We need a couple of acquisitions: Rohit Ohri

New Group Chairman and CEO of FCB Ulka plans to debunk ‘old school’ myth around the agency; accelerate pace of change by adding digital assets

e4m by Priyanka Mehra
Published: Feb 8, 2016 7:54 AM  | 5 min read
We need a couple of acquisitions: Rohit Ohri

Rohit Ohri New Group Chairman and CEO of FCB Ulka plans to debunk ‘old school’ myth around the agency; accelerate pace of change by adding digital assets.

Ohri who donned his new role in January this year, from Dentsu, where he was CEO of Dentsu Asia Pacific and, previously, Executive Chairman of the Dentsu India Group, has wasted no time in filling up gaps within the agency, the first step being the elevation of Nitin Karkare to CEO of FCB Ulka. The second and integral step was the appointment of a Chief Creative Officer, which is now complete with Swati Bhattacharya coming on board, last week. 

Another important area for the new CEO and Chairman was to take a look at the existing dynamics of agency-client relationships and decide whether a change was needed. “I have met our clients and they really think FCB is a great partner. The partnership needs to have a new dimension. It is really critical, and in today’s context, we are talking about what form the partnership needs to take. It is not about one facet of the communication plan but across different parts of the plan,” says Ohri.

He agrees that FCB’s strength in the traditional medium is not replicated in the non-traditional medium, making it necessary to beef up this facet of the organization.

A few excerpts from a freewheeling chat with Rohit Ohri New Group Chairman and CEO FCB Ulka………….

Are there any acquisitions on the anvil for FCB Ulka?

Yes, absolutely. We absolutely need a couple of acquisitions. The whole point is to accelerate the pace of change. We will look at an acquisition in the digital activation space. Everything will start from defining what we want FCB to stand for in India. It’s defined pretty well globally, but in the Indian context, we have to decide what we need to say and everything else will flow from there, like the digital assets.

Are you moving to appoint a Delhi head? FCB Delhi seems under-leveraged and you are also very well connected in Delhi.

We are currently evaluating our options. We have some internal talent and we have some external talent as well. So, we are just looking at what is the best bet for us in Delhi. Obviously, I have very deep connections in Delhi; I have been there for 16 years. I know lots of clients and lots of people there, so I will help the agency. I agree that we have under-leveraged the potential of Delhi.

What are the objectives you aim to achieve?

I did not come to the agency with pre-set objectives or plans. One of the things I sincerely feel is that if you are a leader and you are coming to an organization which already has a long legacy, a belief system and a culture, you shouldn’t come in with a plan. You have to organically develop the plan after you speak to the clients and understand what the real challenges are; get a sense of  what is ‘unsaid’ in the agency and that I think is the most important thing.

Very often, what is said is for everyone to hear but what is unsaid; the hidden strengths and weaknesses are what you need to understand to know what you want to change. So, the whole thing is really to find the unsaid strengths and weaknesses, which are not really easy for people to see. This should not be superficial either; it has to be fundamental to things that you have to change in the agency. This is what I think would create a new and stronger FCB Ulka, going forward.

What are the ‘unsaid’ things that you are picking up at FCB Ulka?

The fact is that this agency is seeing a leadership change after more than 25 years. And that’s a big thing for an agency being led in a particular manner for so long. To this, add the fact that you have somebody from outside coming in versus somebody who was home-grown in the system. There are challenges here for the leader in terms of quickly demonstrating and understanding the culture, because your actions really talk about what is the culture you believe in and it is very important for me to signal to the agency that I truly believe in what the agency has stood for. What I am doing is not changing everything that the agency stands for; it’s just about building new things on that foundation.

FCB is still viewed as old school by many, also may not be viewed as a great destination for young talent…

Actually, this agency has a lot of talent in it. It’s just that there is a perception about this agency being ‘old school’. For some time, even the agency had started believing this perception and so did the people; it was so strong. This is when actually the problem starts because you start believing it.

The big thing that I need to do is really figure out how to change it. To change that perception there is only one way, which is our work; to have campaigns that people talk about, sit up and notice. The fact is that in the past, FCB has done some fantastic work that has built brands from scratch. You can look at Tata, Amul and Santoor for example. The Santoor campaign has been running for the past two decades. These are fantastic pieces of work that have been done but people have forgotten them. What I want to do is refresh the heritage, which would invoke pride in working with a fabulous agency with a fabulous heritage and a fabulous future.

Read full story in the latest issue of IMPACT

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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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