MAM
Audi India appoints BBH as integrated agency
MUMBAI: Audi India has announced the appointment of BBH as its lead agency in India, handling mainline and digital work. The appointment follows a multi-agency pitch which took place towards the end of 2018.
BBH and Audi’s global partnership goes back 37 years with the brand being BBH London’s founding client in 1982. The alliance has birthed the iconic ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’, a line and ethos that is still used today and sits at the heart of every piece of communication from the brand. In 2018, BBH London won the Grand Prix at IPA Effectiveness Awards for its work on the brand.
The appointment comes as Audi looks to its next phase of growth in India and is looking to their communications strategy to help fuel that growth. With its breadth of integrated capabilities, BBH India will lead Audi’s brand communications across mainline, experiential, activations, digital and social media. A multi-channel, multi-faceted, fully integrated mandate in its truest sense that will evolve in line with Audi’s India business.
Commenting on this occasion, Audi India head Rahil Ansari said, “Audi is geared for an exciting year with a fantastic line-up of products and activities. While finding a partner, we were looking for someone that understands modern India and brings energy and disruptive thinking to the table. Audi and BBH have had a great partnership globally and the India team demonstrated a deep understanding of the local market and was able to translate that into exciting work across the consumer journey."
BBH India chief creative officer Russell Barrett added, “Audi is one of the founding clients of BBH. And the opportunity to create extraordinary stories, from the tiniest interaction to the final decision was something that genuinely excited us. We hope, along with Audi India, our bespoke, cross-functional, integrated team will help in crafting work throughout the customer journey. We look forward to a great partnership and the opportunity to bring to life the idea of progress through insightful stories and surprising technology.”
Brands
HP launches Smart Champs learning game show with JioStar for students
Sanya Malhotra hosts quiz series blending fun, learning and prizes
NEW DELHI: HP India has teamed up with JioStar to launch HP Smart Champs, a new learning-based game show designed to make education engaging for school students across the country.
Hosted by Sanya Malhotra, the 10-episode series brings together students from Grades 5 to 9, who compete in teams through quiz and puzzle-based challenges that test knowledge, logic and teamwork. The show will begin streaming on JioHotstar from April 11 and will premiere on Nick on April 18, with weekend episodes airing at 7 PM.
Powered by HP Smart Tank printers, the format integrates print-based learning into the gameplay, using worksheets, clues and visual problem-solving tools to encourage hands-on participation. The idea is to move students beyond rote memorisation and towards more applied, curiosity-led learning.
The competition promises high stakes, with winners set to receive a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, while runners-up will take home Rs 5 lakh. Additional rewards include HP AI laptops, Smart Tank printers and accessories, while the winning school will be awarded an HP Smart Tech Lab.
Speaking about the initiative, HP India managing director Ipsita Dasgupta said, “At HP, we believe nurturing India’s youth is key to the country’s progress, and technology plays a foundational role in enabling this. With HP Smart Champs, we wanted to create something beyond traditional learning, a fun-filled platform where curiosity, creativity and critical thinking take centre stage.”
On the show’s reach, JioStar head entertainment sales Mahesh Shetty said, “HP Smart Champs reflects how children today learn through exploration and experience. With Nick and JioHotstar, we are creating a multi-screen approach that is both engaging and meaningful.”
Highlighting the role of print, HP India senior director print Satish Kumar said, “The show brings print-based learning to life in an engaging format, helping students develop deeper understanding through hands-on experiences.”
The journey to the finale began with participation from over 1,000 schools across 26 cities, narrowing down to 34 finalists who will compete in a studio showdown in Mumbai.
With its blend of entertainment, education and technology, HP Smart Champs is positioning itself as more than just a quiz show. It is a nationwide push to make learning interactive, accessible and, above all, a lot more fun.
