New Adventure
Ajay Gahlaut, chief creative officer, Ogilvy North and Deputy CCO Ogilvy India has quit the agency to pursue his own interests. Gahlaut, who has done some memorable campaigns including the tongue in cheek “Men will be Men” Imperial Blue one, has had two stints at Ogilvy. He worked to build brands such as KFC, Taco Bell, Perfetti Van Melle, Mother Dairy, Pizza Hut, Sprite, Best Foods, HT Mint, and Philips.
Ogilvy has said the hunt is on for Gahlaut’s successor. According to Piyush Pandey, Executive Chairman & Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy South Asia: Ajay is looking for life beyond advertising and for that reason, I cannot stop him, just like I could not stop Abhijit (Awasthi). Everyone has a dream and unfortunately, I can’t fulfill that dream. He has done a stellar job and I am very proud of him.”
Trumpeting festive sales
Blowing the trumpet, rather literally, Amazon India unveiled an advertising campaign 'Ab India ki Khushiyon ke beech budget nahin ayeega' for its Amazon Great Indian Festival. For its ad campaign, the global giant has picked something that is peculiarly Indian: a band which symbolises celebration and happiness across India. The firm has created an Amazon Great Indian Band which rings in the celebration.
Each ad aims to capture the tussle between working around tight budgets. Conceptualised by advertsing major Ogilvy, this year’s festive campaign is all about quelling budget woes and making festive shopping possible by fulfilling everyone’s shopping lists.
Ravi Desai, Director Mass and Brand Marketing, Amazon India, points out that the company dwelt on several insights: usually families tend to make long lists of desired items and then unwillingly save some for later as tight budgets come in the way. Another insight was how the person who spends for everyone else, ends up sacrificing his or her own happiness. These insights were then integrated in its advertising campaigns.
ASCI on the warpath
Advertising watchdog ASCI has processed complaints against 208 advertisements and its Consumers Complaints Council (CCC) upheld complaints against 89 advertisements. Of these 27 belonged to the education sector, 25 to the healthcare sector, 15 to the food & beverages category, five to personal care and 17 were from the ‘others’ category. Among others Pepsico’s Quaker Oats campaign “Quaker Oats me hai 2x More Protein and Fibre* was pulled up for misleading by ambiguity, while Hindustan Levers Lifebuoy Soap television commercial in which a celebrity posing as a doctor recommends the soap came in for flak for creating the impression that it was medically endorsed (doctors are not allowed to endorse any product). Myntra, Yatra, Fortis Healthcare, Organic India were some of the brands that were found guilty of unsubstantiated claims or misleading ads.
Chak De Shahrukh
Film star Shah Rukh Khan has joined in as an influencer to promote Hockey World Cup. He will be seen in the video of music maestro A R Rahman composed anthem Jai Hind Hind, Jai India for the Hockey World Cup.
The song and video are slated to release at the end of the month when Team India returns from the Asian Champions Trophy in Muscat. SRK took to twitter extending his support and pledging his heartbeat for Indian Hockey saying, “Mera dil hockey ke liye bahot tez dhadakta hai.” The Opening Ceremony of the HWC 2018 is slated for 27th November 2018 and will have both Rahman and Khan rocking the stage in a live appearance.