Moves and wins roundup: Week of 11 Nov

Enormous Brands appoints Joy Chauhan as fractional CMO 

Enormous Brands has appointed Joy Chauhan as fractional chief marketing officer, a role designed to strengthen its comprehensive support for client growth beyond traditional creative services. With an extensive background from JWT/Wunderman Thompson, where he handled prominent brands like PepsiCo, Nestle, and Hero MotoCorp, Chauhan brings a wealth of experience across diverse sectors, including automotive and FMCG.

This move aligns with Enormous' vision to guide clients through complex market challenges with enhanced strategic solutions. As it celebrates over a decade of creative accomplishments, Chauhan’s appointment highlights the agency’s ambitions for deeper client engagement and market relevance.

ThinkROI expands to the US with Los Angeles office

Indian digital marketing agency ThinkROI has opened a new office in Los Angeles, marking a strategic move to extend its services to the North American market. Founded in 2022, the company offers branding, SEO, performance marketing, and marketing technology solutions, focusing on delivering measurable results. Its client portfolio includes brands like AMD, Ajmera Realty, and Jain Online.

The agency's US expansion aims to provide American businesses with marketing strategies to meet specific growth needs. Cameron Clunies-Ross has been appointed as co-founder to lead ThinkROI's U.S. presence. With experience in app marketing, global campaign planning, and market growth, he brings valuable expertise from his time at M&C Saatchi Performance, strengthening ThinkROI’s commitment to fostering impactful marketing solutions in North America.  

Grand Hyatt Mumbai appoints new directors

Grand Hyatt Mumbai has appointed Khushboo Sangtani as director of marketing and communications and Hema Narayane as director of celebrations. Khushboo Sangtani brings over 10 years of experience in marketing and communications, previously serving as marketing and communications head at ITC Grand Goa Resort & Spa. At Grand Hyatt, she will oversee the hotel’s marketing strategy, focusing on digital campaigns, brand visibility, and guest engagement.

Hema Narayane, with over 12 years in hospitality, has worked in event sales and corporate management at brands like Four Seasons Mumbai and Hyatt Pune. As director of celebrations, she will lead the planning and execution of events, weddings, and social gatherings at the hotel. Both appointments aim to enhance the hotel’s luxury offerings and guest experiences, focusing on strengthening Grand Hyatt Mumbai’s reputation and expanding its brand presence in the luxury hospitality sector.

VWO, LS Digital tie up for digital experience optimisation services

Experience optimisation platforms player VWO has partnered with LS Digital, a digital business transformation company. The collaboration aims to help Indian brands improve digital experiences and drive growth by offering data-driven insights and testing solutions. VWO’s platform provides tools for A/B testing, user behaviour analytics, personalisation, and conversion rate optimisation, while LS Digital brings expertise in digital strategy, media, creativies, and customer experience.

Through this partnership, LS Digital’s clients will gain access to VWO’s platform, allowing them to optimise user journeys and scale conversions on web and mobile platforms. The partnership aims to enhance customer experience and improve business outcomes by leveraging data and testing to make informed decisions. Together, VWO and LS Digital aim to offer brands a comprehensive suite of solutions to improve their digital presence and meet the evolving needs of today’s consumers.

Danny Advani to head Dot Media's business strategy, planning

Dot Media has appointed Danny Advani as head of business strategy and planning. Advani will lead the agency's efforts to establish a comprehensive Content Division, overseeing talent management, IP development, channel monetisation, and expanding the agency’s digital influence.

Advani brings over 12 years of experience in the digital space, having previously led the influencer vertical at OML (Only Much Louder) and worked as Senior Project Head at Big Bang Social, a platform of Collective Artists Network. He has worked on campaigns for major brands such as HUL, L'Oréal, Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy, and Netflix, and has been involved in over 200 digital and TV films in the past four years.

Advani’s appointment is part of Dot Media's expansion strategy to enhance its content capabilities and solidify its position as a leading player in the influencer marketing space. Dot Media, founded during the lockdown in Kanpur, has since grown into a major content-first talent marketing agency, managing over 200 creators and completing more than 1,000 successful campaigns.

Gozoop appoints Vipul Arora as brand solutions director

Gozoop Group has appointed Vipul Arora as director of brand solutions to drive growth and expand its client relationships. Arora brings over 13 years of experience in business development, resource optimisation, and P&L management. He joins Gozoop from Tonic Worldwide, where he served as Senior VP - Business and Growth. In his new role, Arora will focus on securing integrated brand mandates aligned with Gozoop’s long-term vision of becoming India’s self-grown independent network.

Gozoop Group has been recognised for its creative marketing and communication expertise, and Arora’s appointment is seen as a significant step towards enhancing its brand solutions capabilities. His leadership will play a key role in strengthening the company’s presence in the competitive digital marketing landscape. The agency aims to deliver sustainable, value-driven solutions to clients, leveraging Arora’s experience in penetrating new markets and fostering strong stakeholder relationships.

VUI Live secures Laiqa Wellness digital marketing mandate

VUI Live has secured the digital marketing mandate for Laiqa Wellness, a Gurgaon-based Femtech startup. The partnership aims to increase Laiqa's digital presence and brand awareness in India.

VUI Live will oversee Laiqa's marketing initiatives across various digital platforms, developing and executing comprehensive strategies to amplify the brand's reach and engagement. This will include social media management, SEO, performance marketing, WhatsApp and email marketing, and creative content.

Laiqa Wellness joins VUI Live's client portfolio, which includes Vivanta Katra, Borges, Anant Raj, Bhutani Infra, and SpringHouse. VUI Live offers services such as branding, creative, SEO, performance marketing, web designing and development, and marketing technology.

Hashtag Orange, SIPP to promote JerHigh pet treats

Hashtag Orange has partnered with Sai International Pet Products (SIPP) to manage the marketing of JerHigh, a pet treat brand in India. The agency will focus on increasing brand awareness and changing consumer perceptions, encouraging pet owners to view treats as planned purchases rather than impulse buys.

Hashtag Orange will handle social media management, retail activations, and performance marketing, aiming to strengthen JerHigh's presence in the Indian market. The agency's marketing strategy involves connecting with pet owners and promoting the brand’s quality and care for pets.

88 Pictures launches gaming division to develop indie titles

88 Pictures, an animation and VFX (Visual Effects) studio, has launched its gaming division, 88Games, to develop indie games (independent games) focused on India’s rich cultural heritage. The studio, known for its work on projects like Trollhunters and Transformers: Earth Spark, aims to create immersive games for PC and console audiences.

88Games will blend high-quality visuals with storytelling based on Indian folklore (traditional stories) and mythology. The division is led by experienced industry veterans and plans to reveal its first game at the India Game Developers Conference (IGDC) in 2024.

NRAI invites agency bids for Shooting League marketing
 
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has invited commercial and marketing agencies to submit Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the Shooting League of India (SLI), set to launch in 2025. The league will feature 6-8 teams and include disciplines like 10M Pistol, 25M Pistol, and Trap.

The selected agency will handle revenue generation, sponsorship acquisition, and audience engagement. The SLI is expected to raise the profile of shooting in India, following the country's success at the Paris Olympics. Interested agencies can submit their proposals by 25th November 2024.

Nivedita Lahiri joins FCB Ulka as senior vice president

FCB Ulka, an agency under FCB Group India, has appointed Nivedita Lahiri as senior vice president. Bringing over 17 years of experience, she has worked with clients across various industries, including FMCG, finance, real estate, and airlines, representing brands such as Cadbury, Ferrero, Kotak Life Insurance, and Birla Mutual Funds. 

Think Design enhances VIDA World website experience

Spicetree wins digital mandate for Justo Realfintech
 
Spicetree Design Agency (SDA) has been appointed to handle the digital mandate for Justo Realfintech, a real estate solutions company. SDA will be responsible for enhancing Justo's online presence and increasing engagement with developers and homebuyers. Justo, which focuses on delivering tailored real estate strategies, has recently secured a USD 7 million investment from Arbour Investments. This funding will support the company’s expansion into the mid-ticket property segment.

The collaboration aims to strengthen Justo’s position in the market by combining the company’s real estate expertise with SDA’s digital strategy. Justo is looking to enhance its digital footprint through targeted online marketing, positioning itself as a leader in the offline-to-online real estate sector. SDA’s role will involve creating a digital ecosystem to showcase Justo’s services and foster long-term relationships with its audience.

greytHR appoints Archana Chopda as VP of marketing

greytHR has appointed Archana Chopda as Vice President of Marketing to lead the company's global growth marketing operations. Chopda brings over two decades of experience in marketing across B2B and B2C sectors, having previously worked with companies like HP Americas, GE, Salesforce, and Microsoft. In her new role, she will focus on driving business growth and market expansion for greytHR, a leading HRMS provider in India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

Chopda has led several large-scale digital transformation projects and change management initiatives, collaborating with C-suite executives and diverse teams across regions. Her appointment comes as greytHR looks to enhance its brand and product visibility among its 27,000+ global clients. Chopda has also been recognised as one of 'Asia’s 100 Powerful Women Leaders' and a 'Global Power Leader in Marketing and Communications' by White Page International.

A+E Global Media to bring Alone to India

A+E Global Media Group has partnered with Arré Studio to launch its popular survival competition format 'Alone' in India. The series, first aired in 2015, challenges contestants to survive alone in remote wilderness, with no camera crew, relying on their survival skills to source food, water, and shelter. Each contestant must self-film their experience as they endure harsh conditions and isolation. The Indian adaptation will be the first of the show to be aired in Asia, following successful international runs in the US, Denmark, and Australia.

A+E and Arré Studio aim to bring the high-stakes, dramatic format to Indian audiences, who have shown increasing interest in reality survival shows. The global success of 'Alone', with multiple seasons aired in various regions, has set the stage for the Indian version to capture similar viewer engagement. The deal marks a major step for both companies in expanding the reach of the show across new markets.

Madison Loop wins SEO mandate for Liquify

Madison Loop, a unit of Madison World, has secured the SEO mandate for Liquify, a fintech platform that allows users to borrow funds against their investments. The win followed a competitive pitch process. Liquify provides an alternative to traditional loans by enabling access to liquidity without liquidating investments, aiming to redefine financial flexibility for its users.

With its digital-first approach, Madison Loop will use its SEO expertise to enhance Liquify’s online presence and support its growth. The collaboration aligns with Liquify’s mission to make financial access simple and convenient for individuals. Madison Loop has a history of working with major clients such as Asian Paints and McDonald’s, and its partnership with Liquify will help the fintech platform expand its digital footprint in the competitive market.