MAM
Creativeland Asia conceptualises first ever CCD TVC
Mumbai: Coffee shop chain Café Coffee Day (CCD) has launched its first ever television commercial in its 16 years of existence, conceptualised by Creativeland Asia.
CCD aims to reach every single household through the television commercial. The TVC titled ‘Sit Down’ is part of a 360 degree campaign. It is built on the premise that ‘standing up’ often doesn’t really yield results, but a lot of things can happen when you ‘sit down’.
Creativeland Asia founder and creative chairman Sajan Raj Kurup said, “We wanted CCD‘s first ever TVC to be a little more than an Advert. Something that CCDgoers identify with, something that is neither too heavy nor too frivolous. In the whole idea of ‘Sit-down’, we eventually found all these and more. A powerful thought which is socially relevant in India at this juncture.”
The TVC is produced by Equinox Films and directed by Ram Madhvani.
According to the company, the campaign will be integrated across media with digital and social playing an important role. The agency has planned many campaign specific acts over the last year and will be executed phase-wise.
CCD president marketing K. Ramakrishnan said, “CCD as a brand has never advertised in mass media in the last 16 years of its existence. It has been built solely through unique and pioneering marketing initiatives, coffee category building activities, public relations and more recently through social media. We believe it is the right time to get deeper into our customers lives, possible only through television.”
The craft of the TVC combines two contrarian cultures – the café space and the social media space. The storyline of the TVC shows how a bunch of youngsters started a movement call sit-down by self recording videos across various CCDs across the country to the self anthem and then posting it via various avenues on social media. The central message of the TVC being to stop creating morchas or standing up against things, and instead Sit-down talk over a cup of coffee and find a way forward. Over 130 social-media profiles were used. Live posts were diligently crafted and created to become the frame-work of the TVC, the company said.
There are a series of shorter tactical films planned as well. The ads have first been released on the social media space on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. It will be released on air across all major television networks on 8 December.
Brands
Pocket FM elevates Lalit Gangwar to COO to drive global growth
Founding member to lead operations, monetisation and expansion across markets
MUMBAI: Pocket FM has elevated Lalit Gangwar to chief operating officer, tasking the founding team member with leading global business operations as the company sharpens its international growth strategy.
In his new role, Gangwar will oversee end-to-end operations across markets, including growth, monetisation and execution for the company’s audio business. The appointment comes as Pocket FM looks to strengthen its operating foundation and build a more predictable, scalable global business.
Gangwar has been closely involved in shaping the company’s trajectory from its early days. He played a key role in building the growth and marketing playbook in India, helping the platform scale to over 150 million users within its first year and establish a strong foothold in the audio storytelling category.
He later led Pocket FM’s expansion into the United States, where he set up teams, defined market strategy and drove scale, contributing significantly to the company’s international ambitions.
Pocket FM co-founder and CEO Rohan Nayak said, “Lalit has been central to Pocket FM’s journey from the very beginning. He has built our growth engine and scaled our business across markets.” He added that the company’s focus on nurturing internal talent makes Gangwar a natural choice to lead the next phase.
Gangwar said, “Pocket FM has always been driven by a simple belief that powerful stories can travel across borders and create meaningful impact.” He noted that the company will continue to focus on scaling markets, investing in AI-led storytelling and strengthening monetisation.
As COO, Gangwar is expected to bring greater operating discipline while building systems, talent and processes to support long-term growth.
With leadership continuity and a clear global focus, Pocket FM appears to be turning the page to its next chapter, one that aims to take its storytelling playbook well beyond home turf.
