MAM
Media Direction’ to ‘Optimum Media Direction
Omnicom’s creative agencies are DDB, BBDO and TBWA. In India, DDB has a 10 per cent stake in Mudra, BBDO has a majority stake in RK Swamy (50.1 – 49.9 % )- the first Indian agency to have an international tie-up) and TBWA a majority stake in TBWA-Anthem which took place last year with 60-40 ownership.
For the formation of OMD in India, one would assume that all the three creative agencies need to have majority holdings from their international partner, as that is the formula traditionally adopted by OMD in other markets. Considering DDB is a minority holder in Mudra, how OMD International will work this out is still a big question mark. What is clear though, is that the shareholder issues are coming in the way of consensus on the formation of OMD. Some clarity on this issue was given by Swamy, “OMD will come to India in the next few months.”
Internationally, OMD is an established media brand though Optimum Media and Media Direction as entities have been retained under OMD to handle conflicting interests. Media Direction currently functions as OMD’s partner in India, with its P&L separated which guarantees operational independence. Media Direction is also in charge of all OMD’s network client’s in India for recent years like Allianz, Singapore Tourism and Peoplesoft.
How will OMD make a difference to Media Direction?
States Tarkas, “It will make a difference to a limited extent. The big change being access to their international tools and knowhow. But in my experience, I believe that a lot of international tools needs to be tweaked and customised to Indian market realities. So, we are already developing our own indigenous tools.”
One would also assume, that if OMD is formed in the conventional way (which might actually not be the case) Media Direction and Optimum Media Solutions (Mudra’s media agency) will come together to form OMD. In this scenario, Media Direction may then get a significant push as a media agency both in terms of a independent stature as well as being taken more seriously by clients as a media hot-shop.
MAM
Pee Safe launches Comfort Range, signs Smriti Mandhana
#BeInYourComfortZone campaign spotlights hygiene, confidence and ease
MUMBAI: Comfort isn’t a luxury, it’s a power play, and Pee Safe is batting firmly in that direction with a campaign that puts ease front and centre. The brand has rolled out its latest digital video campaign, #BeInYourComfortZone, alongside the launch of its new Comfort Range, while bringing on Smriti Mandhana as brand ambassador. The move ties product innovation with a broader narrative around confidence, positioning comfort not as an afterthought but as a daily essential.
The campaign leans into relatable, everyday moments where discomfort quietly chips away at confidence. Through a storytelling-led approach, it highlights how the right hygiene solutions can restore control and ease turning what is often a private concern into a more open, mainstream conversation. By doing so, the brand also nudges at long-standing taboos around intimate hygiene, framing comfort as both physical and emotional.
At the product level, the Comfort Range includes period panties, night pads, ultra-thin pads and panty liners, designed to cater to different stages of the menstrual cycle. The emphasis is on combining protection with wearability products that promise freshness and reliability without disrupting daily routines.
Mandhana’s association adds a layer of credibility and cultural resonance. Known for her composure under pressure, she mirrors the campaign’s core message: confidence begins with feeling at ease. The choice of ambassador also signals Pee Safe’s intent to connect with a younger, more vocal audience that values both performance and authenticity.
The campaign marks a shift in tone for the category. Instead of focusing purely on functionality, Pee Safe is attempting to reframe hygiene as an enabler of confidence subtle, personal, yet impactful.
In a market often defined by hushed conversations, the brand is turning up the volume just enough to make one point clear: when comfort clicks, confidence follows.
