MAM
Wipro is title sponsor of San Francisco Marathon 2012
NEW DELHI: Wipro Technologies is the title sponsor of the San Francisco Marathon (TSFM) 2012.
In addition to being the title sponsor of the 2012 Marathon, Wipro will provide consulting and technology recommendations to TSFM to enhance user and participant experience. The recommendations are based on research Wipro did with local running communities and athletes, to better understand their needs. The services include enhancing the Marathon’s existing web pages with video based content from local experts. The videos will cover inspirational local stories of determination and courage, tips for optimal performance, nutrition, running and event-specific tutorials.
In 2011, Wipro began its partnership with TSFM as a ‘Presenting Sponsor’ of the race. The San Francisco Marathon has been known as the “tech marathon,” offering cutting edge technology resources including runner and spectator mapping and tracking to participants, as well as virtual couponing and high tech apparel.
In May 2012, Wipro will launch its first corporate iPhone app which will include a “Sport” feature.
The app will include details on all Wipro sponsored Marathons, including The Wipro San Francisco Marathon and can be used by runners train for the marathon by using the in-built digital pedometer.
Rahul Kadavakolu, head – global field marketing & branding at Wipro Technologies, said: “As a global leader in information technology with strong ties to the Bay Area community, Wipro is proud to sponsor The Wipro San Francisco Marathon – a landmark event that showcases the inspiring stories of dedicated athletes from around the world. Sport has always had the ability to transcend language and cultural barriers to inspire a universal connection. Wipro recognizes the tremendous opportunity in harnessing the power of sports – It’s a great platform to engage your customers and employees, in a more direct way and give back to the community.
To further promote participation in the race, Wipro will present the inaugural Wipro Team Challenge at this year’s marathon. The Wipro Team Challenge is a new addition to TSFM that not only tests endurance, but also celebrates team spirit.
The 35th annual Wipro San Francisco Marathon will take place on 29 July in San Francisco, California.
The first marathon held in San Francisco was run in 1977 and has since evolved into one of the most celebrated and challenging urban road races in the United States, with over 2,000 of the 25,000 participants traveling from around the world, to be part of the event. It is also a fundraising event which has generated about $11 million for charitable causes since 2002.
The Wipro San Francisco Marathon is rated one of the top marathons in the US, is the largest marathon in Northern California, the 13th largest marathon in the US and is a qualifying race for the Boston Marathon. In 2011, TSFM runners raised more than $250,000 for charitable organisations such as such as The Nature Conservancy, The National MS Society,Train for Autism and The ‘Shanti Project’.
Wipro San Francisco race director Pamela Madigan said, “TSFM and Wipro’s unique partnership showcases the spirit of camaraderie that the Marathon embodies. Through this alliance, we can achieve the technology and charitable goals that we’ve set for ourselves.”
MAM
VML India lands two finalist spots at Cairns Hatchlings 2026
The Mumbai agency is back in Australia with two teams, a UN brief and 24 hours to impress
MUMBAI: VML India is heading to Australia again. The Mumbai-based creative agency has secured two finalist spots at the Cairns Hatchlings 2026 competition, one in the Audio category and one in Design, making it the only Indian agency to have reached the finals in both editions of the contest since its launch in 2025.
Four people will make the trip. Senior copywriter Shilpi Dey and senior art director Raj Thakkar will compete in Audio. Art directors Shabbir and Shruti Negi will go head-to-head with the world’s best in Design. The finals take place at the Cairns Convention Centre from 13th May, culminating in an awards ceremony on 15th May.
The work that got them there is worth examining. For the Audio category, Dey and Thakkar tackled a brief for LIVE LIKE MMAD with a campaign called Inner Voice, Interrupted. Using spatial audio techniques, the campaign recreates the overwhelming self-doubt that descends after a long workday, physically panning negative thoughts left and right before cutting the noise entirely to reveal a confident inner voice. Strategically targeted at commuters via Spotify during evening rush hours, the campaign reframes the hours after work as an opportunity for personal growth and charitable action.
For the Design category, Shabbir and Negi worked on a brief for Canteen’s Bandanna Day, a campaign highlighting how cancer pushes teenagers out of their own defining moments. Using a pixelated design language to create stark contrast between a blurred world of isolation and a focused world of connection, the campaign, titled The Flipside of Cancer, shows teenagers fading into the background of birthdays, skateparks and school proms. As a Canteen bandanna appears, the blur flips and the teenager snaps back into sharp focus.
Kalpesh Patankar, group chief creative officer of VML India, made no attempt to disguise his satisfaction. “We are immensely proud to see our teams consistently excel on the Cairns Hatchlings platform since its inception,” he said. “They have masterfully tackled challenging briefs across diverse categories, demonstrating both layered storytelling and a unique creative approach. This exceptional teamwork is truly inspiring.”
Dey and Thakkar, returning to the finals after last year’s run, were candid about the demands of the audio medium. “It’s one of the most demanding mediums, where we only have a few seconds to capture a listener’s world with sound alone, so absolute clarity is essential,” they said. “The true measure of creative work is its ability to create positive change, and our audio submission was made to help those who need it most while encouraging people to silence the inner voices that hold them back.”
Shabbir and Negi, competing in Design for the first time, described the experience as “a completely different beast.” “We see it as an opportunity to showcase our expertise, raise the bar, and challenge ourselves in new ways, while also learning from creative minds from across the globe,” they said.
In Australia, the four finalists will face a live 24-hour brief from the United Nations before presenting in a live pitch session. Twenty-four hours, one brief, one shot. VML India has been here before. It knows exactly what is at stake.
