MAM
Honda CB Trigger TVC lures the youth, ask them to ‘Untame’
MUMBAI: With a new TVC, Honda aims to strengthen its 150cc sports bike segment. The automobile manufacturer is now positioning its new offering CB Trigger as ‘fun of riding for the youth’.
Created by Dentsu Marcom, the 30 second TV campaign showcases a young man’s life filled with dilemmas. How it is not in his control and how everyone in his generation is pressed to be put through a factory of conformity. Honda CB Trigger through the campaign, says ‘No More.’ The new TVC calls the youth as it asks them to ‘Untame’.
The film starts with the backdrop of a jingle (about a domesticated ‘cutie pie’), where the protagonist is being tamed by his friends, girlfriend and other members of the society in their own ways. The voice over in the background asks: “Do they make my choice? Do they define my life? Do they make my destiny?” Honda’s new bike is trigger for him to realise that enough is enough and he breaks the shackles of society saying: “I don’t belong to them. I belong to myself.”
“The new CB Trigger combines the raw power of 150 cc and macho styling. So we asked, ‘Why tame yourself?’ Youth enjoy college life and the life after because it seems to liberate them from the 12 years of schooling. Little do they realise that there is another kind of schooling that follows them in these and the following years. Fact is, people around you continue to teach you, what is cool, what isn’t, they tell you that you must join a gym, build your muscle, party hard etc. The new CB trigger gives them a physical tool to break out of all this and live by themselves,” said Dentsu Marcom national creative director Titus Upputuru.
Commenting on the campaign Dentsu India executive vice president and national planning director Narayan Devanathan said: “The simple but key insight into the life of the 18-year-old prospective biker is this: at a time when the 18-year-old is tasting freedom for the first time, the shackles of conformity try to bind him, hold him back, and worse, define him for who he really is not. Along comes Honda to remind him that there is indeed a time and a place to become domesticated. And that the new Honda CB Trigger is here to take him far, far away from them.”
AD Agencies
Omnicom posts $6.2 bn Q1 revenue, EBITDA margin rises to 14.8 per cent
AI push and cost synergies lift margins in first full quarter post-merger
NEW YORK: Omnicom has reported a robust first quarter following its acquisition of Interpublic Group, signalling early gains from integration, cost efficiencies and a sharper focus on AI-led services.
The results mark the first full quarter with Interpublic’s operations included, offering a clearer view of how the combined entity is shaping up. Revenue from core operations stood at $5.6 billion, up $345 million year on year on a combined basis, while organic growth came in at 3.9 per cent. Adjusted EBITDA margin rose sharply by 240 basis points to 14.8 per cent, reflecting early synergy benefits.
“We’ve seen momentum and cohesive growth across the organisation,” said Omnicom chief executive officer John Wren. “Our results demonstrate the benefits of realigning our portfolio and moving decisively on integration.”
A key part of that realignment involves shedding underperforming assets. Omnicom has identified businesses worth roughly $3.2 billion in annual revenue for disposal, with about $1 billion already exited in the first quarter. The company expects to complete most of the remaining divestments over the coming quarters, sharpening its focus on higher-growth, higher-margin operations.
On the bottom line, adjusted earnings per share rose 11.8 per cent to $1.90, underlining the financial impact of cost discipline and integration. The company is targeting $900 million in cost synergies by 2026, rising to $1.5 billion by mid-2028.
“We are realising significant cost reduction synergies while continuing to invest for growth,” said Omnicom chief financial officer Philip Angelastro.
Beyond the numbers, the strategic pivot is becoming clearer. Omnicom has restructured its business around “core operations”, stripping out assets earmarked for sale to highlight the segments driving future growth. More than half of its revenue now comes from integrated media, which includes data, commerce, CRM and content automation, areas that are growing faster than traditional advertising.
Indeed, integrated media led growth in the quarter with high single-digit gains, while PR and experiential businesses delivered mid-single-digit growth. Healthcare posted modest gains, while traditional advertising lagged, reflecting a broader industry shift towards performance-driven and tech-enabled marketing.
Central to this transformation is Omni, the company’s AI-powered marketing and sales platform. Rolled out across the organisation during the quarter, the system connects data, talent and services while enabling AI-driven workflows.
The platform is already delivering tangible results, improving media performance, speeding up campaign execution and enhancing measurement capabilities. Integration with partners such as Adobe and Amazon is further expanding its reach.
“We’ve put the latest agentic AI tools in the hands of all our employees,” said Wren, highlighting the company’s push towards automation and data-led decision-making.
The shift is also reshaping client relationships. Omnicom reported new business wins with major brands including IBM, GSK and John Deere, while expanding engagements with existing clients such as Unilever and Exxon. Increasingly, clients are opting for consolidated partnerships, relying on a single provider for end-to-end marketing and sales services.
“There’s a clear trend of clients choosing one partner to manage most of their needs,” said John Wren. “Our integrated model makes that easier.”
Geographically, the US remains the largest market, contributing 61 per cent of revenue, followed by Europe and the UK at 21 per cent. Growth was strongest in the US, with other regions posting modest gains.
The balance sheet remains solid despite increased debt following the acquisition. Long-term debt stood at $10.2 billion at the end of the quarter, while liquidity was supported by $4.3 billion in cash and a $3.5 billion revolving credit facility. The company is also returning capital to shareholders, repurchasing $2.8 billion worth of shares in Q1 as part of a planned $5 billion buyback programme.
Looking ahead, Omnicom remains optimistic but cautious. While the company expects double-digit EPS growth for the year, it acknowledged ongoing geopolitical uncertainties, particularly in the Middle East, though the region accounts for less than 2.5 per cent of revenue.
The integration of Interpublic is still in its early stages, but the initial signs point to a business that is not just bigger, but structurally different. With AI at its core, a streamlined portfolio and a growing tilt towards integrated services, Omnicom is betting that scale, simplicity and smart technology will keep it ahead in an increasingly complex marketing landscape.
If the first quarter is anything to go by, that bet is already starting to pay off.
