CATscan

Dentsu appointments: Kartikeya Srivastava to lead new divisions; Sanjay Pokhriyal joins as VP CRM

Dentsu Impact, the full-service creative agency from Dentsu Aegis Network is expanding its investment and expertise in digital and CRM. The agency has launched two new divisions, digital and CRM, which will be strategically driven by Kartikeya Srivastava, (in pic, left) head – planning, Dentsu Impact.

The agency has also roped in Sanjay Pokhriyal as vice-president, CRM. Pokhriyal (in pic, below) comes with more than 17 years of experience in CRM. He has helped run multiple CRM programmes and implement the right CRM strategy, customised for brands. He will report to Srivastava and will help in building the CRM division. Meanwhile, the agency will continue to partner and work with other Dentsu Aegis Network digital agencies, depending on client requirements.

Amit Wadhwa, President, Dentsu Impact, said, “Digital and CRM are the two most important elements that continue to gain prominence every single day. However, today these two are more often than not discussed more from a technology and process point-of-view rather than brand-out or brand-led. What we at Dentsu Impact would want to do is to seamlessly bind these two elements together along with the brand idea. This is the reason why Kartik was a natural choice when it came to building these capabilities further.”

On this new development, Srivastava added, “The new responsibility is both exciting and challenging … exciting because creative thinking and creativity can be given a new meaning in an ever evolving data-driven, connected world. It is also a challenge because it requires change management, breaking of silos and reorienting the way people look at these functions not so much as technology or process led, but rather as brand and experience led.”

On his appointment, Pokhriyal said, “I look forward to doing some path breaking work to deliver a superlative customer experience.”

Happy Creative Services to join mcgarrybowen through Dentsu Aegis Network Acquisition

Dentsu Aegis Network has announced that it signed a definitive agreement to acquire creative marketing agency Happy Creative Services in India, which will join the global mcgarrybowen network of agencies and be rebranded as Happy mcgarrybowen. The acquisition will strengthen Dentsu Aegis’ creative offering in the market, marks the first mcgarrybowen agency in India and expands its footprint in Asia — with other offices in Singapore, Hong Kong and China.

Established in 2007, Happy is an award-winning boutique creative marketing agency located in India. Happy boasts a staff of 100 across three disciplines – Brand Design, Integrated Brand Communication and Digital, building and rejuvenating brands through media agnostic ideas, customised to deliver on key business and brand metrics.

Joining the Dentsu Aegis leadership team in India are Happy’s co-founders, CEO Kartik Iyer (above, left) and MD Praveen Das (right), who will both report to Ashish Bhasin, Chairman and CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network South Asia.

Ashish Bhasin, Chairman and CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network South Asia said: “ Kartik Iyer and Praveen Das are well-respected figures in the industry, and this acquisition will add creative bench strength to the wider team..”

Gordon Bowen, mcgarrybowen Founder and Global Chairman said: “Like us, Kartik and Praveen believe in the power of big organising ideas, collaboration and strong client partnerships. Together I am confident we will fuel even greater creative and business success for clients here in India and around the world.”

Kartik Iyer, co-founder and CEO, and Praveen Das, co-founder and MD of Happy said: “There comes a time in every business to take a big leap to propel it to the next level and being a part of Dentsu Aegis and mcgarrybowen supports this growth ambition and provides us with the right platform.”

BBH launches new office in Delhi

The BBH network has announced the launch of its new office in Delhi to strengthen the agency’s presence in India.

BBH’s first office in India, BBH India (Mumbai) launched in 2008.

The agency has named Shreekant Srinivasan as General Manager, Vasudha Misra as Executive Creative Director and Ankit Singh (in pic below, left to right) as Strategy Director to lead the Delhi office. Both the BBH Mumbai and Delhi offices will operate as one BBH India entity, giving Delhi-based clients easy access to the full BBH offer.

Subhash Kamath, CEO & Managing Partner, BBH India, said, “In Vasudha, Shreekant and Ankit, we believe we have the right kind of people that make the BBH brand anywhere in the world...”

Srinivasan brings with him 15 years of experience in advertising where he has worked with agencies such as Leo Burnett, Contract, W+K and Sapient Nitro and a number of brands such as Dominos, Royal enfield, Chevrolet, Uninor, GSK, Abbott. Misra also brings 15 years of experience, having worked at JWT and FCB and has helped build brands such as Tata Docomo, Snapdeal, Naukri.com, Jeevansathi.com, 99acres, KFC, John Players, Hero Pleasure, Bausch & Lomb, Obi mobiles and Cargill foods.

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