We expect to grow at minimum double the market rate in India: Steve King, CEO, Global, Publicis Media

Steve King, CEO, Publicis Media, on simplifying the agency’s structure, registering $7+ bn billings in new businesses, why AI is the most disruptive technology, and rating EQ over IQ

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Jun 16, 2017 8:25 AM  | 4 min read
We expect to grow at minimum double the market rate in India: Steve King, CEO, Global, Publicis Media

The last 18 months have been exhausting, relentless and very exciting for Steve King, Global Chief Executive of Publicis Media, in his own words. King, who has been with the network in various roles since 1988, led the formation of Publicis Media, which comprised five global brands—Starcom, Zenith, Mediavest | Spark, Blue449, and Performics, and donned his current role in January last year.

“Our structure was too complicated, we have simplified our story and structure, and now moved to a single P&L structure where one works with a common goal. We created a new model, scaled up with an insight to leverage our capabilities at scale. The truth is if our clients are being disrupted, and we are to help them transform, we better transform ourselves first,” says King.

Edited Excerpts –

What are two lessons you can share of your experience over the last 18 months?

I really feel you must have the combination of IQ and EQ. Today, the world is so complex and you may feel you need more IQ, but the truth is EQ today plays a far more important role in connecting with the management and various segments. You need to be a connector, and maybe I have a strength in that area, it is ultimately a people’s business. 

You have said when you took over this role you thought the chances of succeeding were very remote, why is that?

That is because we did not want to over-claim.

Is that something you are saying in hindsight now?

See, we were putting distinct cultures together and a larger number of mergers are usually failures. We had three distinctive good businesses and we were going to create a single business in each market with a good leader, I thought maybe the cultures would overpower the simplicity of the business and come in the way of the changes we wanted to make, but I was wrong in terms of the business in media, there have been no issues, I have been surprised with this growth and it was embraced very positively.

How much does India contribute to global revenues?

Publicis Media India is nearly $1 billion in billings and is ranked #2 in APAC, in the Publicis Media Network (Source: RECMA).

What has been the growth rate for Publicis Media in the last 15 months?

It is easily three or four times the market growth rate and we intend to continue on that momentum and the drivers for that have been our acquisitions that has done very well for us. We have invested in areas we feel are important and we had a good run with our events. We have been growing three times for the last three years but it is more credible now because when you grow at that rate then your base also grows. We have grown at 40 per cent, roughly.

What are the growth and revenue targets for next year, in India?

We expect to grow at minimum double the market rate.

How has this transformation of Publicis Media helped? What have been the tangible business advantages?

With our transformation, Publicis Media has established strong leadership, streamlined and scaled capabilities and redefined our brand proposition, which has led to a very successful first year.

In terms of new business, we have $7+ billion billings of new businesses won, which includes P&G, Coty, Molson Coors, Fiat Chrysler, Mars, Visa, Bel and Merck. 

What role do media agencies play in the future marketing landscape?

With machine learning and automation coming to the forefront of our industry, it is imperative that media agencies make investment in AI so that we are not just serving a transactional service. AI is the most disruptive technology, accelerating from $589mm to $5+ billion in the last 5 years. In fact, it has been the most disruptive in telecoms, airlines, consumer electronics, automotive and fast food categories, according to the Predictor Study. AI will automate processes driving more efficiencies and faster connectivity of marketing data with enterprise data, resulting in shifts in marketing department structures.

A first, Zenith launched machine learning algorithms for our client, Aviva wherein we precisely attributed sales conversions to specific digital interactions and optimised external media activity. This resulted in brand benefit from 6% CPQ improvement on car searches and 10% improvement in CPQ on display advertising.

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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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e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 25, 2023 4:39 PM  | 1 min read

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e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 25, 2023 4:38 PM  | 1 min read

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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