AD Agencies
Karishma Lintas wins the creative mandate of Paper Boat
MUMBAI: Karishma Lintas, a part of Lintas India group, has won the creative mandate of Paper Boat. Karishma Lintas edged out Happy Creative Services & Dentsu in the multi-agency pitch that was held a few weeks ago.
As its partner, Karishma Lintas would be responsible for providing creative insights and solutions to Paper Boat and will also chart out strategic recommendation, positioning and marketing of brand Paper Boat across various media.
Hector Beverages CEO Neeraj Kakkar commented: “Design thinking is at the crux of Paper Boat and we believe that the same applies for Karishma Lintas. With a very clear mandate in mind, we decided to appoint Karishma Lintas as the creative agency for our brand. Backed by a strong team and disruptive ideas we were very confident about our choice and the quality of deliveries. Karishma Lintas understands our brand sensibilities and their work has been inspiring.”
Paper Boat was launched nationally in August 2013 and is among the fast-growing juice brands from the stable of Hector Beverages. Paper Boat started out with two variants – Jaljeera and Aamras, and has since expanded its lineup to include seven new flavours comprising Aamras, Jaljeera, Jamun, Kalakhatta, Aam Pana, Kokum, Imli Ka Amlana and Golgappe Ka Paani. Its latest offering includes traditionally brewed Tulsi Tea and Ginger and Lemon.
The agency’s executive director GV Krishnan said, “We admire the vision and purpose of brand Paper Boat aspiring to reduce cynicism in society and to reaffirm faith in life. Through our creative solutions, we genuinely believe that we could win the heart of every Indian by emotionally connecting with his childhood memory and serving them a delicious traditional Indian drink to savour. We’ve had inspiring and transparent discussions with the founders of Paper Boat and are excited to create an awesome portfolio going ahead for Karishma Lintas.”
Paper Boat is backed by Sequoia Capital, Catamaran Ventures (NR Narayan Murthy’s VC firm) and Foot Print Ventures and is run by industry veterans – Neeraj Kakkar, James Nutall, Suhas Misra and Neeraj Biyani.
AD Agencies
Microsoft shifts global media account from Dentsu to Publicis Groupe: Reports
Closed review ends decade-long tie-up; Xbox remit may remain with Dentsu
MUMBAI: Microsoft has reassigned its global media planning and buying business to Publicis Groupe, according to media reports, ending Dentsu’s long-standing stewardship of one of the advertising industry’s biggest accounts.
The move follows a closed review and marks a notable shake-up in the global media landscape. Dentsu, which managed the account through Carat, had held the mandate since 2014 and successfully defended it in a 2018 review.
While the broader business is shifting, Dentsu is expected to retain media responsibilities for Xbox, according to media reports, though the exact contours of that arrangement remain unclear. None of the parties involved have publicly outlined the transition timeline or the full structure of the handover.
The scale of the account underscores the significance of the change. Estimates from COMvergence, cited by Ad Age, peg Microsoft’s global media spend at roughly $700 million last year.
For Publicis Groupe, the win deepens an already expanding relationship with the tech giant. Earlier this year, Microsoft Advertising partnered with Publicis Media Exchange and Epsilon to integrate Epsilon’s data into its platform, aiming to sharpen targeting across search, native and display formats.
The decision reflects a broader industry shift, as large advertisers increasingly favour agency partners with strong first-party data capabilities, AI integration and platform-led solutions. Publicis Groupe has been leaning into this model, positioning its data assets and technology stack as a central differentiator.
For Dentsu, the loss is significant. Media remains a core pillar of its global business, and the development comes close on the heels of leadership changes, including the appointment of Takeshi Sano as global chief executive officer.
The shift also carries a touch of irony. Microsoft and Dentsu have worked closely beyond the client-agency relationship, including collaborations around AI tools such as Copilot to support media and creative workflows.
As the dust settles, the message is clear: in today’s data-driven, AI-powered media world, relationships may be long, but they are rarely permanent.
