Brands
Burger King Cannes Lions’ creative marketer
MUMBAI: The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has today announced Burger King as the Creative Marketer of the Year 2017. The award will honour Burger King for embracing and encouraging creativity across their brand communications and for the inspiring global marketing of their products.
Cannes Lions runs for eight days from 17- 24 June, in Cannes, France. The main Festival venue is the world famous Palais des Festivals.
Burger King has a hugely successful track record at Cannes Lions. The company has totalled 76 awards, including two Grands Prix in 2016 for the ‘McWhopper’ campaign, in Print & Publishing and Media. Burger King also took home a Titanium Grand Prix in 2007 and achieved their first win in 1969, a Silver Lion for ‘Skinny Burger’. Since its launch in 1954, the company has expanded to become one of the largest quick-service restaurants in the world, welcoming more than 11 million people in over 100 countries daily.
“Burger King is a brand that’s built a reputation for marketing campaigns that are bold, courageous and innovative, constantly challenging the limits of creative excellence,” said Ascential Events CEO Philip Thomas. “Burger King believes that being a brand with purpose can achieve long-term advantages and deliver strong business results. That’s why the company is making such an impact”.
Burger King CMO Axel Schwan, and head of brand marketing Fernando Machado will collect the award during the 64th Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, taking place from 17-24 June 2017.
Schwan commented, “Creativity is a critical factor when it comes to helping us stand out from the pack and punch higher than our weight. This principle is applied to everything we do, from the way we differentiate ourselves by flame-grilling our burgers to the ground-breaking advertising campaigns we create”.
Machado added, “This award is a tribute to the consistently strong creative work done by the Burger King brand over time”.
Cannes Lions celebrates the ‘Best of Burger King’ on Stories, the new editorial arm of the Festival. From classic campaigns that kick-started digital marketing to modern masterpieces of integration.
Brands
Kotak Mahindra Bank appoints Ramesh Iyer to board
Veteran financier replaces Ashok Gulati, who retires in March
MUMBAI: Kotak Mahindra Bank has announced a change to its board of directors, with independent director Ashok Gulati set to retire at the end of his term on 5 March.
The company said it has appointed Ramesh Ganesh Iyer as an additional and independent director for a four-year term, effective 17 February, subject to shareholder approval.
Iyer brings more than four decades of experience in financial services. He spent much of his career at Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services, where he served as vice chairman and managing director before taking on the role of president for the financial services sector and member of the group executive board at Mahindra & Mahindra. He retired from the group in April 2024.
During his tenure, Iyer was instrumental in expanding rural and inclusive finance initiatives, scaling the company’s assets and customer base. He also led the creation of subsidiaries in rural housing finance, insurance broking and asset management, and oversaw international joint ventures.
Iyer holds a commerce degree and a doctorate of letters, and currently serves on the boards of several listed and unlisted companies.
The board meeting approving the changes was held in Mumbai on February 17 between 6.30 pm and 6.50 pm.
