MAM
Interbrand to build Digital Branding in India
MUMBAI: Omnicom‘s branding firm Interbrand, present in India through Water Strategic Branding and Design, will now also be focusing on the digital branding space.
Interbrand European digital director Simon Smith said, “Digital, unfortunately, is seen as just another medium and while many more marketers are waking up to its potential, they tend to see it as a way to reach their audiences in a targeted, cost effective manner. In that sense, they see it more as a communication medium instead of a branding medium. There‘s a lot more than communications that you can do!”
Smith feels that the digital branding space still has a lot of untapped potential that savvy marketers could use to build strong brands. Water head and chief strategist Ashish Mishra said, “While digital itself has become all-pervasive in today‘s world, digital branding still has a long way to go. Currently, the medium is used more for downstream activities and tactical communication. With Interbrand focusing the space, we believe the digital space itself will move upstream and begin to play a strategic role. Interbrand‘s core belief is that brands have the power to change the world. And Brands that have a socio cultural evangelism at their core have a far greater chance of espousing causes & conversations in a genuine way.”
In order to help that foray, Interbrand intends on working closely with the local talent in India. “Indians understand the cultural nuances best and are best placed to leverage digital branding here,” Smith asserts.
Smith started his career in computer game design for Sony while still at University. After completing his first degree in Industrial Engineering, he got involved with creative departments during the dotcom boom. These early experiences exposed him to gaps between the digital and traditional marketplace which he has since been striving to fill.
Interbrand was started in 1974 and has since been involved in creating and managing brands as valuable business assets, not just logos. Interbrand operates through 40 offices worldwide and offers disciplines including analytics, brand strategy, brand valuation, corporate design, digital brand management, internal brand engagement, brand naming, packaging design, retail, verbal and visual identity. Some of the brands associated with Interbrand worldwide include 3M, AT&T, BMW, Godrej, P&G, Thomson Reuters and many more.
MAM
WPP appoints Jane Geraghty Global CEO of Brand & Design
Veteran leader also named Global CEO of Landor in dual role.
MUMBAI: Jane Geraghty just landed the ultimate brand double-header because when you’re already running Landor, why not take the whole WPP design empire along for the ride? WPP has appointed Jane Geraghty as global chief executive officer of WPP Brand & Design while simultaneously naming her Global CEO of Landor. The dual role, announced via Geraghty’s LinkedIn post, positions her to lead the group’s specialist brand and design agencies at a time when clients increasingly demand stronger differentiation through multidimensional strategy and experience design.
Geraghty, who joined WPP earlier this year as chief client officer, brings over three decades of experience in marketing, branding and communications. She previously served as Global CEO of Landor (2017–2020), President for EMEA (2013–2018) and Managing Director (2011–2016), after earlier leadership stints at Saatchi & Saatchi, McCann-Erickson and Ogilvy in New York.
In her post, Geraghty said she was “thrilled” to step into the role, highlighting that branding and design are becoming critical for clients seeking differentiation. She emphasised the opportunity to harness WPP’s collective capabilities across agencies, noting that AI powered by WPP Open is already reshaping brand creation, management and global collaboration.
The appointment reflects WPP’s push to integrate its brand and design network more tightly, positioning it to deliver seamless, high-impact work at the intersection of business strategy and brand experience.
In an industry where creativity meets commerce, Geraghty isn’t just leading two titles, she’s steering the ship that turns brands from recognisable to unforgettable, one bold move at a time.
