MAM
Indian ads that can do it at Cannes 2005
MUMBAI: While none of the Indian ads made it to the Top 50 Leo Burnett Cannes Predictions 2005, the agency, however, did take opinions from all Indian creative heads to list their best ads that stand a chance of winning the coveted Lion at the Cannes ad festival.
The 52nd International Advertising Festival is scheduled to take place in Cannes, France from 19 – 25 June.
Some of the ads that the creative honchos felt would make it to Cannes were showcased at the Leo Burnett Cannes Predictions 2005 that was held in Mumbai on 10 June.
In the Print category, Ambience Publicis ads for Hit, Playwin, The Economic Times’ supplement Brand Equity, Sanctuary magazine, Vicks Inhaler and Kama Sutra condoms were the ones that ranked high to win at Cannes this year.
On the other hand, Enterprise Nexus’ print ad for Parle G and an ad for Reusing Paper figured as top contenders.
Leo Burnett’s print ads for Atlas, McDonalds, Tide, Prerana and Sanctuary Asia stood tall to win a Cannes this year. Lowe’s public service ad titled ‘Death of emotions’ and Friends of the Tree ad titled ‘Save Trees, Trees Save’ were among the shortlisted.
McCann Erickson’s print ads for Band-Aid washproof, Big Babol and Hanes and Mudra’s public service ads for Cehat, Sanctuary Asia and Reliance water pipes were the ones that the creative heads felt were good enough to win at Cannes.
On the other hand, O&M’s ads for Pidilite Industries’ Fevicol, Hot Wheels and Hutch were the chosen ones. Redifussion’s print ads for Anacin, Colgate Navigator Plus toothbrush, Indian Oil’s public service ads warning people not to drink and drive, Eveready batteries, BMC’s public service ads to Save Trees titled – No Trees, No Water. No Water, No Trees, Nycil, Taj Garden Retreat and Indian Oil XtraMile; RMG David’s print ads for Stronglas and Uniquely Singapore and Saatchi & Saatchi’s ads for IV9 wine were the other coveted ones.
In the outdoor category, Ambience Publicis ads for Hit, Vicks Inhaler and Kama Sutra condoms; Enterprise Nexus’ ads for Killer Jeans and Aim; Leo Burnett’s ads for Atlas, Complan, McDonalds, Tide, Prerana, Bajaj Fans, Sanctuary Asia; Lowe’s ad for Adopt a rare bird, Friends of the Tree; McCann Erickson’s ads for Big Babol, Diet Coke; O&M’s ads for HLL’s Whiteness Soap, Fevicol; Saatchi & Saatchi’s Chantilli, Head & Shoulders Menthol and Pampers.com were the ones that ranked high to win at Cannes this year in the outdoor category.
In the Radio category, Leo Burnett’s spots for Koshish and McCann’s spots for Tata Indicom and Hanes were the ones which were shortlisted by the creative heads.
In the television commercial (TVC) category, Contract Advertising has the following two commercials which are contenders: Listerine (park bench) and Mid Day (train).
On the other hand, Everest Brand Solutions’ three ads for Tortoise (Ear, Knitting, Phone) were the ones that the agency felt stood a chance of winning a Lion this year. Earlier this year, Everest Brand Solutions won a Silver in the TVC category and a Gold in the campaign category for Tortoise at the Abby Awards.
McCann Erickson’s ads for Hanes undergarments, which again were a hit at the Abby Awards this year, were among the strong ones from McCann that could win. Apart from this, ads for Chlormint Happydent and Prayas by McCann also figured.
Leo Burnett’s public service ad for Autocar magazine; Lowe’s ad for Basmati Rice, Greenply, Saint Gobain Mirrors and Samarat Tractors; O&M ads for Chocotella, Tata Safari, Star Care Heros Project and VIP Frenchie X were the ones that will be taken to Cannes.
MAM
Beacon Group appoints Dr Rajesh Patel as Group CEO
36-year healthcare veteran to lead Beacon Diagnostics, Vector Biotek, Biogeny.
MUMBAI: A new chief, a fresh diagnosis and a sharper prescription for growth. Beacon Group has appointed Dr Rajesh Patel as its Group Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1, 2026, signalling a decisive push to scale its presence in the diagnostics and IVD space. Patel steps into the role with 36 years of experience across the healthcare and diagnostics industry, bringing a career shaped by leadership roles spanning sales, marketing, business development and operational strategy. His mandate is both expansive and precise: to steer the group’s overall strategic direction while tightening coordination across its three core entities Beacon Diagnostics, Vector Biotek and Biogeny Diagnostics.
In practical terms, that means driving cross-company synergies, accelerating market expansion and strengthening organisational capability areas increasingly critical as diagnostic players compete for scale in a fragmented yet rapidly evolving healthcare ecosystem. The group is positioning itself to capture unmet demand across chain laboratories, key accounts and standalone labs, segments that remain underserved despite growing diagnostic needs.
The appointment comes at a time when the In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) sector in India is entering a more competitive and innovation-led phase, with companies focusing not just on product pipelines but also on service delivery, integration and customer-centric models. Beacon’s leadership appears to be betting that Patel’s execution-focused approach can help translate ambition into operational momentum.
Welcoming the appointment, Chairman Dr D K Joshi described Patel’s induction as a strategic move aligned with the group’s long-term vision, emphasising the role of leadership depth in navigating the next phase of growth.
For Beacon Group, the message is clear, in a sector where precision matters, leadership is the new differentiator—and this appointment is intended to set the tone for what comes next.
