MAM
Dentsu Aegis ‘Happy’ about mcgarrybowen’s India entry
MUMBAI: Dentsu Aegis has added another feather in its acquisition cap. Dentsu Aegis Network has signed a definitive agreement to acquire creative marketing agency, Happy Creative Services in India. It will join the global mcgarrybowen network of agencies and be rebranded as Happymcgarrybowen. The deal is expected to close in the next few weeks.
The acquisition will strengthen Dentsu Aegis’ creative offering in the market, marks the first mcgarrybowen agency in India and expands its footprint in Asia – with other offices in Singapore, Hong Kong and China.
Established in 2007, Happy is an award-winning boutique creative marketing agency located in India. Regarded as one of the most promising independent creative outfits in India, Happy boasts a staff of 100 across three disciplines – Brand Design, Integrated Brand Communication and Digital, building and rejuvenating brands through media agnostic ideas, customised to deliver on key business and brand metrics.
Joining the Dentsu Aegis leadership team in India is Happy’s co-founder and CEO Kartik Iyer, and co-founder and MD Praveen Das, who will both report to Ashish Bhasin, Chairman and CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network South Asia.
Dentsu Aegis Network South Asia Ashish Bhasin, chairman and CEO of said: “Happy has carved out a very strong digital and creative reputation in the Indian market. Founders Kartik Iyer and Praveen Das – who are among Fortune India’s 40 Under 40, are prominent and well-respected figures in the industry, and this acquisition will add creative bench strength to the wider team. This will enable us to launch mcgarrybowen in India and we will be another step closer to our mission of being the second largest agency group by the end of 2017 in India, overturning for the first time the existing ranking which has historically been in place for over 80 years in the market.”
mcgarrybowen founder and global chairman Gordon Bowen, said: “India is an important creative market that boasts world-class talent and an enviable group of multi-national clients, both of which represent untapped potential for mcgarrybowen. We knew that successfully expanding in this very competitive market required finding great partners that share our passions and values. With a respected reputation and well awarded creative offering, Happy is just that kind of partner and I am proud to welcome them into the mcgarrybowen family.”
“Like us, Kartik and Praveen believe in the power of big organising ideas, collaboration and strong client partnerships. Together I am confident we will fuel even greater creative and business success for clients here in India and around the world,” he added.
Iyer and Das said: “It has taken us a good nine years to come this far in terms of talent, business and reputation. There comes a time in every business to take a big leap to propel it to the next level and being a part of Dentsu Aegis and mcgarrybowen supports this growth ambition and provides us with the right platform. We are presently working with a number of marquee clients that require the support of a global network and we have always been clear that Happyshould to equip itself to compete with the biggest players on the largest stage. In mcgarrybowen we found a true match in philosophy and belief and being a part of their vision makes us truly proud.”
Most recently, Happy bagged the ‘Agency of the Year’ title at the 2016 edition of Maddys, organised by The Advertising Club Madras. Happy’s work on the ‘Ola Boat’, which was an emergency boat service set up by Ola cabs, to help stranded people in the city of Chennai during the Nov 2015 floods, has also won numerous national and international awards for the effort.
Brands
Uidai partners with Google to help users locate Aadhaar centres
Verified Aadhaar centres to appear on Maps with services and access info
MUMBAI: Finding an Aadhaar centre may soon be as easy as finding your favourite café. In a move aimed at making public services more accessible, the Unique Identification Authority of India has partnered with Google to display authorised Aadhaar centres on Google Maps. The feature, expected to roll out in the coming months, will allow residents to locate verified centres quickly and confidently.
More than 60,000 Aadhaar centres, including state of the art Aadhaar Seva Kendras, will be mapped. When users search on Google Maps, they will be directed to authorised facilities rather than unverified listings, helping curb misinformation and confusion.
The listings will do more than drop a pin. Users will be able to see the nature of services offered at each centre, whether it is adult enrolment, child enrolment, or limited to address and mobile number updates. Details such as operating hours, parking availability and divyang friendly infrastructure will also be shown wherever applicable.
Uidai CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar, said the collaboration is part of the authority’s continued effort to improve ease of living for Aadhaar holders by making authorised centres simpler and faster to navigate.
The partnership will deepen in its next phase, with Uidai using Google Business Profile to manage information and respond directly to public feedback. Looking ahead, the two organisations are also exploring the option of enabling appointment bookings through the Google Maps interface, potentially allowing residents to plan their visits with greater efficiency.
Google India country head, strategic partnerships Roli Agarwal, said integrating verified Aadhaar centres would help millions access trusted services with confidence, bringing essential government infrastructure closer to the people who need it most.
If all goes to plan, a routine Aadhaar update may soon begin not with a queue, but with a search bar.
