MAM
MindShare takes ‘mostest’ at Emvies 2005; Sony adjudged best marketer
MUMBAI: It was Champagne popping time for Group M’s MindShare, which swept the most awards by far at the Emvies 2005 that were held in Mumbai this evening. It was crowned Media Agency of the Year with a total of 70 points bagging five golds and four silvers.
Second in command were Lodestar Media and O&M with 30 points each. The former bagged two golds and three silvers, while the latter notched three golds.
Group M South Asia CEO Ashutosh Srivastava said, “The agency has truly been recognised for the depth of its work. A lot of people say that since we have the highest volume of business, we would tend to be the agency of the year but it’s interesting that there were a couple of agencies, which had more entries than MindShare.”
MindShare had a total of 50 entries while Madison had 60. The total number of entries that the Ad Club received were 264, out of which 37 were shortlisted. MindShare laid claim to 11 of the 37 shortlisted entries. Even more heartening was the fact that nine out of the 11 won awards.
An elated MindShare South Asia managing director Vikram Sakhuja says, “Clearly this victory is for the MindShare team, with the activation, ATG, Digital and various other units functioning in perfect synergy. I know how difficult team work is and when it happens it is truly commendable.”
When queried by Indiantelevision.com as to how they managed to make a clean sweep, Sakhuja candidly retorts, “We prepared very hard. Our written and oral presentation this time round was excellent. Last year, we didn’t pay attention to detail, which we ensured this year.”
He further added, “It is good clients that lift our game. It is only with their support and proactivity that quality can take an upper hand.”
Sony Entertainment Television (SET) India and Living Media India Ltd were adjudged the best media marketers of the year. SET India business head and executive vice-president Tarun Katial says, “It’s a credit to a great team including our agencies – Euro RSCG, Mediacom and Genesis. Also due credit goes to Sunil (Lulla now with the Times group) and Albert (Almeida business head of Max). We hope to keep this going and raise the bar each year.”
The Grand Emvies was bagged by Mediacom. The agency also bagged the Gold for the Best Media Research Award for Aviva Life Insurance and the Tam Award for the Best TV Research.
Madison Communications clinched the Best Case Study presentation (People’s Choice Award) for Nirvana Plus – The End of Reach.
For Best Media Strategy, in the category Best Media Innovation – Never Used Before Media; Lodestar Media won for the Club Mahindra (Mobile Holiday Rajdhani Express).
Interestingly, Starcom and Madison figured nowhere in the Top 8 agencies rated by the Ad Club. Lintas Media Group, on the other hand, didn’t participate in the Emvies this year.
The Awards were charged with enthusiasm, excitement and energy with hooting, drumrolls and live sirens. Building the tempo for the anxious media professionals was the emcee for the evening – the very suave and eloquent radio jockey Brian Tellis. With his energetic style he managed to lead the crowd of media professionals into a frenzy.
With a tally of 15 points, rmg David stood fourth, whereas SET India, Living Media India LTD, Mediacom and Maxus were all tied at the fifth spot with 10 points each.
Two acts were also performed at the Emvies, the first being a play called – Two to Tango produced by Rael Padamsee, which was a comedy revolving around the life of a married couple and the complexities of male and female incompatibilities. The second act was ‘apna’ Indian Idol Abhijeet Sawant who made the audience croon to his tunes.
MAM
WPP explores sale of flagship PR agency Burson
Advertising giant considers exit from public relations amid restructuring drive.
MUMBAI: WPP is reportedly preparing to spin a new chapter by potentially spinning off one of its oldest storytellers. The British advertising and marketing services group is exploring a possible sale of its public relations arm Burson, with advisers at Goldman Sachs reviewing strategic options, according to a report by The Times. The move, if completed, would mark a near-complete exit from the PR sector for WPP and represent the first significant disposal under chief executive Cindy Rose, who is leading a broader effort to simplify the company’s structure and restore growth.
Burson was formed in 2024 through the merger of BCW and Hill & Knowlton. It employs around 6,000 people globally and forms the core of WPP’s remaining PR operations. A sale would follow the earlier divestment of a majority stake in FGS Global to KKR, a deal that valued that business at £1.3 billion.
The review comes as WPP continues to face pressure on its financial performance. In 2025, the company’s PR segment generated £667 million in revenue less pass-through costs, reflecting a 6.0 per cent like-for-like decline, and delivered £102 million in headline operating profit. The division has shrunk considerably after the FGS Global disposal in late 2024.
WPP reported full-year revenue of £13.55 billion in 2025, down 8.1 per cent on a reported basis, while headline operating profit fell 22.6 per cent and margins dropped to 13.0 per cent.
Rose’s Elevate28 strategy aims to move the company away from a traditional holding company model towards a more integrated organisation built around four divisions: media, creative, production, and enterprise solutions. The plan also targets £500 million in cost savings by 2028.
Both WPP and Goldman Sachs declined to comment on the report.
The advertising industry has seen growing speculation about the future of large publicly traded PR firms, with similar rumours swirling around Weber Shandwick and potential private equity interest in management buyouts. However, finding a suitable buyer for a large global legacy PR business remains a key challenge.
In the fast-changing world of marketing and communications, WPP appears keen to streamline its narrative and selling Burson could be the next dramatic plot twist in its transformation story.
