AD Agencies
Isobar India Wins Big at Clio Sports 2018
MUMBAI: Isobar India, the digital agency from Dentsu Aegis Network, India, was awarded a Gold and a Bronze for its #BruisesCanBeGood campaign for Reebok India at the Clio Sports Awards 2018. The agency received one Gold for Public Relations category, and one Bronze for Film (Short Form) category.
Commenting on the win, Shamsuddin Jasani, Managing Director, Isobar India, Exec Sponsor AMNET India stated, “Winning at a renowned festival like Clio Sports is extremely special and prestigious for Isobar India; I am very proud of the entire team who contributed to this award winning work for Reebok – one of our oldest clients. Reebok has a serious focus on women empowerment, and #BruisesCanBeGood was a pioneering approach on Women’s Day. Progressively, more and more clients are looking for evocative marketing solutions that efficiently unite and connect with consumers, sell products, services and further lead to business growth.”
Commending the win, Reebok India, Senior Marketing Director, Silvia Tallon said, “Winning a Clio is an amazing feat. #BruisesCanBeGood has been very close to my heart and I’m proud that it’s getting appreciated globally. As a women-centric brand, we aimed to underline our brand’s core philosophy of #FitToFight with this campaign. This recognition will bring us closer to the reform we are trying to achieve – a safe and a fair society for women. Our vision is make a difference in people’s lives through fitness. We want to inspire everyone to get fit – socially, mentally and physically fit.”
The #BruisesCanBeGood campaign can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/-Qf2CdoElcc.
Clio Sports honors the best in sports advertising and marketing from an international pool of submissions that elevated sports culture in the collective consciousness.
AD Agencies
Publicis Groupe to acquire 160over90 from WME Group
Deal aims to build data-led platform linking brands, fans and culture at scale
MUMBAI: Publicis Groupe has agreed to acquire 160over90 from WME Group, in a move that signals a major push into the fast-growing world of sports and culture-led marketing.
The deal, subject to regulatory approvals, will see Publicis combine its existing Publicis Sports capabilities with 160over90’s global footprint to create what it calls a unified, end-to-end platform connecting brands with audiences through sport, entertainment and culture.
Founded as a division of WME Group, 160over90 has built a reputation for delivering high-impact campaigns across some of the world’s biggest sporting moments, including the Super Bowl, Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup. With over 670 employees across the US, UK, EMEA and Apac, the agency works with global brands to create experiences that resonate both on and off the field.
The acquisition reflects a broader shift in marketing, where sport has become a central pillar of premium media. With the global sports media market estimated at $150 billion and sponsorships crossing $90 billion, brands are increasingly looking for more integrated ways to engage audiences.
Publicis is betting that a data-led approach will be the differentiator. By integrating 160over90 with its own capabilities, including the Epsilon identity ecosystem and Influential network, the company aims to offer marketers a seamless way to plan, activate and measure campaigns across media, sponsorships, live events and creator partnerships.
Publicis Groupe CEO Arthur Sadoun said, “After building our industry-leading position in identity resolution, commerce, and creators, our next big bet is sport. In the age of AI, it has become one of the most high-value channels for clients.”
He added that combining 160over90’s expertise with Publicis’ data and technology stack would help “connect brands to fans in ways that are both meaningful and measurable”.
Echoing the sentiment, Publicis Connected Media CEO Dave Penski said, “Sport has become the most powerful intersection of culture, commerce and community,” highlighting the growing need to treat sports marketing as a measurable channel rather than just brand-building.
As part of the deal, Publicis will also enter into a strategic partnership with WME Group, enabling closer collaboration on talent, content and brand partnerships. WME Group president Mark Shapiro said the tie-up would open up new opportunities for talent and brands to scale their ambitions globally.
Post acquisition, the combined Publicis Sports entity will report to Suzy Deering, while Robbie Henchman will remain with WME Group to oversee the ongoing partnership.
The move builds on Publicis’ recent investments in the space, including acquisitions of Adopt and Bespoke in 2025 and a partnership with Magic Johnson Enterprises, underscoring its intent to dominate the intersection of sport, culture and commerce.
As brands chase both attention and accountability, Publicis’ latest play suggests the future of sports marketing may be less about moments alone and more about measurable impact at scale.
