IndiaCSR News Network
LONDON: The joint efforts of HIRA Group, India’s leading steel maker and Brands of Desire, Asia’s leading brand strategy and design company, were recognised and honoured at the Communicate magazine’s Transform Awards Europe. HIRA Group and Brands of Desire jointly won a BRONZE award in the “Best Brand Consolidation Category” for the group wide rebranding exercise of HIRA Group in 2013.
Earlier this year, HIRA Group and TATA Power DDL had become the only Indian rebranding projects to be nominated for awards in this year’s Transform Awards Europe. TATA Power DDL won the ‘Highly Commended’ award at the ceremony for ‘Best External Relations During a Rebrand’. Brands of Desire had done the rebranding for both the companies in 2013. HIRA Group faced stiff competition in its category from entries around the world, with companies like London Stock Exchange and ITV posing a stiff challenge.
Established by Communicate magazine, the Transform Awards Europe has recognised excellence in brand development since 2010. The programme is the industry benchmark for brand evolution, brand development and brand transformations. The awards were handed out at a gala dinner at The Brewery in London, which was hosted by Alastair Campbell. Each of the entries were judged by a panel of experienced in-house practitioners, branding experts and journalists from companies including Barclaycard, Bauer Media and FIFA.
B.L. Agrawal, Managing Director at HIRA Group said: “Rebranding HIRA Group has been one of the most important changes for our organization as we look forward to our growth in the next 10 years. We managed to bring all the companies in our group under the unified identity of HIRA including our flagship company, Godawari Power and Ispat Limited, which is listed on the NSE and BSE. Getting recognized for our rebranding efforts by the best in the business worldwide, is special for us and a reason to celebrate. It encourages us to take our brand even more seriously as we take scientific steps in enhancing our brand equity.”
Saurabh Uboweja, Chief Executive at Brands of Desire said: “It is a remarkable achievement for the nascent Indian rebranding industry today. We were competing against the best rebranding projects globally, worked on by some of the world’s leading brand consultancies like Interbrand and Lippincott. Getting recognition for our work in the European heartland of branding is incredible and being the only Indian brand consultancy to be awarded is even more special”.
Liz Foggitt, publishing and events manager from Communicate magazine said: “Your brand is your reputation so it’s important to get it right. Tonight has proven that everyone on the Transform Awards shortlist got it spot on. The winners of the Transform Awards are leading the way in brand development and communications. Congratulations to all the winners – every one of you is setting the standard of what brand communications should be.”
Abhinav Kumar, Chief Communications & Marketing Officer at Tata Consultancy Services, and Transform judge, has this to say about 2014’s award entries: “There were several absolutely excellent entries this year, which is testament to the quality and growing prestige of the Transform Awards. There were several notable entries from companies like Unify, Eurostar, English National Ballet, Lloyds Bank, Allegion etc.
