Category: Agency News

WPP’s AKQA and Grey to merge in five markets

NIC Ice Cream was co-founded in 2012 by Jeetendra Bhandari, Sanjiv Shah, and Raj Bhandari, and it serves in 86 cities across India. (Image source: Claudio Schwarz via Unsplash)

In Australia, Italy, Belgium, and the United Arab Emirates, AKQA will be the leader and Grey will lead the brand in China.

EXCLUSIVE: Varahe Analytics, the agency behind BJP’s ‘Dulha Kaun Hai’ viral film

BJP is the highest spending political party on platforms like Google and Meta. As per Google’s Ad Transparency Report, the party has spent Rs 5.37crore on Google ads in the last 30 days. On Meta the party has spent Rs1.31 crore in the same period. (Image source: BJP via Instagram)

BJP’s campaign mandate is with a host of agencies, both big and small. Additionally a lot of the campaign work is also done by their in-house team of media, creative and marketing experts.

Oppo India gives its media mandate to PHD India

The mandate was won following a multi-agency pitch.

The responsibilities of the agency will include supporting Oppo India’s growth journey through their forte in communications planning, and best-in-class capabilities to drive desired business outcomes, stated a media report.

Storyboard18 Insider: Ad agencies feeling the pinch of politics?

The concern was driven by the fact that people have different political leanings and ideologies and in a supercharged and polarised world, subjecting employees to work on campaigns for any one particular party or ideology would be unfair. (Image source: Forbes India and Moneycontrol)

Storyboard18 Insider’s hot take on what’s keeping agencies united by business and divided by ideologies.

Ad spends on TV will not contract for the next 3-5 years: Navin Khemka, EssenceMediacom

Navin Khemka, CEO, South Asia, EssenceMediacom, stated, "My advice to our clients would be: “Choose your agency wisely, and then stay with them for a period of time. They can’t do magic overnight. They will take some time to think and come up with new ideas, and think on your brand. And if you build a good team with your agency, then stick with them.”

Acknowledging a GroupM TYNY report that says digital will account for 57 percent of all ad spends, at Rs 88,502 crore, Navin Khemka, EssenceMediacom’s CEO for South Asia said that ad spends on television will also grow, at 7-8 percent.

Publicis Groupe’s Digitas India has won the digital creative mandate of Deoleo India

Raj Hadvani, wholetime director and chief executive officer, highlighted, "In the highly competitive and impusle buying snacking category, we believe that Gopal Snacks has the potential to cater to every consumer across India and the globe with our unique taste and quality. Scarecrow M&C Saatchi's competence in understanding brand, contemporary strategising and storytelling makes them perfect growth partners." (Representative Image: Mauro Gigli via Unsplash)

This collaboration entrusts Digitas India with the creative and social media responsibilities for Deoleo’s marquee products, including Figaro Olive Oil, Bertolli Olive Oil and Figaro baby range. The objective is to transform these brands through cutting-edge digital narratives and enhanced consumer engagement.

Sintex’s media account on pitch: Exclusive

Sintex has been a leading manufacturer of a diverse range of plastic products in India, providing liquid storage solutions to billions for the last five decades, with a strong commitment to innovation and sustainability. (Image source: Unsplash)

Sintex’s media mandate is currently on pitch. Storyboard18 was the first to report when McCann Worldgroup won the creative pitch for Sintex in February 2024.

IPL is a chance to showcase media creativity and not just media buying: Wavemaker leadership

Storyboard18 caught up with George Kovoor, chief creative officer (CCO), Wavemaker India, and Ajay Gupte, chief executive officer (CEO), South Asia, Wavemaker, on the sidelines of the Emvies. They discussed what it takes to be a winning agency, the mood of the clients during peak advertising seasons (IPL and elections), the media trends of 2024, and a lot more.

Ajay Gupte, CEO – South Asia, Wavemaker and George Kovoor, chief creative officer, Wavemaker India, talk to Storyboard18 in an exclusive interview following their EMVIES win.

EXCLUSIVE: IPG Mediabrands gets Congress party’s media planning and buying mandate for 2024 Elections

Media planners are forecasting a wildly broad spectrum of political ad expenditures on mass media (newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and the internet), ranging from Rs 2000 crore to Rs 13,000 crore. (Image source: Moneycontrol)

The account will be handled by BPN, a division of Initiative Media, which is part of IPG Mediabrands.