Author: Kashmeera Sambamurthy

OMD India wins the integrated mandate of Piramal Consumer Healthcare

Following a multi-round pitch, the agency has been selected to handle the mandate of scaling the brand through sharp, creative and forward-leaning communication efforts.

OMD India will spearhead the strategic marketing and media efforts for Piramal Pharma’s portfolio of OTC brands, including Lacto Calamine, Little’s, Tetmosol, Polycrol, and Women’s intimate health range like i-pill and i-activ, and will be managed out of the agency’s Mumbai office.

After ‘Campa’ and ‘SIL’, Reliance Consumer Products acquires 1980s shampoo brand ‘Velvette’

For Reliance Consumer Products, the acquisition of Velvette is the latest in a series of acquisitions involving "heritage" Indian brands. In 2022, the company bought the 'Campa' brand from Pure Drinks, before following it up with the acquisition of Mumbai-based SIL Foods for an undisclosed sum. The approach to these acquisitions has been studied and strategic. (Image source: Online media)

The acquisition sees RCPL take ownership of the Velvette brand from Chennai-based CNE, an old-time FMCG name that famously owned and sold shampoos in tiny sachets under the ‘Velvette’ brand back in the 1980s.

Acclaimed global creative leader Ari Weiss passes away at 46

Ari Weiss began his career at Cliff Freeman & Partners as a copywriter. Then he moved to BBDO New York as a creative director and then Wieden & Kennedy as a senior writer. Then, he joined Goodby, Silverstein & Partners as a creative director, and then moved to 180LA in a similar position.

Ari Weiss founded independent ad agency Quality Experience last year, and also held the position of a creative chairman.

Bookstrapping: Of Sita, Rama, Dharma and Love

What if ‘Dharma’, was not just duty, but an alignment with the higher forces of love, that make the preservation of our world possible? Author Dena Merriam talks about this, in her book 'The Untold Story of Sita: An Empowering Tale for our Time'. (Image Source: Amazon)

In this week’s Bookstrapping, our reviewer Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta lists down five books which touch upon the unique love stories alive within the Ramayana and the bond that Rama and Sita shared.

JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar come together to launch JioHotstar

JioHotstar’s new brand identity embodies its vision for boundless entertainment. The ‘Big Bang’ symbolizes the dawn of a new era, while the ‘Ripples’ radiate outward, representing energy, transformation, and innovation.

JioHotstar provides subscription plans starting at Rs. 149. Existing JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar subscribers will be able to transition and set up their JioHotstar subscriptions.

Gucci’s India GM & MD Nader Wassel steps down

Nader Wassel began his career at Eye Management as agent and producer, and then joined Hagmeyer as sales manager. He took up the position of national sales manager at Designa Accessories, and then joined TW Steel as MD.

This announcement comes at a time when its French parent company Kering, amidst declining sales, is implementing restructuring measures.

Digidarts bags the performance marketing mandate for Dabur

Dabur noted it had begun label modifications under protest, citing significant market disruption from FSSAI’s notification, with trade partners temporarily halting procurement.

As part of this engagement, Digidarts will focus on building and executing 360 performance-driven campaigns that enhance Dabur’s visibility across multiple digital platforms.