MAM
Toyota account to move to Dentsu’s new India arm from 1 October
MUMBAI: The “television commercial break” behind him, former Zee Telefilms broadcast CEO Sandeep Goyal is ready for action.
Government clearance has been applied for (on 8 August), and it’s time to get the business rolling. New joint venture ad firm Dentsu Communications Pvt Ltd, in which Goyal is a 26 per cent stakeholder, gets its first big account – Toyota Kirloskar – activated from 1 October.
The JV that Dentsu Inc is setting up with the former Zee and before that Rediffusion DY&R CEO entails Japan’s largest advertising agency holding a 74 per cent stake in the new entity. Dentsu Communications will have an initial paid-up capital of $1 million (a little under Rs 46 million). Since Dentsu Inc already holds 20 per cent stake in Rediffusion-Dentsu Young & Rubicam (DY&R), it had to obtain a no objection certificate (NoC) from the latter for floating a separate company in the country.
Informed sources have told indiantelevision.com that the Toyota-Kirloskar account, which is reportedly worth around Rs 300 million and expected to grow as Toyota focuses on the A segment, will move to Dentsu as of 1 October. Reports say the account shift could spell curtains for Orchard Advertising, through which Dentsu was servicing the Toyota account.
Goyal has already set up an office in Bangalore with Ruchira Raina in charge, the sources confirmed. When contacted, Goyal would provide no details as to the company’s plans, saying it was too early to announce anything as he was still in the process of setting up the agency.
Getting the agency fully functional will reportedly take another three months. Information available with indiantelevision.com indicates that Starcom India’s Bangalore office, which manages Toyota’s media buying and planning, has already been informed that from 1 January 2004, the account would shift to Dentsu.
The new JV will initially target almost all Japanese brands present in India including Toyota, Honda, Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Sony, Panasonic, Sharp, Toshiba, Canon, Epson, Fujifilm, Kawasaki, Yamaha and Daikin – all global clients of Dentsu. The total worth of all the accounts in Dentsu’s immediate sphere of attack are worth an estimated Rs 1300 million, according to sources. Sony, Fuji and Hitachi are the other brands that are currently with Starcom.
It will be interesting to see what happens to accounts such as Canon, currently with Rediff DY&R. Even if they do not shift out in the immediate term, advertising circles believe it is only a matter of time before a parting of ways comes about. This is because internationally, the DY&R relationship weakened post WPP acquisition of Y&R, which pushed Dentsu to strengthen its investments in the Publicis Groupe. Dentsu is the single largest shareholders in Publicis, as also in Leo Burnett. By virtue of its investments in these agencies, Dentsu also owns significant stake indirectly in Starcom.
The benchmark that Dentsu Communications will have to aim for will likely be China. Dentsu’s Chinese billings were a massive a $278 million in 2002, having more than quintupled in just four years. It is now China’s third-largest advertising firm.
“India might not necessarily be the next China, but it’s a big market,” Dentsu Inc’s executive vice president Fumio Oshima has been quoted recently in a Reuters report as saying.
MAM
Infosys names Carlos Alcaraz as Global Brand Ambassador
AI-first tech leader partners with seven-time Grand Slam champion to boost tennis analytics and social impact initiatives.
MUMBAI: Infosys has just aced its latest brand move teaming up with tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz, the youngest player ever to reach world No. 1 and complete a career Grand Slam. The global leader in AI-first business consulting and technology services announced a multi-year partnership welcoming the Spaniard as its Global Brand Ambassador. The collaboration brings together Alcaraz’s relentless drive and on-court brilliance with Infosys’s consistency and cutting-edge AI innovation, celebrating the champion mindset in both sport and business.
Alcaraz, who has lifted seven Grand Slam titles and become the youngest man in history to achieve a career Grand Slam, is celebrated not just for his trophies but for his grit, pursuit of excellence, consistency, and integrity values that mirror Infosys’s own commitment to responsible leadership and amplifying human potential.
In a sport where the gap between champion and challenger can be razor-thin, data and insights often make all the difference. Infosys will leverage its Topaz AI-first platform powered by generative and agentic AI to develop a personalised match analytics and performance application for Alcaraz and his coaching team. This tool aims to sharpen match preparation and in-game strategy with deeper, data-driven insights.
The partnership extends beyond the court. Infosys and the Carlos Alcaraz Foundation will collaborate on tech-for-good initiatives, using technology to create meaningful social impact in communities worldwide.
This move builds on Infosys’s decade-long role as a pioneer in transforming tennis through digital innovation. Its tennis platform has already delivered game-changing insights to players, coaches, and billions of fans globally. Partnering with Alcaraz marks the next exciting chapter in elevating the sport for everyone.
Alcaraz said, “I’m honoured to partner with Infosys, a company I’ve followed closely and admired for how it is transforming tennis through technology. Innovations delivered by them are elevating the sport for everyone players, coaches, and fans alike. At the highest level, it’s often the small details that make the biggest difference. I’m always looking for new ways to improve, and working with Infosys will give me the opportunity to leverage data and AI to gain deeper insights into my game and push my performance to new heights. Beyond the court, I’m also excited to collaborate with Infosys through my foundation, leveraging technology to make a meaningful impact in communities around the world.”
Infosys global chief marketing officer Sumit Virmani added, “We are delighted to welcome Carlos Alcaraz as our Global Brand Ambassador. Carlos embodies the spirit of a new generation that is fearless, agile, and driven to push boundaries in pursuit of excellence. At Infosys, we share this passion for innovation and progress, using technology to amplify human potential and helping our clients achieve extraordinary outcomes. Together with Carlos, we look forward to redefining performance in tennis and inspiring progress both on and off the court.”
In a game where every point counts, Infosys has found the perfect partner to showcase how AI can turn marginal gains into major victories. Whether it’s powering precise rallies on clay or driving smarter business decisions, this alliance promises to serve up plenty of winning moments for tennis fans and enterprises alike. Game, set, and match with a strong dose of AI.
