CXO Interview – Page 18

Watch out Ajay Gupte and Amin Lakhani, says EssenceMediacom CEO Navin Khemka

“In the first six months from a new business point of view, I think we would have converted almost $70 to $80 million worth of new business, which is almost like Rs 700-800 crore worth of new business already converted." - Navin Khemka, CEO at EssenceMediacom South Asia

Navin Khemka, CEO of EssenceMediacom, South Asia, shares his ambition of becoming the top media agency under GroupM in an exclusive TV chat with CNBC TV18. He feels there is very healthy competition within the top three GroupM agencies – Mindshare, Wavemaker, and EssenceMediacom. Speaking about the new agency, he said, “In the first six months from a new business point of view, I think we would have converted almost $70 to $80 million worth of new business, which is almost like Rs 700-800 crore worth of new business already converted.”

“We will scale our organics portfolio in a short time”: Amul’s Jayen Mehta

"It's a very interesting time for not only doing what we've been doing at Amul but also building something new which will be even bigger and more lasting in times to come." - Jayen Mehta.

GCMMF’s managing director in-charge, Jayen Mehta, spoke about Amul’s vision to become a complete foods brand with special focus on creating an affordable range of organic products and associating with sports to promote health and nutrition. In the cricket Asia Cup, Amul was doing promotions on the ground and television. For Women’s IPL, the brand was the beverage partner for three years. Amul has plans to tie up with teams for the cricket World Cup too.

Sales of Mercedes-Benz’s top-end vehicles led to 54 percent growth in H1: Santosh Iyer

Santosh Iyer, Mercedes-Benz India CEO

The managing director and CEO of the German luxury car maker spoke about the evolving Indian buyer and how a change in demographics and economic shift are leading to further growth.

PepsiCo’s Aastha Bhasin: Marketing keeps you curious throughout life

Aastha Bhasin, category lead - Kurkure, PepsiCo India, "We are in the digital age where we are exposed to a lot more information that is both positive and negative, and it generates reactions of equal measure to what you put out. That’s why I think it’s important for us to really create an endearing and secure environment with friends, colleagues and yourself, which goes beyond the social walls."

In a wide-ranging interview, the Kurkure category lead at PepsiCo India opened up on many subjects, including the lighter side of life. Aastha Bhasin said people need to chill out more and stop being serious all the time.

Pooja Sahgal and Shriram Parthasarathy share insights on creativity and marketing post Covid

Shriram Parthasarathy (left), head - digital media marketing and social media marketing lead - India, at Microsoft and Pooja Sahgal (right), CMO and R&D Head at Raymond Consumer Care

Pooja Sahgal, CMO and R&D Head at Raymond Consumer Care and Shriram Parthasarathy, Head – Digital Media Marketing and Social Media Marketing Lead – India at Microsoft talk about creativity during Storyboard18 YoungGuns.

WPP’s CEO Mark Read: When the hype around AI declines, that’s when we still need to invest

Mark Read, CEO, WPP, says, "AI is fundamental to WPP’s business in the future and it has been in some ways for some years in our media business and in our production business. What's changed with generative AI, we've seen the ability for computers to do things that we thought only humans could do. Produce images, take photos, create videos, write copy and poems - all of those things that our creative people do."

WPP could double the size of the business in India in the next five years, said CEO Mark Read, as he shared his views on AI, the hype around the technology, AI’s impact in elections and elections’ impact on advertising. In an interview with Storyboard18, Read also spoke about India on the global stage: “India is the world’s most populous country, the world’s fifth biggest economy, heading to be the world’s third biggest economy. In a time of some turmoil in global relations, it is great to see India taking a lead.”

WPP CEO Mark Read’s ambition to double the size of India business in 5 years

Mark Read stated that WPP sees AI as an opportunity rather than a danger, and that AI would complement, not replace, human innovation.

WPP’s chief executive officer Mark Read on India’s global clout and the market’s importance in WPP’s scheme of things.

What’s driving growth for the $9 billion Kohler company?

David Kohler, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Kohler Company.

David Kohler, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Kohler Company, speaks on India’s decade, the luxury market, path to sustainability, golf and more.

Max Life Insurance fields Rohit Sharma, Ritika Sajdeh to win ‘trust’

"AI will continue to grow in influence as we move forward and enable BFSI as an industry to deliver experiences that delight and differentiate themselves to their consumers," Rahul Talwar, chief marketing officer, Max Life Insurance. (Image: Stills from the ad)

Rahul Talwar, chief marketing officer, Max Life Insurance, shares the strategies behind the making of the brand’s new ad campaign, why they chose the celebrity couple, and plans for the festive quarter.

Hate the idea of having an opinion about everything. That’s my magic mental mantra: Samriddh Dasgupta

Samriddh Dasgupta began his career as the director of strategic planning at abm communication, and went on to work across Times Internet, Xynteo, Aakash Digital, AKIVA, and Bombay Shaving Company.

In our newest Weekender column, we spoke to Heads Up for Tails’ CMO who said that with non-toxicity, only a personal commitment (from management) can translate into a corporate commitment.