International :How Group M Unit Busted Silos
Ford Group CEO Enlists Behavioral Psychologist to Foster Collaboration

DETROIT (AdAge.com) -- "Function is easy," said Phil Cowdell, CEO of Group M's new Ford Media Services, who is charged with not just merging WPP Group's U.S. media shops on Ford Motor Co. but persuading the new entity to think and work differently. "Changing behavior is not so easy."
So he hired a behavioral psychologist to help create a more collaborative structure.
Tough job
Mr. Cowdell, an energetic Brit, came to Dearborn, Mich., last July with the prickly task of overseeing the co-location of JWT and Ogilvy & Mather's MindShare media arm with Y&R's Mediaedge:cia for the automaker. He's blended the national planners, researchers and buyers with the formerly separate groups that handled regional dealer ad groups, though the teams are still split by brand for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury.
In the past, planners were split by medium and agency as well as brand. Now, for example, a former Mediaedge print planner who worked only on Lincoln Mercury could be on a Ford Division team previously limited to JWT planners.
Mr. Cowdell said the process has reconnected planners with buyers as "project partners" with shared objectives. So far, print, out-of-home, digital and cinema buyers have joined the media, digital and experiential planning teams. He said this setup avoids the "sequential relay race" of planning, then buying, then analysis in favor of a more collaborative style.
Staffers who worked on data-analysis metrics at JWT, Y&R, Ogilvy & Mather or Wunderman are now on the same floor in the so-called marketing-science unit. Before, they would separately report in some aspects of the marketing mix but vertically report in other areas, such as direct-mail response rates. Group M has broken down the vertical silos in favor of a more cross-disciplinary mind-set.
Coaching
But Mr. Cowdell didn't break down those silos alone. He turned to Sharon Davis, president of Seda Consulting, who said she met Mr. Cowdell by chance on a plane to New York. Since her arrival, the behavioral psychologist has interacted with the management team and coached other smaller groups "to help orient them to the new vision and how to best use their skills and talent."
Mr. Cowdell said Ms. Davis helped him draft a list of nine "personal commitments," which hangs prominently on every floor and includes "truth-telling" to clients, as well as "open to new ways of working." He said the list sounds old-fashioned, but the core behaviors "gave everybody here a spine."
He credited Ms. Davis with helping him track "the temperature of the group" using anonymous exit polls after monthly staff meetings and advising him when to put more pressure on employees and when to ease off. Mr. Cowdell said she also helped him assess staff progress and learn to increase performance.
"What became apparent rather quickly was who gets it, who gets it with a little pushing and those who didn't get it at all," he said.
Researchers who never met or talked under the old setup now share data. The New York-area dealer association was able to dial up local ads during the "American Idol" finale because national planners informed their regional counterparts about Ford's integration plans for the show.
Low spirits
Still, morale at the new Group M unit has been low, according to three executives close to the matter.
While Ms. Davis didn't confirm that, she said it's not unusual when a company undergoes big changes, and commended Group M for making good progress in its transition.
Murat Yalman, who oversees brand strategies and operations for Ford, Lincoln and Mercury, said the automaker took "a radical approach" to how it works with WPP agencies "to stop the traditional infighting for revenue."
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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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