Revision of stakes gives more independence to RK Swamy BBDO

In a recent development, the Board of Directors for BBDO India and RK Swamy BBDO came to a consensus that allows RK Swamy BBDO to exercise a ‘significant minority’ stake in BBDO India. According to sources in the know, it is understood that RK Swamy BBDO will now have about 35 per cent shareholding in BBDO India, up nearly 15 per cent.

e4m by Rishi Vora
Published: Feb 15, 2010 4:19 AM  | 3 min read
Revision of stakes gives more independence to RK Swamy BBDO

When BBDO had won the 7Up account for the Indian market, speculations were rife about the multinational agency setting up shop in India on its own. However, as is known, it was only in November 2007 that BBDO India was launched via a partnership arrangement between RK Swamy BBDO and BBDO Asia.

As per the partnership agreements, RK Swamy BBDO had a minority stake in BBDO India, while BBDO Asia had a ‘significant minority’ stake in RK Swamy BBDO.

In a recent development, the Board of Directors for BBDO India and RK Swamy BBDO came to a consensus that allows RK Swamy BBDO to exercise a ‘significant minority’ in BBDO India. Exact figures pertaining to the stakes could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report. However, according to sources in the know, it is understood that RK Swamy BBDO will now have about 35 per cent shareholding in BBDO India, which is about a 15 per cent increase in the shareholding.

Srinivasan K Swamy, Chairman, RK Swamy Hansa Group, and Shekar Swamy, Group CEO, RK Swamy Hansa Group have confirmed this development.

Furthermore, this means that the two companies – RK Swamy BBDO and BBDO India – henceforth, will operate as two different entities. Srinivasan K Swamy explained, “RK Swamy BBDO will be an Indian company with strong international connection, while BBDO India will be a multinational company. We will have a significant minority stake in BBDO India, while the parent BBDO has a significant minority stake in RK Swamy BBDO.”

He further elaborated, “We have worked with them (BBDO) since 1985 and we have been insisting on having multiple brands in India, primarily to increase our share in the market. This has now finally become a reality. We have done all the necessary paperwork. Cheques have been signed, and monies exchanged. Both the parties are happy. The two companies will now have two distinct flavours.”

When questioned on what price the company had paid, Srinivasan Swamy replied, “We have paid a fair price, and we are sure this move will take us a long way.”

Explaining the benefit of running an independent company, Srinivasan Swamy said, “We are a very strong Indian agency with a very strong international connection. There is a lot of merit in being a part of a large network. But at the same time, there is also a lot of merit in having the independence to run your own company. If you’re an arm of an international company, you’re restricted in many ways in how you conduct your business.”

Srinivasan Swamy; Shekar Swamy; Chris Thomas, CEO - Asia Pacific, BBDO; and Keoy Soo Siong, Chief Financial Officer, Asia & Japan, BBDO, are on the Board of both the companies.

(Please read impact’s latest issue for an indepth interview with Srinivasan Swamy and Shekar Swamy, where they discuss the revision in stakes at length.)

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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

e4m by e4m Staff
Published: Oct 27, 2023 6:15 PM  | 1 min read
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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'

e4m by e4m Staff
Published: Oct 27, 2023 6:07 PM  | 1 min read
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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 by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 26, 2023 11:48 AM  | 1 min read
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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

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 26, 2023 10:54 AM  | 1 min read
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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

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 24, 2023 3:35 PM  | 1 min read
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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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