MUMBAI, FEB 12: After setting up offices in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, Starcom MediaVest Group is planning foray into Nepal and Bangladesh while MindShare, part of the WPP Group is starting its independent operations in Colombo, Sri Lanka. MindShare’s operations in Colombo will be spearheaded by Sunil Manocha, who was earlier with Nimbus Communications.
Meanwhile, Madison Communications is planning to enter Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Dubai by through joint venture route. To tap new opportunities abroad, Indian ad majors are increasingly spreading their wings to neighbouring countries, according to industry analysts.
On the agency’s foray into Sri Lanka, Vikram Sakhuja, managing director, MindShare South Asia, said: "With Sunil Manocha’s entry, we are kickstarting our independent MindShare operations with the aim of bringing integrated communication planning much better leverage of volume consolidation and more accountable returns on marketing investment."
As for Starcom’s foray into Pakistan, Ravi Kiran, CEO-South Asia Starcom MediaVest Group informed that the company will start its operations there within two months.
"We will be setting up offices in multiple cities in Pakistan. Anita Nayyar, managing director-India, North and Pakistan will be heading the Pakistan initiative. After Pakistan, we are planning to enter Nepal and Bangladesh," he added.
Incidentally, Starcom MediaVest began its operations in Sri Lanka from January 24, 2006. The company has recently appointed Sushruta Samanta to head its Sri Lankan operations.
In midst of such hectic activities, the Rs 1,000 crore Madison Communications is readying to enter the neighbouring countries such as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Dubai.
On the agency’s global initiatives, Sam Balsara, chairman and managing director, Madison Communications said: "Ideally, we would like to take the joint venture route to enter these countries. Our objective is to create new opportunities through new geographies and functional areas." The agency plans to foray into healthcare & digital communications and event management in the near future.
