhanced by an out-of-home initiative featuring 78 Indian-based colleagues, including cabin crew, airport staff, engineers, and Call BA customer care representatives. Gathered on the tarmac in front of a British Airways plane, they share smiles and laughter with customers, creating the warmth of a large family portrait.

Calum Laming, chief customer officer at British Airways, said, “We are so proud to have more than 2,500 Indian-based colleagues—making India our largest colleague base outside of the UK—and we are proud that more than 100 of them feature in this campaign. It showcases the huge amount of talent we are so lucky to have within our British Airways family, and we could not be more thrilled to show this on a national scale in India.”

“Not only does the campaign tell a story, but it shows who we really are. It’s important to us to shine a light on each of our colleagues’ originality, as this is British Airways at its most authentic: your family in the skies,” Laming added. 

This campaign, the first in India since 2016, showcases an impressive lineup of acclaimed Indian creative talent, including renowned filmmaker Prakash Varma, award-winning casting director Romil Modi, celebrated Bollywood acting coach Chandan Kumar from the National School of Drama, and emerging photographer Avani Rai.

With local media planning by OMD India and support from British Airways’ London-based team at MG OMD, the “Family in the Skies” TV ad will launch across India on November 1. Following positive test screenings, versions will also be released in the UK, US, and Canada, with placements across cinema, YouTube, connected TV, and social media. The OOH campaign will launch on November 9 and will run in all five Indian cities served by British Airways.

India – Recognising the need to align with evolving industry trends, digital lending platform Lentra has partnered with Landor for a brand refresh to reflect India’s shifting credit consumption landscape.

Derived from blending ‘LENding’ and ‘TRAnsformed,’ the name ‘Lentra’ reflects its mission to facilitate credit access for businesses of all sizes, promoting financial inclusion and independence.

Serving over 50 banks and NBFCs in India, Lentra’s digital lending platform empowers smarter banking with reduced credit risk and faster turnaround times. The platform enables banks to fully digitise lending processes, boost revenue, and reduce risk. Covering the entire loan lifecycle—from KYC and credit decisioning to servicing and early warning—Lentra’s cloud-based, modular infrastructure offers scalability, security, and flexibility for future-ready growth.

The brand refresh marks a pivotal step in Lentra’s journey to reimagine its identity and strengthen its market position. Designed to forge a deeper emotional connection with clients, the refresh introduces subtle yet impactful changes, giving Lentra a more sophisticated identity that resonates with today’s values.

“Brands are dynamic entities that undergo evolution over time. Our partnership with Landor helped us do just that—refine our brand identity to resonate with the evolving client expectations and establish a strong foothold in the ever-transforming credit landscape,” Lentra’s spokesperson said. 

“The positive feedback from the audience has been encouraging, reinforcing Lentra’s commitment to surpassing customer service benchmarks within the industry. With a renewed focus on brand integrity, customer journey optimisation, and industry relevance, Lentra stands at the forefront of innovation and progress in the ever-evolving landscape of credit consumption in India and is poised to drive meaningful change in the financial services sector,” the spokesperson added. 

Also speaking on the brand refresh, Landor’s spokesperson explained, “Our goal with Lentra’s brand refresh was to continue evolving expression of our original vision of creating a robust, trustworthy, and dependable brand that banks can rely on, employees can take pride in, and investors can support with confidence. The new identity reflects Lentra’s indomitable spirit that can stand the test of time and represents Lentra’s unwavering commitment to trust, transparency, and technological excellence.” 

“The Lentra tri-blade encapsulates the essence of giving and receiving, embodying intelligence, security, adaptability, and agility. Lentra’s rejuvenated brand identity serves as a timeless symbol of innovation and excellence, setting them apart as pioneers in the industry and helping banks exceed customer expectations,” the spokesperson continued. 

Lentra aims to become the leading end-to-end digital lending platform for banks and NBFCs, setting a new standard for efficiency and customer experience in the industry. With a strong focus on brand identity, user experience, and regional impact, Lentra seeks to drive a more streamlined and consumer-friendly future in lending.

India – VRB Consumer Products has teamed up with Enormous Brands India to launch an exciting new campaign for its latest cup noodles offering, WokTok by Veeba, which celebrates the rich and diverse flavours of Indian cuisine.

WokTok by Veeba marks VRB Consumer Products’ entry into the cup noodles category, introducing consumers to a delightful fusion of Pan-Asian and Indian flavors. This product line emphasises health, featuring a ‘better-for-you’ range that contains no added MSG, no palm oil, and no maida.

To promote this launch, VRB Consumer Products has released a campaign film that humorously illustrates how Indians effortlessly adapt global cuisines, transforming them to suit their unique palate.

Created by Enormous Brands India, the campaign features humorous scenarios where Chinese characters embrace quintessential Indian quirks—such as shadow bowling in cricket, performing the nagin dance at weddings, and tilting a scooter before starting it—all embodying the tagline: “Chinese, Par Apne Style Se! (Chinese, But in Our Own Style!)” 

The campaign employs a comprehensive 360-degree strategy, led by a television commercial and further enhanced across digital platforms, social media, and in-store branding. This multi-platform approach creates an immersive experience that captures a wide audience’s attention and strengthens WokTok’s position in the Pan-Asian and cup noodles markets.

Niyati Kochhar, VP of marketing at VRB Consumer Products Pvt. Ltd., said, “Creating WokTok has been a labour of love—one that celebrates how we, as Indians, embrace and adapt anything by adding our signature twist.” 

“Our campaign, ‘Chinese, Apne Style Se,’ captures this beautifully. From food to culture, we have always made things our own, and WokTok is no different. With this launch, we’re speaking to a new generation—the WokTok generation—who values authenticity but also seeks personalization. They crave bold flavours that resonate with their unique palate, and WokTok offers just that, combining the best of both worlds in a way that’s distinctly theirs,” Kochhar added. 

WokTok’s cup noodles are tailored to Indian taste preferences, featuring five distinctive flavours: Chowmein, Masala, Manchurian, Kung Pao, and Spicy Korean. With bold flavours and high-quality ingredients, WokTok aims to become a household favourite in India. The brand is also launching a range of dipping and culinary sauces, all made without added MSG. 

Ashish Khazanchi, managing partner & CCO of Enormous Brands, expressed, “WokTok, the latest brand in the instant noodles segment, is set to revolutionise the market with its new line of products: “Chinese but apne style se.” Rooted in the essence of India’s love for bold, diverse flavours, WokTok combines the richness of traditional Chinese cuisine with bold Indian takes.” 

“The campaign captures the evolving Indian psyche that craves global experiences but with a familiar, comforting Indianness. WokTok’s bold, exciting flavours and packaging are designed to resonate with India’s youth, offering a quick, delicious, and distinctly Indian spin on the beloved Chinese noodles. It’s not just noodles; it’s Chinese—but our own way,” Khazanchi further explained. 

India – Being Human Clothing, a fashion-forward retail brand, has partnered with Platinum Outdoor, Madison World’s outdoor specialist unit, to launch a high-impact OOH campaign spotlighting its latest ‘Do it in Denim’ collection.

Designed to showcase Being Human Clothing’s sustainable denim collection, the campaign is strategically timed for the pre-festive season, maximising visibility in high-traffic areas.

For this campaign, Platinum Outdoor strategically positioned media near store locations, deploying over 150 OOH units across 11 cities. The 12-day campaign integrates innovative elements and dynamic DOOH for enhanced engagement.

Irshad Chippa, associate vice president for west at Platinum Outdoor, commented, “Our goal was to create a high-impact, festive-season campaign that not only announced the new sustainable denim collection but also increased the store footfall. The dynamic ‘catalogue’ concept curated by our creative team for DOOH formats has added a fresh dimension, engaging the audience with visually appealing content.”

India – FCB Interface, part of FCB Group India, has appointed Noor Samra as its national planning director, bringing her extensive experience across both legacy and emerging brands to the agency. 

Known for her strategic expertise and innovative approach, Samra is expected to play a key role in advancing FCB Interface’s strategic capabilities and delivering impactful brand solutions in her new role. 

As national planning director, Samra will play a pivotal role in FCB Group’s Strategy Council, working closely with leaders across the network to enhance the agency’s strategic capabilities. Her impressive track record of award-winning work includes prestigious honours such as a Cannes Lion Grand Prix, Global Best of Best Effie, WARC Global Grand Prix, and APAC Effie metals, reflecting her commitment to excellence and innovation.

Samra brings extensive experience with some of the world’s most recognised brands, including Spotify, PhonePe, Whisper, Visa, HDFC Life, Lay’s, Kurkure, Doritos, Quaker, and Heineken. Her ability to navigate seamlessly between established brands and emerging clients highlights her depth and versatility in the brand strategy landscape.

Speaking on her appointment, Noor expressed, “I am looking forward to joining Dheeraj, Gaurav, and Rakesh, along with the talented team at FCB Interface. The agency already has great momentum, and I hope to add even more value and depth to our clients and creative showcase. FCB’s belief in creativity as an economic multiplier resonates with me deeply. Great work that serves as a benchmark in the industry while driving meaningful business results is what I aspire to orchestrate at FCB Interface.”

Meanwhile, Gaurav Dudeja, CEO of FCB Interface, said, “We can realise our ambitions of transformational growth and glory only with the right people forming the leadership core of the agency. And Noor’s appointment is a significant step in that direction. She brings a unique blend of strong academic background in sociology, experience as an ethnographer, and more recently of leading strategy on a wide spectrum of brands—from FMCG to consumer tech.”

“What encourages me most about Noor is her energy and ability to straddle across deep and immersive strategy work, as well as provide inspiring springboards with agility for creative teams to take a leap from. One just needs a quick glance at her line-up of Cannes and Effie’s wins to feel encouraged by her ‘winning’ DNA and hunger to do amazing work. I’m super confident that under Noor’s leadership, FCB Interface is poised to take the next level of growth and reputation,” Dudeja added.

New Delhi, India – Oppo India is celebrating unity amidst diversity in its latest Diwali campaign ‘Vishwas Ka Deep.’ The campaign highlights the different ways Diwali is celebrated across India.

The campaign film expresses the message “Har Diwali Vishwas Ka Deep Jalati Hai,” which focuses on the hope that connects people across various communities during the festive season.

Featuring various Diwali traditions, the film begins with the celebration of Budhi Diwali in Kullu Valley, where tribes sing and dance around a flame. It then moves to Mandrem, where the Narak Chaturdashi is held, commemorating the destruction of evil through a torch. It also shows the celebration of Thar ki Diwali in Rajasthan, where the puppetry art form can be seen.

The film also features the durability of OPPO’s smartphones, including the Reno12 Pro 5G, F27 Pro+ 5G, and A3 Pro 5G.

Additionally, OPPO has released an interactive microsite showcasing unique Diwali traditions in different places in India.

“With #VishwasKaDeep, we are bringing together the diverse cultural essence of Diwali, and how the light of trust and hope unites families, friends, and communities. We have also created an interactive microsite that allows smartphone users to explore Diwali from various regions and create their AI-driven festive postcards,” Karan Dua, head of brand marketing at OPPO India, said. 

“The sentiment of trust and resilience aligns with OPPO India’s commitment to delivering premium user experiences through durable and reliable smartphones,” Dua added.

India – To enhance its creative leadership in the southern markets, DDB Mudra has brought on board Priya Shivakumar as its new creative head for the South region.

Shivakumar brings a wealth of experience to her new role. She joins DDB Mudra from Wunderman Thompson (JWT), where she progressed from executive creative director to chief creative officer for the South region.

With over two decades of experience in the industry, Shivakumar has garnered numerous awards and accolades for her work, including multiple Cannes Lions, D&AD Pencils, One Show Pencils, and Spikes Asia awards. One of her recent achievements is for ‘Hidden Truth,’ a powerful campaign addressing domestic violence.

As the new creative head, Shivakumar will closely collaborate with Rahul Mathew, chief creative officer at DDB Mudra Group, and share leadership responsibilities with Menaka Menon, president of growth and strategy at DDB Mudra.

Speaking on the appointment, Matthew commented, “We have been evolving our offering in the South to go beyond national campaigns and offer specialised expertise for the five South markets. And we believe what will make our solutions even more effective is our creativity. Priya will play a critical role in us achieving this vision for the South Office. She has the unique ability to capture local and cultural nuances and execute them to international standards. I’m excited to have her partner with us on our journey.”

Meanwhile, talking about her new role, Shivakumar said, “I’m thrilled to join DDB Mudra and contribute to the legacy of creating culturally resonant brands. These are exciting times where you can take storytelling to new and unexpected places…through technology, craft, or experience…”

She added, “I’m looking forward to leveraging the power of emotions in my work, driving choices, creating conversations, shaping markets, and rewriting brand stories.”