MAM
Taproot launches new division TRIP
MUMBAI: Taproot is launching a new division, Taproot India Plus (TRIP).
TRIP, headed by Purushottam Joshi, will handle creative execution and services, specialising in non – mass media and production activities for the advertising, publicity and marketing industry.
The new division will be based out of Mumbai but the agency’s multi city network tie ups will support national level requirements too.
Joshi, a partner in TRIP, will be leading it as a director and will be the face of this unit with an experienced team under him.
Joshi said, “There is a disconnect between what kind of state-of-the-art technology available in the market versus what’s being used or rather how it‘s being used to reach consumers. In fact he is positive that ventures like TRIP can bridge the divide between brands and consumer across non mass-media touch points in a more relevant and effective way”
The division will not only talk about the standard BTL but every single experience point where a brand has a connect with its consumer, for example POS, brand signage, in-shop displays, merchandise, exhibitions and events.
Taproot India co-founder Santosh Padhi said, “The industry spends on retail / on-ground/ merchandise are already steep but sadly, the quality needs to improve much more to honestly justify those spends. The industry has moved ahead quite a bit on film production in last five years with our television work looking far better than what it was a decade back. But we are yet to do the same in other areas”.
Taproot India chief creative officer Agnello Dias added, “This sort of service does exist in international markets where once the big idea is arrived at, the creative services execution team, with their practical knowledge of on-ground and retail space takes the idea forward in a more engaging, entertaining and effective way. To the extent that at times most clients do brief these set of team independently like one does to a research or a digital agency”.
Joshi has over 25 years of experience in the advertising and print industry. He has worked in agency networks such as JWT, Euro RSCG and Mudra.
MAM
PNB Metlife bowls ‘Always Ready for Life’ with Smriti Mandhana
New positioning tackles 91 per cent protection gap plus ageing India’s 230 million seniors by 2036.
MUMBAI: When life throws a googly, PNB Metlife wants you padded up and ready not scrambling for cover. The insurer has unveiled its fresh brand positioning, ‘Always Ready for Life’, fronted by cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, to spark real conversations about insurance and financial planning at every stage of the journey.
India’s life protection gap remains a stark 91 per cent meaning for every Rs 100 needed to secure families financially, only Rs 9 is covered. At the same time, the elderly population (60 plus) is projected to swell to around 230 million by 2036, roughly 15 per cent of the total population. The campaign underlines PNB Metlife’s holistic take on security, urging Indians to build clarity and confidence around retirement, child education and long-term goals.
PNB Metlife chief marketing & communications officer Sourabh Lohtia said, “There is a unique sense of freedom that comes when careful financial preparation meets present-day opportunities. With this campaign, we want to show that being prepared helps people focus on what truly matters. Financial growth and security are achievable and PNB MetLife wants to support Indians by helping to simplify financial planning, turning every future milestone into something to look forward to.”
The brand ambassador Smriti Mandhana drew a neat parallel, “As a cricketer, we study the pitch, understand opposition, and assess the situation before every match. Life works similarly, staying prepared for every goal or situation is essential, and financial readiness plays a key role in that. Life insurance helps build that strong foundation at every life stage whether we are achieving big dreams, starting a family, buying a home, or planning for a comfortable retirement.”
The push targets millennials and younger audiences through Mandhana’s appeal, rolling out across television, Youtube, Meta platforms, OTT, Google Display and high-visibility outdoor sites. In a country where life can change as quickly as a T20 over, PNB Metlife is betting that preparation not panic is the real winning shot.
