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Haleon, the maker of Panadol tablets, Sensodyne toothpaste, Centrum vitamins, and Advil painkillers has launched a global creative agency review, as per an Ad Age report. The aim is to streamline work, which is currently spread across three ad holding companies: WPP, Interpublic Group (IPG), and Publicis Groupe. 

Havas was also named a partner with the launch of Havas Consumer Health. In 2024, the pharmaceutical company named US based Collectively as its principal US influencer marketing partner, and Vistar Media as its partner for  programmatic out-of-home campaigns. 

Haleon in India is a leading fast-moving consumer healthcare company, and its product portfolio spans five major categories - oral health, pain relief, respiratory health, digestive health and vitamins, minerals and supplements (VMS). 

The company's long-standing brands are Sensodyne, Eno, Iodex, Otrivin, Crocin, Polident, Parodontax and Centrum. 

<strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/bhawna-sikka-to-join-adidas-india-as-cmo-exclusive-35702.htm">Bhawna Sikka to join Adidas India as CMO: Exclusive</a>


Haleon initiates a global creative agency review

Publicis Groupe announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Lotame, the world’s leading independent identity solution, in an update on its AI strategy. This acquisition remains subject to customary conditions to closing and is expected to close early in the second quarter of 2025.

A global leader in data, identity and technology, Lotame is home to one of the largest end-to-end data marketplaces in the world, spanning 109 countries. Its proprietary identity solution delivers consistent and relevant addressable audiences built on 100+ data sources and activated through more than 1.6 billion IDs, for over 4,000 of the world’s leading brands and publishers to leverage at scale and with precision. 

The combined data and identity assets of Lotame and Publicis Groupe’s 2.3 billion global profiles will enable clients to reach 91% of adult internet users with personalized messaging at scale with even greater accuracy. Epsilon and Lotame, will put the leadership of identity-driven marketing in the hands of all its clients. 

Led by Founder and CEO Andy Monfried, Lotame will be positioned as part of Epsilon, accessible to all Publicis clients and teams to enhance their ability to deliver personalized marketing services at scale. 

Arthur Sadoun, Chairman and CEO Publicis Groupe commented: “In the age of AI, the name of the game is connect or die. By connecting Lotame to Epsilon, we’re reinforcing our industry-leading identity graph,  giving clients the unique competitive advantage of seeing and engaging with 91% of all adults who use the internet, safely and transparently.

By connecting that best-in-class identity to our clients’ data thanks to AI, and leveraging it across their marketing spectrum, from their PESO media ecosystem to content production, all in their owned environments, we are truly delivering measurable outcomes for their business. 

It’s how we are making CoreAI a reality, and how we’ve built a category of one for Publicis that means today we are the world’s largest advertising group, leading the industry on every KPI.  

As we continue to invest in the products, services and talent that drive differentiation and growth for our clients, I couldn’t be happier to welcome Andy and the outstanding teams at Lotame on board.”

Andy Monfried, Lotame CEO said: “We have a rich history of innovation, building out our global data marketplace and scaling our identity solution to become among the most trusted and adopted in the industry. We are beyond thrilled to join Publicis Groupe, who shares our commitment to industry interoperability, connectivity, and privacy. Together with Epsilon, we look forward to delivering the next chapter of connected identity for Publicis.” 

Publicis to acquire data and ID technology group Lotame

French advertising giant Publicis Groupe has announced its plans to acquire Influential, one of the largest influencer agencies, in a $500 million deal. This acquisition aims to enhance Publicis' ability to connect brands with their target audiences through strategic influencer campaigns. Las Vegas-based Influential was co-founded in 2013 by Ryan Detert, who will continue as Influential's CEO at Publicis.

Influential operates a proprietary AI-driven platform powered by over 100 billion data points. The company has a vast network of more than 3.5 million creators, encompassing 90% of global influencers with over one million followers. Influential’s roster of 300 clients includes Google, AB InBev, Amazon, McDonald’s, and General Mills.

Arthur Sadoun, CEO of Publicis Groupe, said, “Beyond its proprietary AI-powered platform, 100 billion data points, unrivaled network of over 3 million creators, and access to 90% of influencers with over one million followers, Influential is, above all, an outstanding team of talent at the cutting edge of their sector.”

Sadoun further added, “With the new creator economy set to exceed linear TV in ad spend next year, thanks to Influential, we are able to fully embrace its outsized influence and put it at the service of all of our clients.”

According to a report from Citigroup, the creator economy was estimated to be worth $66.2 billion in 2023, a number projected to hit $74 billion this year. Meanwhile, ad spend on social media is expected to outpace broadcast and cable TV ad spend by next year.

According to the company’s financial reports, Influential generated an estimated $150 million in revenue last year, up from $100 million in 2022. In recent years, it has devised influencer-marketing campaigns for advertisers including Hilton, Walt Disney Co.’s Hulu, and McDonald’s.

Influential CEO Ryan Detert expressed his enthusiasm about the acquisition, saying, “I am thrilled for Influential to join Publicis Groupe – the world’s highest performing and most innovative holding company. We look forward to combining our complementary capabilities and technology to deliver unparalleled influencer identification, content creation, amplification, and measurement for our clients – and to defining the next era of influencer marketing together.”

Publicis Groupe to acquire Influential for $500 million

Publicis Groupe has launched a Creative Council for South Asia. This Council will channelise capabilities across creative, data, media, and technology to create progressive, modern, purposeful work for the network.

Rajdeepak Das, CEO and CCO of Leo Burnett South Asia, in addition to his current role will be the Chairman of this Creative Council, South Asia. Das will lead the overall creative direction, product, and thinking for the Groupe. 

Commenting on the development, Anupriya Acharya, South Asia CEO, Publicis Groupe said, “At Publicis Groupe, we have a tremendous roster of brands, scaled capabilities across design, experience, data and technology, the finest talent pool and the Power of One. There is no better time than now to bring all these together and partner our clients in building truly Epic Work and Epic Brands. Rajdeepak who apart from being a dynamic and gifted Creative Leader, has been the force behind many famous, iconic campaigns for leading brands and has pivoted Leo Burnett India to top position among creative agencies in the country today;  he was but a natural choice for this role.”

Das added, “It’s an honour to lead The Creative Council for Publicis Groupe South Asia. The Council will use the power of brand purpose and new-age creativity to bring positive impact to people’s lives. The Council will help pedigreed brands to collaborate closely with the world-class talent of the Groupe. I can’t wait to get started and look forward to leading a power-packed Council that is going to create next-generation solutions.”
 
Das has led some of the most interesting creative projects and brand campaigns in India, from saving India’s biggest national treasure, the INS Vikrant warship with the help of Bajaj,  to being part of  ‘Roads That Honk’, the world’s first anti-collusion road management system for Hindustan Petroleum, to creating India’s first micro-financing system. More recently, Das’s work for Whisper ‘Keep Girls In School’ won Leo Burnett India & P&G a Cannes Lions Grand Prix in Sustainable Development Goals. The agency also won the title of ‘Creative Agency Of The Year’ at The One Show Abby Awards, Goafest ’22. 

Das has more than 100 international awards to his name such as The One Show, D&AD and Spikes. He was the only creative head featured in the popular Netflix series ‘The Creative Indians Season 4.’

In his words, Das’s biggest creation till date is Apollo 11, a specialised division of Leo Burnett India or what he refers to as ‘The Mutant Creatives.’ This is a team of hugely talented young people in their 20’s with backgrounds such as aerospace engineers, product designers, data analytics and environmental scientists, who solve brand and human problems with him. His focus is on new-age brand solutions, and he believes “Only way to predict the future is to build it yourself.”




Rajdeepak Das to spearhead Publicis Groupe's new Creative Council for South Asia

In conversation with Publicis Groupe's Anupriya Acharya

Full-service communications agency, L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, which is a part of the Publicis Groupe, has bagged the creative mandate of the recently launched low-cost airline, Akasa Air. 

The account will be managed by the agency’s Mumbai office. L&K Saatchi & Saatchi will work on strategic and creative initiatives for the airline. This would include developing brand and tactical communication for above-the-line and below-the-line campaigns. The agency will also look into developing brand communication pieces, and creatives for the launch and sustenance phases. They will involve in designing brand identity applications across mediums too.

Belson Coutinho, co-founder and chief marketing and experience officer, Akasa Air, said, “We are on a journey to build India’s most dependable and affordable airline that delivers warm, reliable and efficient service. Hence it is inevitable to have our communication strategy that complements both the brand promise and our actual delivery on ground.”

Commenting on the development, Paritosh Srivastava, chief executive officer, L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, further added, “Aviation is a tough business, and everyone involved has to bring their best game to the table. We will try everything in our power to contribute to Akasa’s success in the time to come. We believe we are not an agency for Akasa; we feel a sense of ownership, and treat this as our own business.” 


PUBLICIS GROUPE