MAM
Goafest 2016: Believe in instricts and data to keep up with change, feels Carter Murray
GOA: “Around 90 per cent of the internet traffic will soon be video based. Quoting figures from Google US, he said there are 60 trillion web addresses in the world with 4 million applications with 3 billion web searches per day.
Kick-starting the second session of the last day at Goafest, FCB worldwide CEO Carter Murray spoke on surviving and thriving in the times of intense change, replete with case studies and insights.
The 40 year old CEO said Murray pointed out that 15 per cent of the searches are never seen before. “This means that there are 450 million searches every-day for something that’s never been asked before. If there is a 0.5 second delay on a Google search, there is a 20 per cent drop in traffic. While on Amazon, a 0.1 second delay will cause a 1 per cent drop in sales.”
Speaking about what is happening at Silicon Valley and listening to some speakers at forums, clients and agencies, he said “We have to start being aware of fake prophets. You have to trust your own instincts. You should take what’s going on around the world and add it it to what you know. You don’t have to start fresh,” he noted.
He started his talk with the cryptic example on the difference between ‘being involved’ and ‘being committed’. “Take for example a bacon-and-egg breakfast. Chicken is involved and bacon is committed. What we put in and how it comes out has changed.”
He said marketers use only 6 per cent of data for decisions. “Data is waiting for its Scorsese. When are we going to use data to improve creative product not just improve sales?”
With agencies and marketers trying to be ‘different’ in a changing and challenging environment, he said, “Different doesn’t always have value – better does. Steve Jobs did not invent the telephone; he made it ‘better’.”
The CEO divided work into three buckets: Hero, Hub and Help. He explained the model in which Hero stands for what you want to say wrapped up in an emotional story which is memorable and invites further participation. Hub symbolizes a platform which is updated regularly or a social profile worth returning to. Help stands for what your target market are searching for.
Explaining this model, he cited examples of a few brands like Hero, Nivea and Valspar Paint which amused the audience.
He stressed on how important talent is when it comes to surviving and thriving. “This is an exciting time focus. Never think that an idea or brief is finished. You always learn and evolve. If you make a mistake, stand-up, and apologize. Do not try to hide it. Identify your micro-moments, deliver on needs in the moment and measure and optimize to connect the dots”.
Change is happening but instead of freaking out and trying to incorporate every change, the marketing community needs to believe in their instincts and data, he stressed.
Brands
Safex Group appoints Richa Malhotra as group chief financial officer
Former Standard Chartered executive to steer finance
NEW DELHI: Safex Chemicals has appointed Richa Malhotra as group chief financial officer, strengthening its leadership team as the company prepares for the next phase of expansion in specialty chemicals and global agrochemicals.
In her new role, Malhotra will lead the group’s financial strategy, capital architecture and governance framework as Safex scales operations across multiple verticals including branded formulations, specialty chemicals and contract manufacturing.
A chartered accountant and graduate of Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi, Malhotra brings more than two decades of experience in business finance, strategic planning, corporate banking and client management.
Before joining Safex, she served as executive director, financial markets at Standard Chartered, where she led teams across India and Sri Lanka and worked closely with large corporates, global subsidiaries and commercial banking clients. Her expertise includes capital structuring, treasury operations, risk management and financial markets led financing solutions.
Safex Group promoter director and joint managing director Piyush Jindal, said the appointment comes at a pivotal time for the company. “Safex stands at an inflection point as we build an integrated platform across branded formulations, specialty chemicals and contract manufacturing. Richa’s experience across global financial institutions will strengthen our financial discipline and help unlock value across the group,” he said.
Malhotra said she was looking forward to contributing to the company’s next chapter of growth. “Safex has built a strong reputation over 35 years with its focus on integrity, innovation and agricultural insight. I am excited to be part of the organisation as it expands its footprint in India and global markets,” she said.
The appointment comes as Safex continues to strengthen its financial foundations and scale operations internationally, positioning itself for future growth milestones.
