September 1-15, 2019 Volume 8, Issue 5 `100 INDIAN LANGUAGES MOVE UP

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The Quint, BBC News Hindi and ALTBalaji were big winners in a year which saw a sharp rise in Indian languages entries.

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EDITORIAL

This fortnight... Volume 8, Issue 5 y favourite professor back at university, used to love saying – to understand EDITOR Sreekant Khandekar M something well, either do it 100 times in a row or do it annually, thrice. PUBLISHER September 1-15, 2019 Volume 8, Issue 5 `100 Of course, the choice depends on the object of interest; if it’s about mastering a Sreekant Khandekar INDIAN LANGUAGES mathematics formula then the former, if it’s about analysing monsoon clouds, the EXECUTIVE EDITOR MOVE UP latter. I thought of her now because as we concluded the third edition of Digipub Ashwini Gangal World recently, our annual convention on the business of online publishing, PRODUCTION EXECUTIVE Andrias Kisku I finally felt like I was starting to understand this complex world – cohabited ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES by publishers, advertisers, agencies, tech platforms, ad exchanges, ad networks, Shubham Garg fraudsters, and consumers – a touch better. 81301 66777 (M) Noida 20 Apoorv Kulshrestha Directional trends are beginning to stand out and recurring themes of discussion 9873824700 (M) The Quint, BBC News Hindi and ALTBalaji were big winners in a year which saw a sharp rise in Indian languages entries. are very telling. For instance, this year, for a third consecutive time, we analysed the Noida problems facing Indian language publishers; though the demand for local language Nikhil Jhunjhunwala 9833371393 (M) Gold Partners Technology Partner Silver Partner Bronze Partners Chamber Partner Streaming Partner content is soaring, monetisation remains a challenge. This, among others, like the Mumbai impact of tech on publishing and viable alternatives to advertising revenue, are what Vijayalaxmi Yadav we call ‘perennials’, or topics we dissect year on year. 9930547767 (M) Mumbai [email protected] We also hosted the third edition of Digipub Awards, our way of felicitating MARKETING OFFICE the most innovative and creative online initiatives by web publishers. This year, B 3, Ground Floor, Sector 4, BBC News, ALTBalaji and The Quint shone bright. We’re delighted to note that Noida-201301 Uttar Pradesh.

this year, the growth in the number of entries we received was fuelled by increased MUMBAI participation by Indian language publishers. 302, Makani Center, 3rd Floor, Off Linking Road, Bandra (W), Mumbai-400050.

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Printed at Artz and Printz 208 DSIDC Sheds, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase 1, New Delhi-110020. Ashwini Gangal [email protected] CONTENTS 25 26 DOVE Embrace Your Natural Hair Grey hair, curly hair, short hair - the new Dove ad welcomes all types.

DISCOVERY 18 8 14 Into the Wild ‘Man Vs Wild’ premiere, featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi and hosted by British adventurer SUNFEAST TANISHQ GOOGLE PAY Bear Grylls, clocked an Cookie Lovers Rejoice Ready to Shine A Bigger Purpose impressive 6.9 million The latest ad with Alia Bhatt Titan’s Deepika Tewari on the How a simple payment can impressions on Discovery. positions cookies as ‘meetha’. #DuaKaSona campaign. play a major role in ones life.

afaqs! Reporter, September 1-15, 2 0 1 9 5

ADVERTISING TANISHQ Ready to Shine

Titan’s Deepika traditional nuances intact, all the Tewari talks about the while celebrating the core sentiment that binds Indians,” explains Tewari. latest #DuaKaSona The brand has made an effort to campaign. By customise all the local and national campaigns in vernacular languages to Deepashree Banerjee receive higher brand consideration and recall in these markets. anishq, Titan’s flagship Tanishq has brought on board jewellery retail chain, had regional celebrities like Mimi Tlaunched a series of videos Chakraborty for east, Sonali Kulkarni for its new campaign #DuaKaSona, for Maharashtra and Nayanthara for conceptualised by Mumbai-based the southern belt in a bid to build WYP Brand Solutions. Through the deeper brand connect. It used the organic digital outreach, the ads have garnered five lakh-plus views in just over a week. The campaign has three films across seven regional languages. “As of now, there has been zero ad spend on promoting the videos as they were released through our social media assets,” shares Deepika Tewari, assistant vice president - marketing, Jewellery Division, Titan. The brand positions itself not just as a business which sells jewellery, but also as an organisation that values the craft and the craftsmen equally. “Thus, we ensure that our ‘karigars’ “Digital today is a work in a healthy, safe and dignified environment and we support them key visual medium with the best in class infrastructure. and, hence, we We empower women and the girl child by providing them skills and have use Instagram’s also implemented sustainable crafting ‘shoppable posts’ practices at our manufacturing units, where we incorporate measures to use to engage with renewable energy and recycle water.” In the last fiscal year, the brand claims our consumers.” to have used 40 per cent of recycled gold DEEPIKA TEWARI in its manufacturing. Tewari explains, “It essentially means that we have utilised the gold bought back from our chat with them on a deeper level on customers to craft jewellery. Mining of social media to help us in spreading gold leads to denudation of earth and the word of mouth. We also look at this is one of the attempts from our monthly search trends for a category end to protect the environment. The to determine which product sets are Raksha Bandhan campaign, we have sharp targeting method for reaching campaign was conceptualised to convey doing well and have gained popularity taken it a notch higher by celebrating out to the relevant customers for this message to our customers.” amongst consumers,” adds Tewari. not just brother-sister bonding but also niche campaigns like Ahalya and Red Technology has played a key On the key turning points in the #sisterhood bonding.” Carpet collection. The 2013 advertising campaign For each campaign, the brand has The brand positions itself not just as a around “second marriage” was also a teamed up with different creative head turner and many touted it as a agencies lately (#WomenOfGold was business which sells jewellery, but also as an bold move aimed towards breaking conceptualised and developed by Lowe organisation that values the craft and stereotypes. Lintas and #HeeronMeinHeera was conceptualised and created by 22feet the craftsmen equally. REGIONALISATION Tribal Worldwide). So, does this Tanishq was seen as a national strategy help the marketer/advertiser role when it comes to gathering brand’s advertising strategy so far, she jeweller over decades, but it was tell stories in a more effective way? “It information about consumers. says, “As a brand, we always stood imperative for the brand to be seen is not a strategy as such. Lowe Lintas “Digital today is a key visual medium for inclusiveness and this has brought as a national local player. “In order to is our incumbent agency and works and, hence, we use Instagram’s about major disruptions in the area of tap into regional emotionalism, our on our campaigns. However, we are ‘shoppable posts’ to engage with our buying behaviour and we have ardently campaign’s rationale was created with open to fresh ideas and working with consumers. We treat our consumers strived to celebrate relationships of narratives around regional festivals. different partners,” says Tewari. n like our brand ambassadors and varied nature. For instance, in our The idea was to keep the deeply [email protected]

8 afaqs! Reporter, September 1-15, 2 0 1 9

ADVERTISING FEVICOL Everlasting Bond On the occasion of Pidilite’s 60th birthday, Fevicol has released a video ad. By Aishwarya Ramesh

It’s been 60 years since the ‘mazboot recommending the brand to their jod’ entered the lives of Indians. parents or someone else in the house To mark the journey of the brand making a piece of furniture. We over six decades, Pidilite Industries’ want to build the brand for future Fevicol has released a new long consumers and make their presence format ad film. The brand has felt early in life,” says Sharma, consistently engaged the Indian explaining his TG. viewers with relatable and humorous “The marketing challenge is ads over the years. to increase the penetration of the The new film takes the audience brand and make sure that more and on a journey of multiple generations more carpenters, contractors and through the story of a sofa. The spot consumers are using it. Consumers, opens in an earlier era, where we see a mostly school children, use it for arts newlywed couple heading home with and crafts. Carpenters or contractors a gifted sofa. As the story progresses, we see the sofa being handed over from one generation to another. The ad is set to the Bihari dialect and is produced by Ogilvy. At 90 seconds, the ad film is the longest-ever by Fevicol. It will be aired on leading GECs, digital platforms and will be supported by spots on radio and in cinemas. For the first time ever, a brand advertisement will be placed as content on OTT platforms like Hotstar, SonyLIV, Zee5, among others. “Fevicol wants to be where the “Fevicol wants consumers are. We noticed over time that consumers are moving towards to be where the OTT because they find different on the different mediums used by the use it to bind, laminate plywood or and segmented content over there. consumers are. brand to communicate the message, new surfaces these days like WPC We believe that Fevicol, like OTT, We believe that Sharma says, “TV remains the lead or PVC.” has good stories to tell,” said Vivek medium of communication as it has Sharma, chief marketing officer at Fevicol, like OTT, a reach that no medium can match, EXPERTS SPEAK Pidilite Industries, on the sidelines of has good stories but digital is the next most important We asked two veterans of the Indian a press conference. medium for us. We have to stop ad world to review the effort. This is He believes that TV and OTT to tell.” thinking in terms of mediums and what they had to say. KV Sridhar will always co-exist in India. “There VIVEK SHARMA start thinking in terms of messages.” aka Pops, the founder and chief are people who will watch TV, and Sharma says he personally would creative officer at HyperCollective, those who will watch OTT content. not use one medium over another. appreciated the effort that went into Then there are people who will “We use print medium the least, creating the ad. “It’s executed to the watch both. It is necessary for a same emotion.” since it has very little relevance to standards of today’s film language. brand like Fevicol to be present on We asked him how many of his our target audience of contractors You have flashbacks and the modern both mediums. We don’t think it’s at ads are meant to entertain versus to and carpenters. At Fevicol, we are day narrative.” the cost of the other, rather they will sell a product benefit. “First of all, thinking of marketing in terms “It has the simplicity with which complement each other.” an ad is supposed to do both - make of messaging and not about the Fevicol’s advertising with the What were some of the marketing a place for the brand in the mind medium.” ‘mazboot jod’ slogan has eventually challenges when it comes to a of the consumers in a differentiated As far as the creative process goes, progressed. People started identifying brand like Fevicol? Sharma admits fashion. What works for this Fevicol Sharma mentioned that at times, the brand with ‘mazbooti’ and the that the 60-year campaign has been campaign is that it establishes the Ogilvy comes up with its own ideas everlasting bond. It reminds you of especially challenging. “The task is brand origin and it does so in an for ads. “Piyush (Pandey) is almost their earlier ads, whether it’s the tall - to convey a story of the brand’s entertaining fashion.” He mentions the marketing head of the company. girl with the moustache or the journey that started 60 years ago that when it comes to Fevicol, the It works both ways - sometimes we underwater furniture ad. They’ve not to the present. The challenge was ads are generally a combination of brief them, sometimes they come up missed the language or the filming to do that without making it a conveying a product benefit and a with their own ideas.” style. You can see the change over documentary type film or without product proposition. With the digital medium, the the 60 years depicted in the ad. The trying to make it product-centric During the press conference, brand is targeting a younger audience. track is very good and it’s a well told and yet convey the same emotions. Bharat Puri, chief executive officer, “Anyone above 18 years would be my story,” he explains. We had to make sure that the story Pidilite Industries, mentioned that future consumer. After 21, they’ll Talking about the length of the of the past six decades of the brand the brand spent approximately `20 start earning, have an income, and is told in the same fashion, with the crore on this campaign. Commenting soon end up making furniture or continued on page 12 >>

10 afaqs! Reporter, September 1-15, 2 0 1 9

ADVERTISING

KFC << continued from page 10 A Zinger Touch “Everlasting ad, Pops reiterated that he himself was the Guess who’s the latest entrant at Madame Tussauds Delhi? biggest critic of long form ads. “The ad is Here’s a hint - it’s not a celebrity this time around, but a food item. actually three minutes short.” “The sweet spot is 60-90 seconds, if you go By Deepashree Banerjee beyond that, viewers might lose interest. But at the same time, if the content is good, and the story is interesting, you’re just watching a five-minute ad, as compared to watching, say, a 25-minute episode of a show or three hours of a boring film. If the content is boring, even 20 seconds feel long. It all boils down to the quality of content and justifying the treatment within the given time,” Pops points out. He opines that showing the sofa as long lasting is Fevicol’s way of showing how Pidilite, as a company, has lasted over the years. When asked about ads in the OTT space, Pops said some ads go beyond storytelling and that people would willingly pay to watch well-crafted ads. “There was a time when Indian audiences preferred watching ads on Doordarshan as opposed to the regular programming that they had to offer. Ads like Happydent go beyond content and storytelling and after a while, advertising stops being (From left) Moksh Chopra, CMO, KFC India; ‘Indian’ Colonel Sanders; and Anshul Jain, general manager and director, Merlin Entertainments India

n what the brand claims to be ‘a historic first’, Last year, the brand introduced Colonel and Colonel’s signature classic Chicken Zinger the KFC Bucket into its advertising. “By putting IBurger managed to find a spot in the iconic Colonel into advertising, we have tried to put a Regal Building at Connaught Place in Delhi. face to the brand’s advertising efforts. And, that Well, the not-so-humble burger is no less than actually has made a big difference,” Chopra says. a true celeb now. Moksh Chopra, chief marketing A healthy dose of ‘desiness’ in a bid to stay officer, KFC India, says, “The Zinger has real fans, relevant to the Indian market? has made it to headlines and is truly an original; “We don’t follow the exact route taken by one of a kind celeb burger.” the brand in international markets. We take The international wax museum’s Delhi the brand philosophy and try to adapt it in a attraction houses the wax figures of personalities tonality that’s relevant for the consumers in the advertising and it becomes content.” from the world of sports, history and entertainment Indian market,” Chopra elaborates on the brand’s Adman KS Chakravarthy, co-founder (Kapil Dev, singers Asha Bhosle and Shreya strategic decisions. and chief creative officer of Tidal7 Brand & Ghoshal, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, to Today, every marketer wants to target Digital, said that while he liked the ad, he felt name a few). millennials and KFC is no exception. its treatment was somewhat superficial. “The brand strategy has two parts - what we Chopra informs that although TV continues Chakravarthy, or Chax as he’s fondly called, do and how we say it,” Chopra says. “The brand to be the primary medium for creating awareness says, “Fevicol has consistently built a certain has to always do stuff that’s relevant to the time, and reach, digital has seen a massive growth equity. It’s a celebration of their longevity and it’s part of our DNA and that won’t ever change. in terms of advertising spend, since consumers durability and it continues on their theme of But what we do under that may are always hooked to their paying tribute to the carpenter. Fevicol has change depending on what’s screens. no role in this ad, furniture has a role. In trending with the millennials In 2017, as part of Anshul Jain, general India, we have a culture of reupholstering and and is topical. We never follow manager and director, reusing furniture. It’s an endearing insight and category norms unless and a marketing stunt, Merlin Entertainments it’s a great way to extend the furniture’s life.” until it’s interesting enough,” KFC had sent one India (which owns and When asked about the duration of the ad, he explains. operates Madame Tussauds he pointed out that the track used in the ad This is not the first time of its Zinger burgers Delhi), welcomes the plays a role in engaging the audience. “Indians KFC has travelled the extra newest addition to the hall like listening to songs and stories, and the mile to promote its Zinger into earth’s upper of fame. track used is nice. It won’t be an issue…” variant. atmosphere, where it KFC has been more Regarding Fevicol’s presence on OTT In 2017, as part of a than active on Twitter platforms, he signs off with one thought, marketing stunt, KFC had floated for a few days with its marketing efforts “Unless the OTT platform pays Fevicol for sent one of its Zinger burgers as it incessantly creates its content, it’s not content, it’s still an ad.” n into earth’s upper atmosphere, before retreating buzz around every new [email protected] where it floated for a few days development. n before retreating back home. back home. [email protected]

12 afaqs! Reporter, September 1-15, 2 0 1 9

ADVERTISING GOOGLE PAY A Bigger Purpose Payments are usually seen as cold and transactional, says Google’s Sapna Chadha, among other things. By Ananya Pathak

e forget about the humanity in something Wlike a payment at times. But money serves a bigger purpose than we might imagine. Especially when the impact of its use is much bigger than the value of the transaction,” wrote Sapna Chadha, director of marketing, Southeast Asia and India, Google, sharing the latest film ‘Celebrating India’s Biggest Payments’ by Google Pay. their lives hassle-free and more payments, but failed to get its connect The close to two-minute video efficient. However, their association with Google Pay. “It is a category narrates the story of how a simple with money and payments is deep leader kind of stance and to the best payment played a major role in the “The brand film and quite personal.” of my knowledge, Google Pay has not lives of Chhavi Rajawat - youngest illustrates the idea The film reminds one of the reached that status yet. Usually, the person to hold the office of sarpanch, recent campaign by rival BharatPe category leader would benefit from visually-challenged Satender Singh through real-life that took the emotional route to woo category generic communication cleared his UPSC exam, 13-year-old stories of inspiring shopkeepers by focusing on their like this. It is a good move for a Poorna Malavath, who scaled the pain points, instead of talking about brand to move forward from tactical highest peak of Mount Everest, and people whose the functional benefits of the UPI- aspects like offer, cashback and to that of coach Ramakant Achrekar’s journeys of impact based app. stand for an emotional benefit in and his student Sachin Tendulkar. life. But that benefit should have a Chadha tells afaqs! Reporter that started with a EXPERTS SPEAK clear brand linkage in order to tie the the inspiration for the film comes Shashank Lanjekar, head - communication back to the brand.” from the idea that a payment is not simple payment.” strategic planning, Taproot Dentsu, Rakesh Menon, ECD, FCB just a sum of money that changes SAPNA CHADHA says Google Pay has been very vague, Interface, says it’s a nicely executed hands, but rather, a powerful if not entirely diffused, in its attempt film. The narrative is wonderful. means to create impact or forward a movement in their daily lives. to drive discovery and trials for “The brand film illustrates the idea a new form of payment like UPI Unlike the previous ads, the film takes the through real-life stories of inspiring but beyond that, consumer choice brand away from highlighting the functional people whose journeys of impact and habit formation has grown started with a simple payment.” on the back of an intuitive, secure benefits of the digital wallet. The film, directed by Vishal and fast user experience and the Bhardwaj and narrated by Gulzar, sheer convenience of bank-to-bank to create strong emotional affinity “But when you have such a dominant builds on the earlier campaign by transfers.” for the brand and its offering. “If player like Paytm reigning over the the brand #MoneyMadeSimple. It Talking about the challenges, one wanted to celebrate payments, e-wallet market, you really, really has been conceptualised by Mumbai- Chadha says, “While the space is there were surely better ways to place have to communicate something based agency Lowe Lintas. competitive, the real differentiating those payments credibly in the lives phenomenal to get people to even Commenting on the change in opportunity, in this case, came from of people and build an emotion from consider you. And I’m not sure this the communication ideology of within the category. Payments are that springboard rather than force- ad does that. Sure, there is a lovely the brand, Chadha says, “Till date, usually seen as cold and transactional. fit and retro-fit success stories to philosophy here. But is it insightful our biggest driver of user growth Our consumers use the app for a payments therein.” enough and, more importantly, continues to be user referrals as variety of needs in their daily lives, Neeraj Bassi, chief strategy officer relatable enough? Does it challenge loyalty can’t be built on the back for example - sending money home, and managing partner, Publicis India, behaviour? These are some of the of cashbacks. We have used scratch paying bills, shopping offline or finds the idea of the ad interesting – questions I would ask.” n cards/incentives more as a tool online - as it fundamentally makes greater good that comes out of small [email protected]

14 afaqs! Reporter, September 1-15, 2 0 1 9

ADVERTISING

SUNFEAST Cookie Lovers Rejoice

(cookie),” he states. Ramanujam Sridhar, founder and CEO of brand-comm – a communications consultancy headquartered in Bangalore, says, “The whole idea is that brands in their marketing efforts are trying to make these products universal – it’s not particularly for a young person or an old person. The more generic the communication, the higher are the chances of it appealing to more people. This is the idea of the Dairy Milk commercial and this is what Sunfeast is trying to do as well. The point is to make everybody in the family consume the chocolate.” He’s referring to the fact that in both ads, the whole family is sitting for the dessert and the brand is being passed around. In the case of Dairy Milk, he ITC’s latest Sunfeast ad with Alia Bhatt positions says the brand tries to find new cookies as ‘meetha’. By Aishwarya Ramesh ways to advertise itself since by and large, the product itself remains the same (apart from unfeast’s latest ad features setting and everyone is waiting for a few new variants.) “In India, actress Alia Bhatt and is in line a bite of dessert, or in this case, the when people don’t have ideas, Swith the ‘can’t wait, won’t wait’ chocolate being positioned in the the easiest thing do is get a theme that all Sunfeast Dark Fantasy place of a ‘meetha’. cookie ads have had. “We endeavour to elevate the dessert indulgence EXPERTS SPEAK experience of Sunfeast Dark Fantasy Shivaji Dasgupta, chief strategy by positioning it as the ‘new meetha’ officer, Havas Group India, agreed are blurring, and that chocolate is for all celebratory focusing on special that the strategy for both Dairy Milk finding its way to being a sweet moments with family and friends and Sunfeast is fundamentally similar. too. “A case in point being in this TVC. Sunfeast aims to make “The idea is to fit a new age format in – naan khatai or even thekua (a an impact in the indulgent biscuits an age old tradition. It is common to traditional fried sweet cookie segment by entering the space of eat sweets after a meal in India and from Bihar and Jharkhand). meetha,” says Paritosh Wali, chief Dairy Milk presented chocolates as While the thekua is necessarily operating officer, biscuits and a logical and aspirational substitute, a home-made pakwaan, naan confections cluster, Foods Division, appealing to the whole family,” he khatai and barfi are neighbours in celebrity,” he says, ITC, in a press release. said, over email. a mithai shop. Good marketing indirectly referring to Rehman in the can change consumer expectations Dairy Milk ad and Bhatt for Sunfeast. and – chocolates not only “When you normally say kuch This isn’t the first time a brand in the became a meetha, there was also meetha ho jaye, it’s a reference a chocolate rosogulla activation in to a peda or a gulab jamun or a FMCG space has tried to substitute a Bengal during puja some seasons traditional Indian sweet. The idea traditional Indian ‘meetha’ with a chocolate. ago. Also, let’s not forget the is to take that share of consumption chocolate modaks during Ganesh in the market and make Indians Chaturthi.” think it’s perfectly acceptable to have However, this isn’t the first For Rajesh Sharma, VP - strategic Sharma pointed out that Cadbury chocolate as a dessert - it’s equivalent time a brand in the FMCG space planning and planning head, was the first mover in this space, to, if not better than an Indian sweet,” has tried to substitute a traditional McCann Mumbai, the positioning with their ‘Kuch Meetha Ho Jaye’ Sridhar says. Indian ‘meetha’ with a chocolate. of these products make sense. “For campaign and that it has worked very It is the same positioning that ITC Previously, Dairy Milk’s ‘Kuch long, the category has been about well for them. “It’s a tried and tested is trying to replicate now. “Youngsters Meetha Ho Jaye’ campaign made personal moments of indulgence. I route to greater consumer acceptance in India don’t think there’s a huge references to the chocolate being believe the shift to the cultural space and consumption. I believe it’s the difference between a western sweet used on happy occasions or to mark of shared consumption would have first time a cookie brand is doing it. and an Indian sweet. It’s possible that a new beginning. One such ad been seen as strategic requirement for Both approaches are similar, but the they believe a sweet is just that - a featuring actress Waheeda Rehman the brand’s future growth.” consumer will ultimately decide what sweet, irrespective of the origins of uses a setting similar to the Sunfeast He says the lines between a they really want on such occasions the palate,” Sridhar signs off. n Dark Fantasy ad. It is a post meal traditional mithai and western sweets – barfi (chocolate) or naan khatai [email protected]

18 afaqs! Reporter, September 1-15, 2 0 1 9 wins Election Day by a Landslide Margin Times Internet, India’s largest digital products company was India’s top choice for news and information on India’s 2019 General Election Results Day according to Comscore report.

VALIDATES TIMES INTERNET’S ELECTION RESULTS DAY LEADERSHIP

52.51

25.94 20.06 14.02 12.94

Times Internet Network 18 India Today NDTV Dailyhunt Limited

Unique Visitors in millions (Android Smartphone- Web & App) Read the Comscore article : Comscore custom reporting 23rd May 2019, India https://bit.ly/30l1JE5

YOUNG BENGAL GLOBAL BENGALI Indian Languages Move Up The Quint, BBC News Hindi and ALTBalaji were big winners in a year which saw a sharp rise in Indian languages entries. By Anirban Roy Choudhury

he third edition of Digipub entries was driven by increased bagged as many Silver awards, the Election Results 2019’ (Best User Awards was held on August participation of Indian language latter took home three. Experience). T29-30, 2019, at The Westin, publishers. CNBC TV18 won a Gold in the Gurugram. Organised by afaqs!, In all, 24 Gold, 19 Silver, six GOLD WINNERS - ENGLISH Best Article/Video Series category for Digipub Awards is a part of Digipub ‘Website of the Year’ and two ‘App of In the Best Article/Video Feature ‘CNBC TV18 Disruptors’. World, which is the first and only the Year’ awards were given away at category, The Quint won a Gold BloombergQuint bagged a Gold in business event focused exclusively this year’s Digipub Awards. In each for ‘The Making of Lynchistan: the Best Brand Partnership category on web publishing. category, the entries were classified Killing in the Name of the Cow’. Its for ‘Pursuits by Skoda’ and another Sreekant Khandekar, curator of in two languages - English and ‘Sandesh to a Soldier’ entry won a one in Best Interactive Story for Digipub World and co-founder of Indian. The Quint dominated the Gold for Best Audience Engagement ‘Next.Decoded’. ‘Pursuits by Skoda’ afaqs!, revealed that the number of evening with a total of 11 metals - six On Site. The Quint also won Gold bagged another Gold in the Best entries this year grew by 33 per cent Gold and five Silver awards. BBC awards for ‘Me, the Change’ (Best Use of Video category. iDiva also over last year. He also mentioned News Hindi and ALTBalaji won two Brand Partnership), ‘Trials of Trans- pocketed a Gold in the same category that the growth in the number of Gold awards each. While the former ition’ (Best Podcast), and ‘Lok Sabha for its ‘South Delhi Aunties’ entry.

20 afaqs! Reporter, September 1-15, 2 0 1 9 All the winners pose for a group photograph

Jagran New Media’s ‘Sit With in the Best Interactive Hitlist’ won a Gold for Best Story category. It won All the Jurors Interview. Gold for the Best Use another Gold for ‘How JUDGING CRITERIA of Native Advertising went to Vice many promises did Anupam Bokey: RP Sanjiv Goenka Group Media for ‘Men 2.0 - Titan Octane’. the Narendra Modi Arnab Mitra: Liqvd Asia The Digipub Awards aim to recognise Network18’s ‘Button Dabao Desh government keep?” Boby Paul: Manoramaonline and celebrate exciting initiatives in the Banao’ bagged a Gold in the Best in the Best User Chandni Shah: Kinnect world of Indian web publishing. The jury Use of Social Media category. Experience category. was given specific criteria as the basis for Kedar Teny: Tilt Brand Solutions Arré’s ‘HDFC judging in each category. Lulu Raghavan: Landor GOLD WINNERS Presents Dishaheen THE JUDGING PROCESS INDIAN LANGUAGES Navyuva Helpline’ won Mayank Shah: Parle Products - Each entry was judged by between The Quint won big in the Indian a Gold in the Best Brand Neha Tulsian: NH1 Design 3 and 5 jurors. Language classification too. Its Partnership category, Pravin Sutar: Dentsu WebChutney - Jurors rated entries on a scale of 1-10 ‘Chhattisgarh Elections 2018: Village while Mathrubhumi’s Priyadarshi Banerjee: Worldwide Media where 1 is poor and 10 is exceptional. that Inspired Newton Still Awaits ‘Mr. Krishnarajeev - An applicant could enter under English Rahul Mishra: Shemaroo Entertainment Change’ entry won a Gold for Best (Fukru)’ won a Gold or Indian Languages in each category. dyworks Article/Video Feature. for Best Interview. Roy Menezes: - An entry had to score a minimum of Vice Media won two Golds, one Aawaz.com’s (Instinct Sanjay Sindhwani: Indian Express (Digital) 6/10 to qualify for Gold and 5/10 to for ‘Sex Rated’ in the Best Article/ Media) ‘Krishna ki Shruti Samant: P&G Health, India take Silver. Video Series and another one for Nagri Mathura aur Sumanta Ganguly: Lowe Lintas There was no Bronze. its ‘C se Crime’ entry in the Best Vrindavan’ won a Gold Podcast category. for Best Podcast. Hoichoi was awarded Website of the ALTBalaji and BBC News Hindi (General News and Features). Year (Lifestyle, Infotainment, Sports also won two Gold each. ALTBalaji’s WEBSITE OF THE YEAR Pinkvilla won Website of the Year and Entertainment). ‘Breast Buffer’ entry impressed ENGLISH (Lifestyle, Infotainment, Sports and the jurors in both Best Audience BloombergQuint won Website of Entertainment). APP OF THE YEAR Engagement On Site and Best the Year (Business), while ALTBalaji/ Moneycontrol won News App Innovation in Publishing categories. White Rivers Media bagged Website WEBSITE OF THE YEAR of the Year (English), while Dainik BBC Hindi News fetched a Gold of the Year (Emerging). INDIAN LANGUAGES Bhaskar was awarded News App of for “Price calculator: Are you paying The Quint/Quintillion Media BBC News Hindi won Website of the Year (Indian Language). n more for your daily life products?” was awarded Website of the Year the Year (General News and Features). [email protected]

afaqs! Reporter, September 1-15, 2 0 1 9 21 Digipub Awards - English CATEGORY NAME WINNER METAL Best Article/Video Feature Vice Media Silver Best Article/Video Feature The Quint Gold The Winners Best Article/Video Series CNBC TV18 Gold Best Article/Video Series The Quint Silver Best Audience Engagement On Site Youth Ki Awaaz Silver Best Audience Engagement On Site The Quint Gold Best Brand Partnership BloombergQuint Gold in Pictures Best Brand Partnership The Quint Gold Best Innovation in Publishing The Quint Silver Best Innovation in Publishing Youth Ki Awaaz Gold Best Interactive Story The Quint Silver Best Interactive Story BloombergQuint Gold Best Interview Worldwide Media Silver Best Interview Jagran New Media Gold Best Native Advertising CNBC TV18 Silver Best Native Advertising Inshorts Silver Best Native Advertising Vice Media Gold Best Podcast The Quint Silver Best Podcast The Quint Gold Best Use of Social Media Network18 Gold Best Use of Social Media The Quint Silver Best Use of Video BloombergQuint Gold Best Use of Video iDiva Gold Best User Experience The Quint Gold Digipub Awards - Indian Languages The Quint won a Gold in English, Best Article/Video Feature CATEGORY NAME WINNER METAL Best Article/Video Feature The Quint Gold Best Article/Video Feature BBC News Hindi Silver Best Article/Video Series News18.com Silver Best Article/Video Series Vice Media Gold Best Audience Engagement On Site ALTBalaji Gold Best Audience Engagement On Site Dainik Bhaskar Silver Best Brand Partnership Arré Gold Best Brand Partnership Arré Silver Best Innovation in Publishing ALTBalaji Gold Best Innovation in Publishing BBC News Hindi Silver Best Interactive Story BBC News Hindi Gold Best Interview Mathrubhumi Gold Best Podcast Vice Media Gold Best Podcast Instinct Media Gold Best Use of Social Media ALTBalaji Silver Best Use of Social Media ALTBalaji Silver Best Use of Social Media ALTBalaji Silver Best Use of Video Chitralekha Silver Best User Experience BBC News Hindi Gold Websites of the Year - English The Quint was awarded a Gold in Indian Language, Best Article/Video Feature CATEGORY NAME WINNER Website of the Year (Business) BloombergQuint Website of the Year (Emerging) ALTBalaji Website of the Year (General News and Features) The Quint Website of the Year (Lifestyle, Infotainment, Sports and Entertainment) Pinkvilla Websites of the Year - Indian Languages CATEGORY NAME WINNER Website of the Year (General News and Features) BBC News Hindi Website of the Year (Lifestyle, Infotainment, Sports and Entertainment) Hoichoi App of the Year - English CATEGORY NAME WINNER News App of the Year Moneycontrol App of the Year - Indian Languages CATEGORY NAME WINNER News App of the Year Dainik Bhaskar CNBC TV18 bagged a Gold in English, Best Article/Video Series

22 afaqs! Reporter, September 1-15, 2 0 1 9 COVERSTORY

Vice Media won a Gold in Indian Language, The Quint was awarded a Gold in English, ALTBalaji won a Gold in Indian Language, Best Article/Video Series Best Audience Engagement On Site Best Audience Engagement On Site

BloombergQuint bagged a Gold in English, The Quint bagged a Gold in English, Youth Ki Awaaz was awarded a Gold in English, Best Brand Partnership Best Brand Partnership Best Innovation in Publishing

BloombergQuint won a Gold in English, Jagran New Media was awarded a Gold in English, Mathrubhumi bagged a Gold in Indian Language, Best Interactive Story Best Interview Best Interview

Vice Media bagged a Gold in English, Aawaz.com (Instinct Media) won a Gold in Network18 was awarded a Gold in English, Best Native Advertising Indian Language, Best Podcast Best Use of Social Media

afaqs! Reporter, September 1-15, 2 0 1 9 23 COVERSTORY

The Quint took home Gold in English, BBC News Hindi won a Gold in Indian Language, BloombergQuint bagged Website of the Year Best User Experience Best User Experience (Business) English

BBC News Hindi took away Website of the Year Moneycontrol won News App of the Year English Dainik Bhaskar was awarded News App of the Year (General News and Features) Indian Language Indian Language

iDiva bagged a Gold in English, Best Use of Video BBC News Hindi won a Gold in Indian Language, ALTBalaji took away Website of the Year Best Interactive Story (Emerging) English

SPONSORS Gold Partners Technology Partner Silver Partner Bronze Partners Chamber Partner Streaming Partner

EXHIBITORS

24 afaqs! Reporter,September 1-15, 2 0 1 9 MEDIA

DISCOVERY Into the Wild ‘Man Vs Wild’ premiere, featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi, clocked 6.9 million impressions on Discovery. By News Bureau

uring a regular week, the leader in the infotainment Dgenre Discovery rakes in 3.5 to 4 million impressions. In week 33, (August 10 to 16, 2019), it shot up to 8.3 million impressions, an all-time high for any channel in the genre. There is no guessing why this happened. On August 12, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi featured in the popular franchise ‘Man Vs Wild’. The host of the show and renowned adventurer Bear Grylls made Modi sit on a makeshift boat while he himself, half-submerged, pushed it to the other side. “You must be the extend the leadership further with The premiere also delivered impressions) and Zee (3.3 million only Prime Minister to do that,” pathbreaking programming.” the highest-ever slot reach for the impressions). (Source: BARC Grylls said. A couple of days back, Grylls, who infotainment genre, with 6.1 million India; TG: All15+AB|Market: Though the episode got criticised also hosted former US President tune-in on Discovery Channel, India Urban|August 12, 2019: 9-10 as “Not So Wild”, it certainly got Barack Obama in his show, which is 15 times more as compared p.m.|Impressions) the viewers hooked to it. Discovery compared the social impressions to the last four weeks average of The premiere delivered the shared a media statement where of the episode featuring PM Modi the same slot. (Source: BARC India; highest ever sampling in the the network, quoting BARC India, with the last Super Bowl. His tweet TG: All15+AB|Market: India infotainment genre, with 15.6 stated that the premiere episode read, “Officially, the world’s most Urban|August 12, 2019: 9-10 p.m. million tune-ins. (Source: BARC on Discovery raked in 6.9 million trending televised event! With 3.6 |Reach) India; TG: All2+|Market: India impressions, while the time spent on billion impressions! (Beating ‘Super The premiere slot performance (U+R)|Period: 2015–19|Reach) the show was about 29.2 minutes per Bowl 53, which had 3.4 billion social grew an astonishing 50 times, giving The cumulative reach for the viewer. impressions.) an unprecedented 93 per cent channel show across Discovery network, “The historic edition of ‘Man Vs share to Discovery channel among the originals and repeat included, and Wild’ made a larger point about the DISCOVERY SHARES FACTS infotainment genre. (Source: BARC DD National was an imposing 42.7 importance of wildlife conservation The premiere on Discovery India; TG: All 15+AB|Market: million. (Source: BARC India; TG: and sensitised people about Network raked 3.69 million India Urban|August 12, 2019: All2+|Market: India (U+R)|Period: environmental change. In that sense, impressions, overtaking GEC 9-10 p.m.|Channel Share based on Week 33|Cumulative Reach) it was much more than a TV show,” leader Star Plus with 3.67 million Impressions%) The special Man Vs Wild edition said Megha Tata, managing director impressions. (Source: BARC India; Discovery Channel emerged with Grylls and Modi is also being – South Asia, Discovery, adding, “We TG: All15+AB|Market: India as the third ranked channel, showcased on Discovery network of are the undisputed leaders in the Urban|August 12, 2019: 9-10 with 3.05 million impressions, channels across 179 countries. n infotainment genre; our aim is to p.m.|Impressions) behind Star Plus (3.67 million [email protected]

2400/- 2016/-(inclusive taxes). 4800/- 3495/-(inclusive taxes).

afaqs! Reporter, September 1-15, 2 0 1 9 25 ADVERTISING DOVE Embrace Your Natural Hair Grey hair, curly hair, short hair - the new Dove ad welcomes all types. By Aishwarya Ramesh

he beauty ideal for hair in India is crystal clear - long, Tblack, and straight. But what about girls with kinky curls? What about those who love the feeling of the sun on their neck when their hair is cut short? Dove’s new brand campaign #AapkeBaalAapkiMarzi celebrates such women. These are their stories. Stories that – like their real beauty campaign Keeping in line with its helped us arrive at our campaign with their campaigns that celebrate ‘real beauty’ campaign, idea.” diversity. I think those two really Dove asks women to come together well and the campaign embrace their natural hair EXPERTS SPEAK you see is the outcome of that. in its new commercial. Akanksha Patankar Mirji, a brand Unilever’s endeavour has always An earlier survey consultant and storyteller, says she been to be seen as a company that by the brand in liked the campaign. “Consumer stands for relevant social issues. Dove audiences are evolving since as a brand has always had a social they have access to a lot more voice and creates conversations.” technology. That’s why brands For Neeraj Sharma, planning need to evolve in terms head at Rediffusion, the campaign of how they interact makes sense from a strategy point of with their customers. view. “Women’s hair has a tendency Since consumers to have a mind of its own and the are evolving, insight that they’ve played on is that and the way that no matter what your hair type is, brands speak to (Dove’s) shampoo will suit it.” them are evolving, Sharma points out that both the it’s important for protagonists and the stories that they agencies to have a grasp tell are niche, yet relatable. “I feel on that. Kudos to the they have chosen these stories in collaboration with Hansa Research celebrates inclusion, we decided to planners – they’ve done a great job particular for impact, but the core found that 71 per cent of Indians celebrate the inclusion of all kinds in understanding the market.” Mirji customer insight hasn’t moved. think short, coloured and curly of hair in a society that has glorified also appreciates how the campaign They’re still trying to appeal to hair is less beautiful than long and just one kind of hair - straight, long is present in multiple languages young urban women and have straight hair. Dove’s new campaign, and black. After all, the freedom to and points out that in the south, accordingly chosen actors who don’t developed by Ogilvy India, is based do what one wants with one’s hair is women are genetically predisposed look like conventional models to tell on insights culled from this research implicit in the fight for emancipation. to having curly hair, so an ad like the story.” and aims to address stereotypes. We interviewed women across the this would work in that market. He says the campaign fits into Harman Dhillon, vice president, country to arrive at these inspiring “The agencies have done a great a larger brand narrative. “The Hair Care, Hindustan Unilever, said, stories. These women were left in job in understanding the evolving thing with Hindustan Unilever as “Dove recognises and realises the a dilemma at some stage in their consumer. My guess is that they a company is that every one of impact typecasting can have on an its products stands for a purpose individual’s being. For over 60 years, A survey by Dove in collaboration with Hansa in the market. Every brand need Dove has showcased the beauty in not necessarily stand for a cause diversity. Through our campaigns, Research found that 71 per cent of Indians but this is a stance that HUL has we try to create awareness around chosen to take.” Sharma’s only and widen the narrow definition of think short, coloured and curly hair is less criticism of the ad is that there is beauty. There is a lot more to be beautiful than long and straight hair. no real connection between the done to create a systemic change stories being told and the products in mindsets and to celebrate the lives, all because they didn’t conform went out and studied the market sold. “There is just one shot of individuality and independence of to society’s idea of beautiful hair. to find out if an ad like this would the product and the customer is women.” Instead of succumbing to societal work.” expected to draw the connection Says Zenobia Pithawalla, senior bondage, they continued to wear “Women are increasingly using between the story and what product executive creative director, Ogilvy their hair their way and emerged their voice and it would help brands they’re trying to sell.” n India (West), “As a brand that even more triumphant because of it. like Dove to marry their campaigns [email protected]

26 afaqs! Reporter, September 1-15, 2 0 1 9 JOBSWITCH

Post: Senior Executive - Profile: Responsible for retail Experience: 2 to 4 years squad. Self-starter who can work Marcom (only female candidates media, retail corporate, 360 degree Location: New Delhi independently and with different should apply) businesses, digital marketing and Email: [email protected] teams. Has an excellent visual Company: Tek Advertising & software products. Help in the sales ...... aesthetics. Management Pvt Ltd of Vritti products across Telangana. Experience: 1 to 2 years Profile: Communication planning Achieve the targets through Post: Senior Copy Writer Location: Noida and business development sales team and channel partners. Company: IdeateLabs Email: [email protected] (preparation and presentation of Relationship management with Profile: Research, understand, create, ...... promotional communication plan channel partners. Responsible for review and edit/enhance a vast array in PPT format). development of Vritti brand loyalty. of product information for web Post: Art Director Experience: 0 to 4 years Experience: 8 to 10 years content in a brief, informative style. Company: Ventures Advertising Location: Patna Location: Telangana Responsible for writing emailers, Pvt Ltd Email: [email protected]; Email: [email protected] infographic content (static, Profile: Should have an overall [email protected] ...... animation, video) user manuals, experience of eight to 10 years, and ...... instructional and demo copy, have experience in designing social Post: Client Servicing Manager reference materials, blog posts, media campaigns for at least three Post: Senior Copywriter Company: CupShup case studies, white papers years. Able to meet art department Company: STIR Profile: Cracking new corporate and brochures. work standards by following Profile: Examples of copy written partnerships and working closely Experience: 3 to 6 years production, quality, and for ads/internal communication, with the BD team to understand Location: Mumbai customer-service standards. digital and social media campaigns. the ropes of the business. Ideating Email: [email protected] Experience: 8 to 10 years Examples of film scripts, technical and planning BTL activities that ...... Location: Kolkata content, whitepapers, B2B writing cater to a segmented niche of Email: [email protected] (brochures/letters), concept notes elite corporates, understanding Post: Client Servicing Executive ...... developed for campaigns. the requirements of the client Company: Thoughtrains Designs Experience: 5 to 7 years and providing solutions Pvt Ltd Post: Graphic Designer/Visualiser Location: Bangalore that matter. Profile: Excellence communications Company: Mindbird Email: [email protected] Experience: 0 to 4 years and interpersonal skills, good Profile: The person should know ...... Location: Mumbai command and fluency in English, the following software: Adobe Email: [email protected] understanding the market trends, Illustrator, Coral Draw, Photoshop. Post: Senior Graphic Designer ...... client’s business and brand. Experience: 0 to 1 year Company: Kautilya Multicreation Analysing the client’s briefs Location: Mumbai Pvt Ltd Post: Junior Client Servicing and delivering creative as per Email: [email protected]; Profile: Diploma/Degree in Executive the timelines. Real estate knowledge [email protected] Applied Arts or equivalent Company: Thought Bubbles and experience in an advertising educational qualification. Creative Profile: Understand and evolve agency will be an added advantage. and has an ability to produce the advertising brief from client Experience: 4 to 6 years innovative and original ideas. to manage projects as per deadlines. Location: Mumbai Excellent knowledge in print, Handle current client requirements Email: [email protected] production and all kinds and make new pitches. Should be ...... EVEN GOOD CAN! of designing software. able to facilitate, ideate and lead GET BETTER Experience: 6 to 8 years campaign brainstorming sessions Post: Social Media Executive Location: Mumbai along with the whole team. Company: Krypton Integrated Email: [email protected] Experience: 0 to 2 years Services Pvt Ltd ...... Location: Mumbai Profile: Identifying new digital Email: manoj.motiani@ marketing promo opportunities Post: DTP/Studio Computer thoughtbubbles.in for clients. Building new leads for Operator ...... business, identifying competitors, TO ADVERTISE, CONTACT: Company: Quotient scheduling plans, deriving content. Communications Pvt Ltd Post: Senior Social Media Executive Experience: 3 to 5 years Shubham Garg Profile: Layouts, adaptations, final Company: Centum Advertising & Location: Mumbai Aakash Bhatia artwork, image work and other Marketing Pvt Ltd Email: [email protected] computer and graphics-related work. Profile: We are looking for a young ...... Experience: 2 to 5 years social media strategist who can Location: Mumbai manage and solely supervise existing Post: Junior Graphic Designer To view other jobs in Marketing, Email: [email protected] social media government client(s). Company: India News Media and Advertising, log on to: ...... The role would involve social Communications Ltd media, content writing, monitoring, Profile: Looking for a motivated Post: Branch Head posting, analysis, reporting and graphic designer (print and digital) Company: Vritti Solutions Ltd daily client interaction. to join the ever-expanding

afaqs! Reporter, September 1-15, 2 0 1 9 27 MOST-VIEWEDADS

Rag rag mein Daude city THE MOST AUDACIOUS AD OF THE MONTH be heard

FLINTOBOX EPIGAMIA ONE8 UNITED COLORS OF In the ad campaign, the brand, an early In a simple 17-second, no-dialogue ad, the The ad featuring Virat Kohli highlights BENETTON education starter, highlights the global brand has tried to establish the product as his personal characteristics of being The latest campaign by UCB, which is based water crises through its 21-day challenge a work-snack, referring to it as ‘your happy arrogant, hot-headed and temperamental. on a true story, is aimed at promoting to save water. (work and snack) balance’. The brand is placing the product in the ad harmony and respect for other communities. as a comfort for the restless.

TIC TAC MOBIKWIK SUGAR COSMETICS PHILIPS The latest ad is centred around the brand’s The ad shows how the e-payment app The ad is focused on both women The campaign features actress Alia Bhatt. offer of winning a OnePlus 7 mobile phone allows the shopkeepers to do cashless empowerment and the ‘never-give-up’ It promotes the brand’s product – a heated by SMS-ing the six-digit number given on the transactions. It was released when the spirit. Its message is that even if you fall, straightening brush that helps style your product pack to the said mobile number. government imposed demonetisation. all that matters is that you get back up. hair in just five minutes.

SAREGAMA CARVAAN VODAFONE FORD INDIA TITAN CLOCKS The 25-second ad shows the brand’s latest The ad film, released as a part of the The latest ad ‘Galiyan’, from the campaign Love, laughter and cookies. Life is lived in offering - Saregama Carvaan - that has a brand’s friendship day campaign, urges #DiscoverMore, is set in and around Old precious little moments made of all this collection of 5,000 old Bollywood songs users to celebrate offline friend, instead of Delhi and the ad copy is a poem. The poem and more. It’s these very moments that listed artist-wise, without ads and internet online ones. It insists on consumers valuing personifies various facets of Old Delhi - its have inspired our clocks – is the message connection. physical friends. narrow lanes, the corners, little shops, etc. that the brand gives out in its latest ad.

ONEPLUS INDIA MANYAVAR AMAZON INDIA VIVEL The ad highlights the Zen Mode feature The ad #TaiyaarHoKarAaiye, featuring Kartik The ad, released as a part of the brand’s The ad, released on Equality Day, wants of the OnePlus phone that motivates Aaryan, asks one to get ready in ethnic wear campaign #ApniDukaan, highlights that women to know that from wanting to consumers to take a break from their busy for the wedding season. products across categories are available on behave silly to being taken seriously, from day and do things that they love. the Amazon app. wanting to save the world to wanting to feel safe, their wants are not too much.

Got some great campaign that has been published recently? Upload it on afaqs! for the world to see. Visit: www.afaqs.com/advertising/creative_showcase

28 afaqs! Reporter, September 1-15, 2 0 1 9 #DIGIES2019

MEET SOME OF OUR EARLY CONFIRMED JURORS

ADARSH PETE AZAZUL HAQUE BHAVNA SALUJA CHAAYA BARADHWAAJ JAIDEEP MAHAJAN India, South Asia Lead - Brand, Social Chief Creative O cer Head Of Marketing - India, Founder - MD National Creative Head and Corporate Advertising Mullen Lintas Digital Media BC Web Wise Rediusion IBM Adobe

KAACON SETHI KEDAR APTE POOJA JAUHARI PREMJEET SODHI RAVINDER SIWACH Chief Marketing O cer Vice President Marketing - CEO Senior Vice President National Creative Director Dainik Bhaskar India and South Asia The Glitch Mindshare Fulcrum Havas Castrol

ROHAN MEHTA SAPANGEET RAJWANT SAPNA ARORA CEO Senior Vice President - Marketing Chief Marketing O cer Kinnect Viacom18 OLX and more...

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Final Showdown: October 17, 2019 Digital Media Partner: Le Méridien, Gurugram

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A round up of some major people >> MOVEMENTS/APPOINTMENTS<< movements in the last fortnight

ADVERTISING MEDIA

Digitas India Lintas Group. He has also won accolades like TV9 Digitas India has announced the appointment the Effie’s, Kyoorius and Spikes in India and TV9 Group has appointed Barun Das as chief of Sonia Khurana as chief operating officer. A the Asia-Pacific region. executive officer to lead its plans for becoming consummate marketer and strategic consultant a dominant national player in the broadcast and specialising in customer experience, customer digital news space. Mahendra Mishra, who was engagement, data-driven marketing and McCann Worldgroup acting as the interim chief executive officer, will digital marketing, Khurana’s mandate would McCann Worldgroup has recently appointed now be principal advisor to the board of TV9. Das, a be to leverage Digitas’ strong position in India, Bikram Bindra as vice president, strategic veteran of the media business, will be charged with and provide strategy and direction in making planning. He is also a visiting faculty at MICA. the responsibility of driving synergies among all the it India’s leading digital marketing agency. An alumnus of FMS, Delhi, Bindra has over channels and to build future-ready new businesses Khurana joins the agency from Ogilvy India, 13 years of experience and has worked with of the group. where she was senior vice president and head leading agencies like Grey Group, BBDO, of customer engagement. She will report to Leo Burnett and Ogilvy. He has also worked Radio Mirchi Digitas India’s chief executive officer Amaresh with Discovery Networks (Asia-Pacific) and Radio Mirchi has roped in Anant Kamal Srivastava Godbole. GSK. His last stint was as vice president and as AVP and national head for Mirchi Live. He strategic planning head at Grey Group. will be responsible for building IPs, developing Dentsu India and marketing ticketed events, managing domestic Dentsu India, the brand solutions agency BBDO and international talents. He will bring all his from the house of Dentsu Aegis Network, BBDO has strengthened its leadership entrepreneurial learning and inputs from India’s has appointed Siddharth S as group creative team in India by bringing on board Nikhil start-up ecosystem in the music space to help create director, and Rigved Sarkar as associate Mahajan as general manager for the Delhi impact at Radio Mirchi. Srivastava joins Mirchi with creative director at its Bangalore and Mumbai office, and Akashneel Dasgupta, who is over a decade of eclectic experience in the field of offices, respectively. joining as chief creative officer. Mahajan has live events, talent management, brands alliances Siddharth’s last stint was with Leo Burnett also been appointed as chief growth officer and co-branded activities. Prior to this, he had a Orchard, Bangalore, where he was senior for BBDO in India. He joins BBDO from successful three-year stint at Sony Music, where creative director on brands like Amazon and Lowe Lintas, where he was executive director. he was extensively involved in building the vertical Ola. He will report to Krishna Mani, who His experience, gained over 16 years, covers ‘Sony Music Pop’, marketing and business for recently joined Dentsu India as ECD - South. various industries including music, banking various talents like Badshah, Arjun Kanungo, rapper Before joining Dentsu India, Sarkar was and advertising. Previously, Mahajan has Divine, amongst others. He was also responsible creative controller at 82.5 Communications, worked at leading companies, including GE, for conceptualising and executing various live tours Mumbai, where he worked on Tata Motors, Standard Chartered Bank, JWT and Lowe across the globe. RuPay, etc. Lintas. Meanwhile, as part of its strategic intent to Dasgupta comes with more than 15 years iTV Network bolster operations, Dentsu India has also roped of experience in the advertising industry at iTV Network recently announced the appointment in Asheesh Malhotra to head its Mumbai office. agencies like DDB Mudra, Lowe, Dentsu of R K Arora as director – strategy and planning. He will report to chief executive officer Simi and ADK Fortune. He found his creative Arora has a wealth of leadership experience of Sabhaney. With over 20 years of experience calling following a short stint as an account around two-and-a-half decades in news broadcasting, across leading agencies, including Mullen planner, where the creative lead recognised spanning the entire spectrum, from strategic vision Lowe Lintas Group, Bates CHI Partners and his potential and quickly placed him in the and planning to execution. He has a standout Ogilvy, Malhotra has been instrumental in team. In his previous role as national creative track record, result-oriented approach and a deep building brands such as Unilever, Mondelez, director at ADK Fortune, he led the agency’s understanding of news ecosystem. ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, Castrol, BP, growth from five to 55 people. Arora was, until recently, executive director and and Toyota. His last stint was as executive CEO of Zee Media Corporation Ltd (ZMCL). He director at PointNine Lintas, MullenLowe has previously held senior executive positions with media houses of repute - News Nation, India News, News 24 and India TV. MARKETING

Paytm we expand our business, we are DIGITAL Paytm, the brand owned by One97 promoting Madhur to the role of Communications, has announced president. Madhur has been a key Pocket Aces Raj will spearhead Loco sales that Madhur Deora, currently the partner in this success.” Pocket Aces has announced nationally. chief financial officer at the digital Paytm has also announced the the appointment of Deepak Raj brings with him a vast payments leader, has been promoted appointment of Amit Nayyar as Raj as vice president, experience of more than a to president of the company. president. In a newly created role, sales for Loco, its live decade, where he has worked Vijay Shekhar Sharma, founder Nayyar will be responsible for the entertainment and gaming with the marquee media and chief executive officer, Paytm, financial services business of Paytm. platform. Loco has over 18 houses such as Zee, Network said, “We have grown over 20x in At Paytm, he will lead the million registered users, with 18, Bloomberg UTV, Disney, the last three years by creating a company’s efforts to further its active users spending over and Culture Machine. Prior payments-led lifestyle and financial footprint in lending, insurance, 30 minutes daily on the app. to joining Pocket Aces, Raj services app in our country. The wealth management and broking The company is aiming to was associated with Zee next phase of our journey is to businesses. He will report directly to expand the team, launch new Entertainment as the head expand our offerings in consumer Vijay Shekhar Sharma, founder and features and hit 50 million of digital publishing and internet and financial services. As chief executive officer, Paytm. users in the next two years. partnerships.

30 afaqs! Reporter, September 1-15, 2 0 1 9