Campaign India Agency Report Card: Publicis India

Type of agency: Advertising
Company ownership: Publicis Groupe
Key personnel: Nakul Chopra, CEO, Publicis South Asia, Dipika Narayan, senior VP, Hemant Misra, president and COO, Emannuel Upputuru, national creative director
Accounts won: United Biscuits, Nestea, Dr Morepen, Alpha G, Futures Group, Travel XP, International Olive Council, UDAAN (a project for USAID)
Accounts lost: Aviva (re-alignment with BBDO India)

Publicis India peformed unusually well this year at award festivals. Part of it could be attributed to the hiring of senior creative directors and Emmanuel Upputuru as national creative director last year all of whom significantly upped the agency’s creative quotient. The agency’s Let Gandhi Talk campaign brought accolades (either a finalist or a metal) wherever it has been entered so far - Cannes, Spikes Asia. The agency was one of the top three agencies at Goafest, within the top three Indian agencies at Cannes, Spikes Asia.
It managed to retain senior people, except for Pooja Malhotra (associate VP) who left for an entrepreneurial stint, while it hired Saurabh Ghosal from Mudra to head the HP group. On the business side, it was more or less stable year, with a regular trickle of mid-sized accounts coming into the agency. Aviva was an account the agency lost this year, thanks to its alignment with BBDO India.

Campaign Score: 8
 
How PUBLICIS INDIA rates itself: 8

Publicis India is one of the few Indian advertising agencies that have created a definite impression on the national and international advertising market. Our phenomenal creative product, strong organic growth and financial success have all contributed to make it one of the top ranking Publicis offices worldwide. Our penchant for acing the game is evident in the numerous awards and accolades we amassed this year, making Publicis Communication one of the top three Indian agencies at Cannes 2009. Strategic investments in resources, training and infrastructure have resulted in single digit attrition rate. While creative solutions have been the strongest reason for client retention, organic growth and new business acquisitions, the worldwide approach of changing the conversation through ‘Contagious Ideas’ is emerging as the core strategy to usher in much needed change in conventional advertising practices. ‘Contagious Ideas’ have not just seen results with our multinational clients like in the case of ‘Me and Meri Maggi’ campaign, but also managed an excellent connect with pro-bono campaigns like ‘In Gandhi’s Shoes’ and ‘Cricket at Bhadkal Lake’.