MAM
Leo Burnett bags creative duties of ‘Bombay Mirror’
MUMBAI: Bombay Mirror, the latest offering from the Times Group stable, has awarded its creative duties to Leo Burnett. The campaign for the publication, which is slated to hit the stands on 30 May, broke today.
Interestingly, Leo Burnett was invited to handle the account and there was no pitch process or screening that took place.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, an overjoyed Leo Burnett national creative director KV Sridhar says, “This is our first big publication client and it makes for a huge visibility account. The newspaper market is the new aggressive category and in advertising terms, this will give agencies a very good canvas to do some cutting edge work”.
The agency is currently also working on a TVC as one facet of a wider multi-media campaign.
It is worth noting here that the creative duties for the news channel from the Times stable were also awarded to Leo Burnett earlier this year.
Says The Times of India brand director Rahul Kansal, “Leo Burnett is an excellent combination of creative and strategic ability. Also, being a media company we have a good understanding of the credentials of various agencies, and Leo Burnett was definitely one that stood apart.”
When queried about the account size, Kansal pointed out that it was very difficult to comment on that considering they themselves were a media company and hence a lot the media vehicles in use would be their own. Also, with the shift to fee based accounts, he said that the calculations were very complex.
The media duties for Bombay Mirror will be handled by the Times group itself in-house.
MAM
Shoppers Stop elevates Biju Kassim as GSS Beauty CEO
Move comes as GSS Beauty scales global brand partnerships in India.
MUMBAI: From store shelves to global shelves, the beauty game is getting a sharper makeover. Shoppers Stop has elevated Biju Kassim as managing director and chief executive officer of Global SS Beauty Brands Limited (GSSBB), signalling a stronger push into the premium beauty segment. The move builds on Kassim’s role in setting up GSSBB, a wholly owned subsidiary that has quickly positioned itself as a fast-growing distribution platform for global beauty brands in India. The unit has been central to Shoppers Stop’s ambition of expanding its footprint in the high-margin beauty and luxury categories.
Chairman Nirvik Singh noted that Kassim’s experience across the beauty ecosystem and his understanding of premium and luxury consumers would help steer the next phase of growth. The focus, he indicated, will be on sharpening the company’s beauty portfolio and scaling partnerships with international brands.
Kassim, for his part, steps into the role at a time when India’s premium beauty market is undergoing rapid evolution, driven by rising consumer aspirations and increased access to global labels. He highlighted that GSSBB will remain a key strategic pillar, with an emphasis on expanding brand partnerships, enhancing consumer experiences and driving growth across markets.
As global beauty brands continue to eye India as a high-growth destination, Shoppers Stop’s bet is clear: owning not just the shelf, but the entire beauty ecosystem behind it.
