MAM
Draftfcb+Ulka celebrates boyhood with Hero
MUMBAI: Hero once again plans to capture the imagination of the youth with its latest commercial, conceptualised by Draftfcb+Ulka, that is a true celebration of ‘boyhood’ with the Hero Maestro – a scooter that’s made for boys.
The idea is to bring out the behaviour of today’s boys and give an enjoyable, light twist and who better to play the role of the quintessential boy than Ranbir Kapoor. Continuing his long standing relationship with Hero, Ranbir brings his inimitable style and incredible talent to this story and makes it more memorable than ever.
Draftfcb+Ulka Delhi group creative director Sanjay Sharma said, “We wanted to bring out the ‘boyish’ attitude which Maestro stands for in a way that is relevant to the contemporary society. It’s a new dimension – a light hearted take on the way future is dear to the girls and present to the boys.”
The commercial has seen an overwhelming initial response. Draftfcb+Ulka Delhi COO Sanjay Tandon said, “Maestro is a brand built around boyish idiosyncrasies. To further reinforce the positioning success of the brand, Ranbir exudes his boyish charm through a typical “men are from mars. women are from venus” storyline.”
Adding to this, Draftfcb+Ulka, Delhi VP Sharad Mathur said, “The aim was to play up the ‘boyish’ attitude through the product as well as in a setting which most of the youngsters can easily relate to. Ranbir effortlessly exudes a playful boyish charm which along with the music and setting brings out Maestro’s attitude and its celebration of boyhood.”
Shot in Fort Kochi, Kerala, along the quiet roads and vibrant backgrounds, the commercial truly stands out for its visual style and witty dialogue.
AD Agencies
Havas Media Network India names Archana Aggarwal chief growth officer
The appointment comes as the network accelerates its integrated, data-led push across one of its top ten global markets.
MUMBAI: Havas Media Network India is moving fast, and it wants someone who can move faster.
The network has appointed Archana Aggarwal as chief growth officer, tasking her with driving the new business agenda and deepening client partnerships across Havas Media, PivotRoots, Havas Play and Arena Media. Based in Gurugram, she will report to Mohit Joshi, chief executive of Havas Media Network India.
Aggarwal arrives with more than two decades of media and marketing experience, most recently as vice-president of media at Airtel, where she led integrated media strategies tied to shifting consumer behaviour and business outcomes. Before that, she worked across some of the world’s most demanding marketing accounts, including P&G, Unilever, L’Oréal, Coca-Cola, the Diamond Trading Corporation and Airtel, spanning FMCG, telecom and the broader marketing ecosystem. She is noted for her command of emerging platforms, including connected TV, AI and the metaverse.
Rana Barua, group chief executive of Havas India, South-East Asia and North Asia, framed the hire as timely. “India continues to be a critical market for Havas globally and is among our top ten markets worldwide,” he said, noting strong momentum across the network’s integrated model and growing client partnerships. “Archana’s appointment comes at a pivotal time as we continue to scale our capabilities and accelerate growth.”
Joshi was equally direct. “Her deep understanding of consumer behaviour and proven ability to translate insights into business outcomes will be instrumental as we continue to scale our integrated, data-led capabilities across agencies,” he said.
Havas Media Network India currently serves more than 100 clients and employs over 1,000 professionals across Gurugram, Mumbai and Bengaluru. The network’s growth engine runs on Converged.AI, its proprietary operating system that brings together data, technology and human insight under the global vision of “Growth Powered by Desire.”
Aggarwal, for her part, called the opportunity compelling. “The chance to drive growth across a diverse and integrated ecosystem is exciting,” she said. “I look forward to working with the teams to deliver meaningful impact for clients.”
In a market where media fragmentation is accelerating and clients are demanding cleaner proof of return, Havas has hired someone who has sat on both sides of the table. That, in itself, is a statement of intent.
