MAM
“I hope to convince BJP to connect with electorate throughout the year”: Sam Balsara
MUMBAI: The Madison Report on 2015 is all set to be unveiled on 20 February by Minister of State with Independent Charge for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal and the industry awaits what India’s first home-grown media agency has to predict for the year ahead.
Last year was a remarkable one for Madison Media as it grabbed the mother of all accounts, Bharatiya Janta Party’s (BJP) Lok Sabha election mandate. Followed by mandate for assembly polls of Maharashtra, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir and Delhi, the agency has been making news for all the right reasons.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Madison World chairman and managing director Sam Balsara says, “2014 was a great year for Madison World and most of our units Madison Media, Madison Outdoor, Madison PR, Mates, PMG and our JV with WPP’s Mediacom have done extremely well specially on new business front and we have acquired almost a 100 new clients across the group.”
In terms of awards too, it has been a very satisfying year for Balsara, who is upbeat and optimistic about 2015. “Given that the mood is extremely upbeat in India Inc, thanks to the new BJP government, 2015 again is going to be an exciting year and we hope to get more than our fair share of the growth,” Balsara adds.
The year 2015 too has begun on a positive note as the agency won an array of new accounts in the last two months, which amount to approximately Rs 200 crore. The accounts include JG Hosiery, Metro Cash & Carry, Zivame, Ashirwad Pipes, out of the agency’s Bangalore office. As well as, Viber (to be handled from Delhi Office) and DHFL (to be handled from Mumbai office); all won on the back of multi-agency pitches.
Talking about what gives Madison an edge over others during a pitch, Balsara says, “We focus on client delight, and want to be our client’s trusted communication partner and help them use media and advertising to achieve their growth and business objectives. We also want our people to act as entrepreneurs and give them the freedom to operate without fear or favour as long as they do so with integrity and professionalism.”
The agency doesn’t believe in prioritising any office as well as it has a marquee clientele in each and every office. But of course Bombay, Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata are key markets.
However, the Delhi office, with Lok Sabha election and the recently concluded Delhi elections, has been buzzing with work and excitement. So, how does the agency differentiate election mandate from the rest? Balsara highlights, “Political campaigns are more short term, the results have to be achieved in a month’s time and therefore the strategies that we adopt have to be very different. I hope to convince my friends at BJP that they should not try to connect with the electorate only at the time of elections but throughout the year.”
Brands
Ather Energy doubles service network to 500 centres nationwide
EV maker scales support alongside growth to keep riders on the road
MUMBAI: Ather Energy is quietly building more than just scooters. It is building the backbone to keep them running.
The electric two-wheeler maker has expanded its service network to 500 authorised centres across India, nearly doubling its footprint in a year from 277. The move mirrors its growing retail presence and signals a clear focus on one often overlooked part of EV ownership, what happens after the purchase.
From the outset, Ather has prioritised service support in every city it enters, aiming to make ownership as smooth as the ride itself. Its Gold Service Centres bring in upgraded customer lounges, modern equipment and processes designed to make servicing more transparent and reliable.
Speed, too, is part of the pitch. Through its ExpressCare initiative, riders can get periodic maintenance done in about an hour, now available across 82 centres, turning what used to be a chore into a quick pit stop.
Ather Energy chief business officer Ravneet Singh Phokela said, “Crossing 500 service centres is an important milestone as we scale across the country. Reliable after-sales support is central to the ownership experience, and our focus remains on consistent service quality and accessibility.”
The expansion comes as demand grows for models like the Ather 450 and the Rizta, which have helped the company reach a broader set of riders across metros and emerging cities alike.
Alongside servicing, Ather continues to power up infrastructure through the Ather Grid, now one of the largest fast-charging networks for two-wheelers, with over 4,300 charging points.
With plans to scale further and deepen its presence, Ather’s approach is clear. Selling the scooter may start the journey, but keeping it running smoothly is what sustains it.
