The top people and account movements of 2010

People and account movements always get the industry’s attention. And the year 2010 had more than its fair share of high profile and big ticket movements. Be it the Airtel or ICC World Cup 2010 or Coca-Cola accounts or top level people movements like Les Margulis or Charles Cadell, the breaking news continued…

People Movements:

Changes at RK Swamy Media Group/ Media Direction: Les Margulis puts in his papers; Chintamani Rao replaces him (July 02, 10)

Les Margulis has decided to step down from his current role of President of RK Swamy Media Group/ Media Direction. Margulis is moving to Australia on account of some personal reasons. Stepping into his shoes will be Chintamani Rao, who had recently retired from Times Global Broadcasting. Margulis will continue to be with the Group till the middle of July. With this, Rao returns to the advertising field. He takes charge from July 5, 2010 and will be based in Delhi.

Changes at Viacom18: Rajesh Kamat made Group COO; Change of guard at MTV (January 18, 2010)

Viacom18 has announced some key changes in its organisation structure. Rajesh Kamat has been promoted to the position of Chief Operating Officer of the Viacom18 Group. In his new role, Kamat will oversee network functions of Viacom18 and Viacom18’s growth ventures, while continuing his role as Colors’ CEO. Kamat would continue to report into Haresh Chawla, Group CEO, Viacom18. Ashish Patil is moved from MTV to Kamat’s team as Sr. VP- New Ventures and GM - Youth Movies. In his new role he would work with Rajesh on exploring growth opportunities for Viacom18. INX Media’s Vikas Verma has joined Viacom18’s youth channel, as the head of Creative & Content – brand MTV.

Changes at Rediffusion Group: Mahesh Chauhan quits, D Rajappa takes over; Dhunji Wadia heads to Everest (December 1, 2010)

Rediffusion has had an eventful year. Adding to that, the company is set for a slew of senior level changes. Mahesh Chauhan, Group CEO, Rediffusion has quit the company. D Rajappa, President, Everest Brand Solutions has been moved to Rediffusion Y&R to head the agency. Dhunji Wadia, who had quit JWT India six months back, replaces D Rajappa at Everest.

Everest NCD N Padmakumar moves within the group; to be National Creative Head at Rediffusion

Dhunji Wadia quits JWT Mumbai as Senior VP & Managing Partner

Charles Cadell, CEO Lowe Lintas quits; Joseph George takes over from Jan 3, 2011 (November 29, 2010)

Charles Cadell, CEO, Lowe Lintas India, is completing his term with the company on December 31, 2010. Following this, Cadell will exit the agency and take another assignment overseas. Joseph George, who has been Deputy CEO with the company for some time now, would step into Cadell’s shoes. Cadell has confirmed the development to exchange4media.

Laxmi Goel quits Zee News Ltd; Punit Goenka appointed as MD (July 07, 10)

The Board of Directors of Zee News Ltd at its meeting held on July 5, 2010, inter alia, accepted the resignation of Laxmi N Goel as Managing Director of the company. Goel has also stepped down as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of the Company. Meanwhile, the Board also unanimously approved the appointment of Punit Goenka as Managing Director of the company with effect from July 5, 2010.

After over 11 years, Ravi Kiran quits Starcom MediaVest Group (September 30, 10)

After a stint of over 11 years, Ravi Kiran, Chief Executive Officer, South East & South Asia, Starcom MediaVest Group and Chief Executive Officer, Asia, Specialist Services, Starcom MediaVest Group has decided to bid adieu to the group. Starcom officials have confirmed the development to exchange4media. Kiran would be with the company till the end of the year.

Priti Nair, Managing Partner, BBH India, puts in her papers (October 09, 10)

After a stint of two years, Priti Nair has quit Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH) India as Managing Partner. She had joined BBH India in July 2008 as National Creative Director, along with Subhash Kamath and Partha Sinha, when the multinational agency had set up its India operations.

Account Movements:

Reliance Communication splits Rs 400-cr media biz between OMD and MEC (August 04, 2010)

The pitching bug hasn’t spared Reliance Communications as well. Following a rather silent shopping process, the telecom major has appointed MEC and OMD as its media partners. OMD has been given the wireless data and DTH part of the business, while MEC has been given the entire wireless mandate, which includes voice, 3G and other offerings. The business moves from Mudra Max. Industry sources peg the combined ad spends to be in excess of Rs 400 crore.

Airtel moves creative business to JWT (August 11, 2010)

Putting all speculations to rest, Airtel has moved its creative business to JWT India. Senior sources close to the development have confirmed the news to exchange4media. With this, Airtel has ended its 15-year relationship with Rediffusion Y&R. The Airtel account has been pegged at Rs 400 crore.

Madison retains Airtel; bags integrated media mandate including OOH & Digital

ICC ropes in Ogilvy Mumbai as advertising partner for World Cup 2011; biz worth Rs 250 cr (May 08, 2010)

It is known from sources close to the development that International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to go with Ogilvy Mumbai to handle the 360-degree advertising for World Cup 2011, which is slated to be jointly held at three venues – India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. It is learnt that the communication was sent to agencies via email by ICC. The account size is estimated to be upwards of Rs 250 crore.

Coca Cola India appoints Lodestar UM as media AoR; ac size upwards of Rs 200 crore (August 07, 2010)

Coca Cola India, that had initiated a review of its media duties last month, has decided on its media AoR. In the wake of a multi-agency pitch, the business has been awarded to Lodestar UM. The development breaks the 11-year old relation that Coca Cola had with Madison Media. Industry sources peg the business upwards of Rs 200 crore. Coca Cola officials have confirmed the development to exchange4media.

Unilever realigns media agencies: Mindshare continues in India (February 10, 2010)

Following a global review of its media business, FMCG major Unilever has finally announced its media partners across various markets. Mindshare has retained the business in India. In a conversation with exchange4media, R Gowthaman, Leader, Mindshare India, said “We have been working with Unilever since 1995, and we are thrilled and delighted that they have shown their confidence in us, once again.”

Colgate Palmolive India creative biz likely to shift to new unit under Bates 141 (July 31, 2010)

It is learnt that Colgate Palmolive India has decided to parted ways with its creative partner Rediffusion Y&R. The business is said to move to Bates 141. WPP is reportedly planning to create an independent unit that will handle only the Colgate Palmolive business, which will fall under Bates 141. The movement is effective from October 2010, till then Rediffusion Y&R will continue to work on the account.

L’Oreal appoints Maxus as media AoR (July 20, 2010)

Making a change after five years, L’Oreal India has decided to hand over the print, television and radio mediums to Maxus. Lodestar UM would continue with digital. Neither of the agencies will handle the OOH medium for the client. The development was confirmed by Vismay Sharma, Director, Consumer Products Division, L’Oreal India Ltd. Industry sources have pegged the business in the vicinity of Rs 130-150 crore.

After L’Oreal, Maxus bags Parle Products’ entire portfolio; ac size Rs 50 cr

Reviewed & Retained: Sony India completes review of Rs 100-cr media biz; retains Lintas Media Group (July 17, 2010)

The year has been dotted with high-profile media pitches and reviews, and it appears that Sony India has been busy with one too. The electronics major has just completed a review process of its media agency of record, and has retained the incumbent Lintas Media Group. The other agencies in the fray were Mindshare India and Madison Media. The size of the business is upwards of Rs 100 crore.

Madison Media retains Rs 100 cr worth media duties of GM (March 26, 2010)

Madison Media has successfully retained the media duties of General Motors. The account is with Madison for the next three years. Industry sources have pegged the business to be in the vicinity of Rs 100 crore.

LIC of India empanels RK Swamy, Mudra, DraftFCB+Ulka, JWT (January 20, 2010)

Following a multi-agency pitch, Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India has finalised the empanelment of its agencies. They include RK Swamy, Mudra Communication, DraftFCB+Ulka and JWT India. The media arms of these agencies would handle the media part of the business. As per media report, LIC’s ad spends last year were in the region of Rs 100 crore.

Pidilite Industries appoints Madison Media as its media AOR; ac size Rs 50 cr (December 10, 2010)

Following the win of the ITC business, Madison Media has now added the media duties of Pidilite Industries Ltd to its kitty. The win includes the complete portfolio business of Pidilite. There was no multi-agency pitch involved. The account size is pegged at Rs 50 crore. Mediaedge:cia (MEC) was the incumbent agency.

Madison World bags ITC Ltd. media biz; to create special unit to handle the account (October 19, 2010)

The fiercely competed ITC Ltd. media pitch has finally concluded, and the decision is in favour of Madison World. ITC officials have confirmed this to exchange4media, stating: “As part of the media agency-of-record (AoR) review process, ITC Ltd. has decided to award the media AoR responsibilities to specially created media agency unit of Madison World. This would be effective from January 1, 2011.”

Crayons, Interpub, Saatchi & Saatchi, DraftFCB Ulka empanelled for Air India biz (October 13, 10)

After a long pitch process, national carrier Air India has empanelled four agencies for its creative and media business – Crayons Advertising, Interpub, Saatchi & Saatchi and DraftFCB Ulka. According to industry sources, the account size is estimated at around Rs 60 crore. The empanelment is for a period of two years. Sources close to the development have confirmed the news.

Olive Telecom assigns creative duties to DDB India; ac size upwards of Rs 50 cr (October 13, 2010)

DDB India has bagged the creative duties of Olive Telecom. Confirming the news to exchange4media, Avijit Dutt, President – Marketing, Olive Telecom, said that the brand had not called for a pitch as DDB India was the only agency they were looking at. The account size has been estimated at upwards of Rs 50 crore.

Tata Teleservices decides; DraftFCB Ulka bags Tata Indicom & Walky, Contract keeps Tata Photon Plus (August 13, 2010)

After the vigorous round of re-evaluation of its creative mandate, Tata Teleservices has re-aligned its Tata Indicom, Tata Photon and Walky businesses. DraftFCB Ulka bagged the Tata Indicom and Walky businesses, while Contract Advertising retained Tata Photon business.

Multi Screen Media appoints OMD India as media AoR (January 08, 2010)

After a 10-year long association with MediaCom, Multi Screen Media has decided to change its media partner. In the wake of a multi-agency pitch, the account has moved to OMD India. Industry sources peg the business in the vicinity of Rs 50-60 crore.

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