News Headline
JWT launches Amplify in the US
MUMBAI: J. Walter Thompson (JWT) has announced the formation of an expanded brand entertainment content development and placement practice in the US. A newly created unit called Amplify was the result of a merger of JWT’s Brand Entertainment Group and Hill & Knowlton’s Showcasee
A company release states that Amplify specialises in the strategic integration of brands into all aspects of entertainment. They include television, film, gaming, magazines, books and music. This is accomplished through the creation of original brand content as well as product placement. Its service offering includes planning, creative support, ideation, metrics, entertainment industry relations, negotiations, legal and business affairs.
The Los Angeles headquartered Amplify is led by its executive director Rob Donnell. It serves as a resource for all the WPP group companies. Amplify’s principal client is Ford Motor. The unit handles the brand entertainment assignment of Ford global marketing and represents all the Ford brands such as Ford, Mazda, Volvo, Jaguar and Aston Martin to the entertainment industry.
Amplify under its previous Brand Entertainment Group banner had in the past orchestrated a string of successful branded entertainment media events for Ford. One example was the promotion and integration of Lincoln Navigator in a new movie Are We There Yet. It has also created original content integrating Ford vehicles into television shows like Fox’s 24, ABC’s Alias ( both of which air in India on AXN) and Fox’s American Idol which airs on Star World.
Donnell added, “We have seen first hand the significant return on marketing investment that can be gained by using entertainment as a strategic brand-building tool. Our goal is to leverage popular culture to create breakthrough ideas that surround our clients’ brands with compelling entertainment experiences that connect with consumers in channels of their choosing. Amplify will enable us to partner with the best that Hollywood has to offer.”
JWT celebrates its 140th anniversary this year. It claims to be the largest advertising agency brand in the US and one of the world’s largest full-service global networks. Its parent company is WPP.
The release adds that JWT’s heritage in building brands through entertainment dates back to the 1930’s when the agency pioneered such radio and TV programmes as the Lux Radio Theatre, Kraft Music Hall and the Kraft Television Theater.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
