Leo Burnett India seems to be the shining star in the Leo Burnett network worldwide. The revenues from Indian operations have almost doubled in the last two years and the agency is seeing a healthy growth of 25 per cent this year. The network is set to announce the acquisition of a digital agency in India, following it up with the acquisition of a shopper marketing specialist, further strengthening its position amongst the larger networks here.

Selling financial products has never been easy. Bates141 has taken a different approach to promote Max Bupa Health Insurance by starting a health movement, encouraging people to adopt healthy living by taking a health promise for the ones they love. Read more on the creative plan, the strategy and if it impressed the creative minds...

After rolling out the new global campaign ‘Bacardi Together’ in India a few months ago, it is learnt that Bacardi India is scouting for a creative partner for Bacardi Superior, its white Rum brand. The pitch is currently under process in Delhi and the account size is estimated to be close to Rs 20 crore. Rediffusion Y&R is the incumbent on the account.

Youth seems to be the apple of every marketer’s eye today! In order to appeal to the same TG, Liberty has launched its new ‘youthful’ avatar for its Autumn-Winter collection with Hrithik Roshan as the brand ambassador. The company is spending Rs 6 crore on the campaign that will essentially be print-focused and run from September till November.

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is on the lookout to empanel advertising agencies for handling the publication of its advertisements. The last date for agencies to respond to the proposal is September 23, 2011.

The Indian gaming industry is expected to grow from $198 million in 2010 to $467 million in 2012, a growth rate of about 53 per cent. Even though the growth rates are high, India really needs to change its perception about gaming to achieve true feats, observed experts at the 5th Global summit on media and entertainment industry, Focus 2011.

40 submissions, 3 nominations, no award yet at Oscars for any Indian film in the history of the Academy Awards. It’s not about just a good concept, it’s also about how one promotes it outside. The Government should come forward to support Indian films on international platforms – consented an eminent panel of speakers at Focus 2011.

With the search business of Microsoft being won by Performics globally in January 2011, the performance marketing specialist agency from ZenithOptimedia has formally begun its operations in India too, putting in place its operations in Delhi and Mumbai. The Indian business is estimated to be in the vicinity of Rs 10-12 crores.

Veet has launched a new commercial to promote its two-year old product Veet Wax Strip with new EasyGrip tab to make the task of waxing easier and convenient for women. Euro RSCG has created the new commercial featuring brand ambassador Katrina Kaif, asking girls to pull up their confidence by making the strips a part of their daily beauty regime.

Orient, a group known for its Orient fans, is foraying into the home appliances market in the premium segment with the launch of a new division in this category. It has partnered with Triton Communications to handle the creative and media duties of the newly formed division. Spends on R&D and marketing are estimated to be upwards of Rs 15 crore.

Brand Curry has bagged the creative and media mandates for Ambience Group’s Ambience Mall Gurgaon and Ambience Mall Vasant Kunj. A pitch that was called two months ago saw the participation of four more agencies, including Ignite Mudra, Draftfcb Ulka, Purple Focus and Myoho Creative. Spends are estimated to be in the vicinity of Rs 6-7 crore.

HomeShop18.com has unveiled its new TVC, titled ‘India Shops Online at HomeShop18.com.’ The campaign is an effort of Homeshop18 to fortify its online presence, along with its strong footprints as a television channel. A look at the campaign and what the ad-frat thinks about the creative execution...

Close on the heels of winning the Rs 200-crore Incredible India account, Span Communications has decided to strengthen its digital operations, creating a separate business unit altogether. While Kshitiz Randhir Shori has been brought on board to head the unit, plans are afoot to set up a dedicated digital team in order to expand the bouquet of offerings to clients.

Continuing with the trend of coming up with media innovations that get everyone talking, Volkswagen has kickstarted its campaign for the all new Jetta with a ‘Silver Jacket’ that accompanied dailies like The Times of India and The Hindu on August 29, 2011. Did the activity match up to Volkswagen’s previous campaigns? E4m finds out...

Gurgaon gets its own newspaper dedicated entirely to the city, its people and its culture from today. Friday Gurgaon, a 32-page all colour weekly newspaper has been launched by Arap Media Ventures Ltd, which hits the stands from August 26, 2011.