Carat India bags media duties for Columbia Asia Hospitals

The account was awarded following a multi-agency pitch.

Columbia Asia Hospitals, an international healthcare Group operating a chain of hospitals across Asia, has awarded its integrated media mandate for its hospitals in India to Carat India, the media agency from Dentsu Aegis Network. The account will be handled from the agency's Bengaluru office. This win comes on the back of Carat's Mondelez account win recently.

Commenting on the partnership, Vinay Kaul, vice-president, sales and marketing, Columbia Asia Hospitals, says, "Carat came across as an agency that focusses on finding communications solutions, while keeping business challenges at the centre. We wish Carat all the best as we embark on an exciting journey together."

Kartik Iyer, managing director, Carat India, says, "As we move forward, our goal is to create unique industry benchmarks for our clients. We are happy to be associated with Columbia Asia Hospitals and look forward to a long-lasting and fruitful partnership with them. We also look forward to bring in our past experience in healthcare communications to bear on this premium relationship we are getting into."

Joydeep Raha, executive vice-president, Carat South, adds, "The brief that the client has given us is very challenging. While there are huge opportunities within the healthcare industry, a set of very unique challenges also plague this unique category. Our task at hand, therefore, is to fight those challenges and position Columbia Asia as a leading healthcare destination with the mission to deliver the best clinical outcomes in the most effective, efficient and caring environment."

Columbia Asia is one of the first healthcare companies to enter India through the 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) route. In India, the hospital chain is currently present across Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Mysore, Kolkata, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, Patiala, and Pune.

In India, Dentsu Aegis Network is supported through its seven global network brands namely Carat, iProspect, Isobar, Posterscope, Vizeum, Fountainhead MKTG, Amnet, and the Dentsu branded agencies - Dentsu Creative Impact, Dentsu Marcom, Dentsu Communications, Dentsu Media, Taproot Dentsu and Dentsu Webchutney. Newly added to the Group are the recently acquired brands Milestone Brandcom, WATConsult and Fountainhead.