“If you’re not talking the language of ‘Digital’, you’re out of the business”
Today, brands & youth are talking a different language. If you don’t understand their requirements & understand what their needs are, then you are out of the race, says Anilkumar Sathiraju, AVP & Head - South, DDB Mudra Max

Anilkumar Sathiraju, Associate Vice-President & Head- South, DDB Mudra Max, has completed 15 years with the agency. In conversation with exchange4media, Sathiraju speaks about his journey so far, why he maintains a low profile, Digital being a must-have for clients and agencies and more...
You have been with DDB Mudra Max for 15 years, how has your journey been so far? What is that one thing that keeps you here for such a long time?
Mudra is like a family to me. The journey has been fantastic for the last 15 years. Each day I tell myself it’s a new day and it’s a new learning and that’s how I have survived here for 15 years. One thing that keeps me going is my team. Had it not for my team, I wouldn’t have stayed for so long. The team has been consistently excellent.
What are the major changes that you have observed within your organisation?
A lot of changes have happened. Structural changes, takeovers, bosses have changed, people have come and gone and even rejoined. Now, we are bigger than ever as a Group.
You have always kept a low profile. Why is it so?
I don’t believe in tom-toming about myself. The work should speak for itself. I’ve always been humble and will continue to be so. That’s my nature and I can’t change.
What is the one skill that will become an absolute must-have in the next five years in the ad industry?
If you are not talking the language of today, viz. ‘Digital’, you are clearly out of the business – this is the most important. And this should happen now, not wait for five years. I am seeing people struggling in today’s world, which has moved far away from what it was earlier in terms of the dynamics. Be it the way media is looked at or whatever you can call it, brands are talking a different language. The youth of today are talking a different language. If you don’t understand their requirements and understand what their needs are, then you are out of the race.
It is not easy to quit a comfortable and secure job for something you want to explore – do you agree with this statement? What is your advice to your colleagues who are thinking about taking a risk, but are hesitant?
I agree with your statement. The day your mind says, ‘oh no, I have to go to office today’ – that’s the day you should call it quits. If people go behind money and fame, they are mistaken because I strongly believe that money and fame will come running behind you once you prove your worth. That’s my advice, there’s no rocket science to it. There have been instances when some of my ex-colleagues have come and told me that they want to leave because they are getting more money in some other agency. I have told them to move on. My peers used to always say, ‘Anil, money will follow you, don’t go behind it, let it come behind you’.
After pursuing your degree in Loyola College, Chennai, what catalysed you to move to Bangalore? Do you think Chennai has lost its share of interest?
I completed my degree from Guru Nanak College and did my PG from LIBA (Loyola Institute of Business Administration). My boss at that time, Subbu, saw my potential and took me to Bangalore. Chennai has not lost anything, it’s just that nowadays lots of big clients are moving out of Chennai and also the fact that good talent is also moving away from there.
You are on the committee of Ad Club, Bangalore. What have you planned to take Big Bang to the next level? What is that one initiative, according to you, that has to be taken?
Discussions are on with all the members. Some decisions should come soon. But yes, we are trying to make it big. You need to wait and watch what’s in the pipeline.
What are your future plans? Any plans to move on from DDB Mudramax in the near future?
My aim is to take DDB Mudramax to the top, along with the team.
Under your leadership some of the major brands have got their share of interest. Please share one of your most memorable experiences that you have had with your client.
I don’t believe in saying that because of me, a client has come in. It’s a team effort always. Together, we have won many new businesses and that’s our biggest strength. Each and every client of ours is a delight to work with. They understand us, we understand them, their business and work together. It is not just having a client-agency relationship, but a partnership. That’s what we are.
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E4M Our strategy is to target younger audiences through Sports: Rajiv Dubey, Dabur
The Head of Media at Dabur India spoke exclusively to exchange4media on the World Cup, associating with Indian Idol, the company’s digital spending and much more
With quirky campaigns, memes and moment marketing, timed with the ongoing World Cup and particularly the India-Pakistan matches, Dabur India has got considerable consumer attention for its popular brands – Red Paste, Cool King Hair Oil, Chyawanprash, Dabur Vita and the recently launched Bae Fresh Gel toothpaste.
The 140-year-old company is going big on key sporting events, World Television Premiere (WTP) movies and reality shows. It is now gearing up to become the title sponsor of popular talent show ‘Indian Idol’ on Sony TV for the first time, shared Rajiv Dubey, who leads the media strategy at Dabur.
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Swapan Seth's new book 'COOL' is out
The book is a reflection of the author's 'eclectic taste across categories'
Advertising professional and art collector Swapan Seth has announced the launch of his new book COOL. The book is described as "a ready reckoner to the hip and the happening, of the known and the very unknown."
The book is a reflection of the author's "eclectic taste across categories: from boltholes to exotic hideaways."
COOL has been published by Simon & Schuster India and is available on Amazon.
Seth is an ad veteran with a long and illustrious career in the industry. He became the youngest-ever Creative Director at Clarion at age 24. He was VP at 26 at Trikaya Grey. Two years later, he started his agency Equus.
He writes for publications such as The Economic Times, Hindustan Times and India Today. This is his second book and he has previously published THIS IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
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Disney Star signs 9 sponsors for Asia Cup PAK
Charged by Thums Up, Nerolac Paint+, Amazon Pay, Jindal Panther, My11Circle, MRF, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Wild Stone and Thums Up come on board
e4m Staff Disney Star has signed nine broadcast and digital streaming sponsors for the upcoming Asia Cup.
Charged by Thums Up, Nerolac Paint+, Amazon Pay, Jindal Panther, My11Circle, MRF, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Wild Stone and Thums Up have come on board for the upcoming tournament.
As reported earlier by exchange4media, Disney Star has sought Rs 26 crore for the co-presenting sponsorship on TV and Rs 30 crore for Disney+ Hotstar.
According to industry sources, the associate sponsorship on Star Sports has been priced at Rs 19.66 crore, whereas for the ‘powered by’ sponsorship on Disney+ Hotstar, the broadcaster is seeking Rs 18 crore.
As per the information available with exchange4media, Disney+ Hotstar has three sponsorship tiers-- co-presenting (Rs 30 crore), powered by (Rs 18 crore) and associate sponsorship (Rs 12 crore). The broadcaster is offering an estimated reach of 120-140 million for co-presenting sponsors, 90-100 million for powered by and 60-70 million for associate sponsorship.
A spot buy for 10 seconds has been priced at Rs 25 lakh for the India vs Pakistan matches, while for the non-India matches, the ad rate for 10 second is Rs 2.3 lakh. The India matches plus the final for ODIs has been priced at Rs 17 lakh per 10 seconds.
Asia Cup is scheduled to be held from 30 August, 2023, to September 17, 2023.
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Sorted 360 wins creative & social media mandate of Reliance Mall
The agency will manage offline and online campaigns for Reliance Mall
Sorted 360, an integrated creative and social media agency, has won the mandate to providing brand solutions for Reliance Malls across India.
“Sorted 360 is set to enhance Reliance Malls' market presence with their unparalleled creative prowess and strategic thinking,” read a press release.
“Sorted 360's commitment to pushing the boundaries of creative communication aligns perfectly with Reliance Malls' ethos. With a pan-India presence spanning across 19 cities and growing, Reliance Malls has consistently captivated customers by offering an array of Reliance brands and third-party fashion & lifestyle brands. The mall has established an unparalleled connection with its patrons through superior quality, a remarkable value proposition, and an unmatched shopping experience,” it read further.
"We are thrilled to welcome Sorted 360 as our trusted partner in advancing our brand presence across the nation," said the Head of Marketing at Relaice Malls. "Their proven expertise in retail, shopping center management, and innovative creative strategies make them the perfect fit for our vision."
"Partnering with Reliance Malls is a testament to our commitment to shaping extraordinary brand experiences," remarked Prerana Anatharam, Co-founder of Sorted 360. "We are excited to leverage our strategic and creative acumen to further elevate Reliance Malls as the epitome of convenience, choice, and excellence."
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KlugKlug onboards Hemang Mehta as Country Manager for Indias
Mehta was most recently Head of Agency Relationships at Network 18 Media & Investments
KlugKlug has appointed Hemang Mehta as its Country Manager for India.
Mehta will play a pivotal role in driving KlugKlug's growth and expansion within the Indian market and be responsible for Sales & GTM Strategy
Prior to that, he has also represented organisations like Exponential (now VDX.tv), India Today Digital and Rediff.com. His expertise spans various domains including digital media sales, mobile marketing, media planning, and buying, social media marketing, and more.
Hemang Mehta expressed his enthusiasm about joining KlugKlug, saying, "I am thrilled to be a part of KlugKlug, a forward-thinking platform that is reshaping the influencer marketing landscape. As much as I look forward to collaborating with the exuberant team at KlugKlug, I am super excited to interact with the brands to deliver powerful data-backed Influencer solutions that will guarantee business outcomes."
Commenting on the appointment, Kalyan Kumar, Co-Founder and CEO of KlugKlug, stated, "We are excited to welcome Hemang Mehta to our team as the Country Manager for India. His extensive experience in digital media sales and marketing will be instrumental in driving our efforts to provide influencer marketing solutions to our clients. We believe Hemang's leadership will be key in scaling our operations and expanding our reach within the Indian market."
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