CXO Interview – Page 3

Understanding people is an underestimated business tool: Ajay Dang, UltraTech Cement

"Be interested in what you're doing. Burnout happens when there is drudgery. If you're interested in what you do, then even if you are working hard, it doesn't become a drudgery or lead to burnout," stated Ajay Dang, President and Head of Marketing, UltraTech Cement.

Ajay Dang also feels that talent is overrated, and that it’s hard work and grit that counts.

Know your consumer inside and out, says Arvind Iyer, Piramal Finance

Arvind Iyer, head of marketing, Piramal Finance, said, "There is a nice saying by American composer and economist W. Edwards Deming: In God we trust; all others must bring data. A lot of people in many teams would say that they're not very comfortable having the acumen to interpret data in an analytical form."

For the head of marketing at Piramal Finance, KYC is not a formality to be gone through but something that gives an understanding of the customer’s way of thinking.

State expectations, be clear about outcomes: Roshni Das of Intel

Roshni Das, Vice President, Global Marketing (Innovation) & India Region CMO, Intel Corporation, talks about burnout, her work, the life hacks she swear by and the advice she has for GenZ marketers, in a conversation with Storyboard18.

Plan, set goals and boundaries, adhere to them: Ritu Mittal of Bayer

"I do believe that prioritising well-being is really crucial. Whether it is physical fitness or practices like mindfulness, they enhance personal resilience and fuel creativity and clarity in professional life," states Ritu Mittal, Head - Marketing and Digital at Bayer Consumer Health Division India.

Ritu Mittal, Head – Marketing and Digital at Bayer Consumer Health Division India, in a conversation with Storyboard18, speaks about how to avoid personal and professional burnout, offers some advice to next-gen marketers, and a lot more.

Keep it simple and be rational: Tushar Malhotra, Bisleri International

In a freewheeling interaction with Storyboard18, Tushar Malhotra, Director, Sales & Marketing, Bisleri International, shares tips to avoid personal and professional burnout, imparts life lessons for GenNext marketers coupled with a sneak peek into his weekend routine and a lot more.

Festive forecast: Auto and finance lead the way in digital advertising, says Zenith’s Jai Lala

The CTV increase is more prominent with brands that are catering to metros and affluent audiences, according to Jai Lala, CEO, Zenith India, the media agency of Publicis Groupe.

Digital is increasing at a rate of around 50 percent. says Jai Lala, CEO, Zenith India, the media agency of Publicis Groupe.

As marketers, we must find ways to sell ourselves too: Sujay Rachh, Nuvama Group

"Adding a ‘+1’ is something I consistently try to do. What I mean by that is doing what needs to be done to the tee… but then not stopping at that and always thinking of one additional thing that you can do which has not been asked for but will work wonders. This usually brings a smile to everyone’s face and most importantly, I feel really good about having gone the extra mile. It's very satisfying." Highlighted Sujay Rachh, CMO, Nuvama Group.

In a conversation with Storyboard18, Sujay Rachh also spoke about his go-to creators, his favourite quotes on marketing and leadership, tips to avoid burnout, and a lot more.

Cleartrip’s media spend grows by 15–20% with focus on digital, CTV and impact properties

Talking about her vision for the OTA company, she says, "I’m filling some big shoes, but my biggest vision—and this is shared by the leadership—is that the OTA industry is underserved. If you look at competitors like MakeMyTrip, Agoda or Goibibo, there’s a lot of room for a challenger brand like us to win on experience. Cleartrip loyalists have always preferred us for our smooth, seamless UI (user interface), and I want to build on that."

Cleartrip’s bus ridership growth underlines CMO Tavleen Bhatia’s contention that while air travel is the core business, hotels and buses are showing very strong growth.

Have conversations with the team beyond work: Sai Narayan, Policybazaar

"Gen AI helped us curate tailored content across languages which addressed diverse consumer preferences and needs more effectively. Our team also leveraged AI to process vast datasets which helped us identify emerging trends and optimise our campaigns," Sai Narayan, chief marketing officer, Policybazaar.

Sai Narayan also spoke about keeping it light and infusing humour into everyday situations.

GroupM predicts record festive growth for TV, Digital and OOH

Ashwin Padmanabhan, Chief Operating Officer, GroupM, South Asia says TV and Print are expected to grow at high single digits, driven by investments in non-fiction programming on TV and impactful formats in Print.

Ashwin Padmanabhan, Chief Operating Officer, GroupM, South Asia expects digital media to grow between 15-20% this festive season, and out-of-home (OOH) advertising to see healthy double-digit growth.