At a time when most creative agencies are recalibrating their expenses and therefore the Cannes strategy too, FCB Group India’s whole leadership was there at the festival enjoying the celebrations and getting together with industry peers. While the group has managed to win only one silver metal this year, out of the modest 18-metal haul of the country at the Oscars of the advertising world, the team spirits remained up and motivation high.
Speaking to Neeta Nair, Editor, IMPACT, Dheeraj Sinha, Group CEO, FCB Group India & South Asia noted, “What we are building is something much bigger. Of course we want the Cannes but we are not chasing it. We want to do good work, great work for big brands which float into the culture, and which people feel should win.”
On being asked what is on the FCB Group India’s agenda, apart from winning the Lions at Cannes Lions this year, Sinha responded, “We are using Cannes – where great ideas are being celebrated and the future of our businesses is being discussed – as a backdrop for our leadership team to get together and think about our strategies for the future. We are also building our chemistry with the FCB global team here. So, overall, the whole idea was to come here, celebrate creativity and the future of our business – learn from that and go back and implement.”
The tribe also cheered loudly for Rohan Mehta and Chandni Shah, the founding brains behind FCB Kinnect – the agency which picked the only metal for FCB Group India. They won it for their work on HDFC Bank with the ‘Vigil Aunty’ campaign.
Ashima Mehra, CEO, FCB India said, “I am very proud of Rohan and Chandni for winning at Cannes and that too for their work on the number one private bank in India. I think if you could do some real work on real brands that matter, that is the most encouraging thing to be a part of this group.”
Reacting to the big wins, Rohan Mehta, CEO, FCB Kinnect & FCB/SIX India quipped, “We were very confident of the work that we have been doing for HDFC. It has been an investment of two and a half years on our part. We have put in work that has changed behaviours and solved a problem of fighting frauds. And then to win on a global stage is just icing on the cake.
Chandni Shah, COO, FCB Kinnect added, “HDFC is a seven year old relationship and we are really excited that we have managed to do work that has become very popular. Vigil Aunty has been three years in the making. And the best part is that the brand is here to celebrate with us.”
