MAM
Promart Retail brings McCann on board as creative partner
MUMBAI: Promart Retail, a chain of stores based on the discounted retail chain and value format concept, has decided to go with IPG’s McCann Erickson as its creative agency. This is the first time that Promart planned to hire a full-fledged creative agency.
The agency’s Mumbai office will handle the account. Up until now, the creative duties for Promart were being handled by an in-house team. As a part of this mandate, McCann Mumbai will be responsible for all brand communications.
The development is the result of a multi-agency pitch process that was held in Mumbai.
Promart MD Ashish Garg said, “We are happy to have McCann as our creative partner as the agency will be responsible for providing 360 degree creative inputs on print, store visuals and retail merchandising to start with. McCann has a proven track record in building iconic brand strategies which will help elevate the positioning of our brand.TV and social media will be looked upon at a later stage as we are a relatively new and are a growing brand.”
Promart CEO Punit Agarwal said, “We were quite impressed with McCann, as after a multi-agency pitch, they came across as the best choice in terms of understanding the brief and what they could bring to the table. Their innovative approach to positioning brand Promart helped the agency clinch this win. The new concept of Promart’s business was easily understood by the team and we feel their level of understanding is aligned with our strategic roadmap. Hence, we feel they will do justice to our brand.”
McCann Worldgroup India executive chairman, CEO and chief creative officer Prasoon Joshi said, “We are thrilled to work with Promart as it’s a brand that seems to be on a new journey in the retail space. The team’s bold ambition excites us and together we will democratize apparel in a world where fashion has always been about exclusivity.”
McCann Mumbai has diverse expertise in servicing clients across categories. Some of their clientele list includes Johnson and Johnson, Marico, Nestle, Coca-Cola, L’Oreal, Cathay Pacific, Aircel, TVS, Britannia and Master Card.
Lifestyle retailing brand Promart bought out the IP and assets from Provogue in November 2011 and targets the youth in the age group of 15-25 years with providing discounts all through the year. Promart houses over 50 brands which include Levis, Pepe, Lee, Wrangler, Spykar, Gini and Jony under one roof.
AD Agencies
WPP and Ogilvy top the global charts as India joins the creative elite: Warc rankings
A record five-year streak for Ogilvy while India secures a top five global spot
MUMBAI: The global advertising world has a familiar king, but a new powerhouse is gatecrashing the palace. In the latest Warc Creative 100 rankings, the industry’s definitive audit of excellence, WPP has once again been crowned the top holding company. Not to be outdone, its crown jewel, Ogilvy, has secured the top network spot for a staggering fifth consecutive year.
It is a “five-peat” that proves Ogilvy’s creative engine is not just running but purring. While many networks rely on one or two superstar offices to carry the load, Ogilvy’s dominance is a team effort across the globe. Hot on their heels is sister agency VML, which took the silver medal for networks, ensuring a WPP clean sweep at the very top of the podium.
The biggest noise, however, is coming from the East. India has officially vaulted into the top five most creative nations on Earth. Once viewed primarily as a back-office for production, the country is now a front-row leader in imagination. Driven by the brilliance of agencies like Ogilvy Mumbai and Leo Burnett India, the nation is proving that its work does more than just look good on a trophy shelf. In a market where every rupee must work twice as hard, Indian campaigns are blending high-concept artistry with ruthless commercial effectiveness.
The individual accolades saw Heineken toast to success as the top brand, finally knocking Apple off its perch. Unilever remains the world’s most awarded advertiser, proving that big business can still have a big heart through its work for Dove and Vaseline.
The title of the world’s most creative campaign went to Publicis Conseil Paris for their AXA “Three Words” initiative. By subtly adding “and domestic violence” to insurance policies to provide immediate relocation cover, the agency proved that the best advertising doesn’t just sell a service, it provides one.
The 2026 rankings also signal a shift in the industry’s DNA. The era of boring business-to-business marketing is dead, with B2B campaigns cracking the top ten for the first time. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence has moved past the gimmick stage. The winners this year used tech not for the sake of a trend, but to drive genuine human emotion.
Whether it is Paris providing a safety net for the vulnerable or India redefining the global creative order, the message from this year’s Warc rankings is clear. The best work in the world is no longer just about catching the eye, it is about changing the world.
