ITV

Category: MAM

  • Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages launches PET-free Rath Yatra drive with Puri Municipality and NGOs

    Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages launches PET-free Rath Yatra drive with Puri Municipality and NGOs

    MUMBAI: In a city where devotion spills into the streets each year, this time the bottles won’t. Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB) in partnership with Puri Municipality and several civic bodies has flagged off the ‘Used PET Bottle-Free Rath Yatra 2025’ initiative to tackle plastic waste during the iconic annual chariot festival in Puri, Odisha.

    The campaign was formally unveiled on 16 June in the presence of Hon’ble deputy chief minister of Odisha Parida; Minister of Housing and Urban Development Krushna Chandra Mahapatra; and other senior officials including Puri Municipality executive officer Satyabrata Sahu (ACS) and Abhimanyu Behera.

    Targeting the swelling crowds expected between June 27 and July 5, the effort builds on the momentum of last year’s drive, aiming to significantly reduce plastic litter with city-wide collection and public engagement. The programme will deploy more than 180 trained volunteers and install 200 PET collection bins across high-footfall areas like Swargadwar Beach, Puri Railway Station, and Badasankha.

    “At HCCB, we believe real change happens when businesses, communities, and the government come together to work towards one goal. The Rath Yatra brings together people from all over the country, and with that comes a shared responsibility to care for the city that hosts them. Through our ‘Green Sweep’ initiative this year, we will be working closely with civic partners to set up strategic collection points, deploy trained volunteers, and introduce creative engagement tools like street plays to raise awareness. We’re proud to be part of this effort alongside Anandana, The Coca-Cola India Foundation, the Odisha government and aim to make the Puri Rath Yatra free of used PET bottles”, said HCCB chief public affairs and sustainability officer Himanshu Priyadarshi.

    The project is being executed in collaboration with Anandana (The Coca-Cola India Foundation), the Odisha Development Management Programme (ODMP), and the Y4D Foundation. The municipal partnership includes awareness-building drives like plogging activities and a PET collection rally held earlier this month. These efforts aim to educate locals and tourists on responsible PET disposal and segregation.

    “Managing plastic waste during high-footfall events like the Rath Yatra in Puri is a shared responsibility and requires collective action. Through PET collection points, volunteer-led engagement, and awareness outreach, we are humbled to play a role in making responsible disposal easier and more accessible for everyone attending”, said Coca-Cola India and southwest Asia VP, public affairs, communications, sustainability Devyani R L Rana.

    The initiative will also feature live street plays and help desks manned by trained vendors to ensure correct usage of the disposal infrastructure, especially in temple zones and beach areas. Volunteers will double as on-ground educators, encouraging visitors to sort their used bottles correctly into designated PET bins.

    The campaign officially flags off on 26 June, a day before the main festival begins, and underscores a rare feat—blending religious fervour with environmental action. If successful, it may just inspire more pilgrimages to go plastic-free.

  • Foxtale launches ‘No Fox Given’ comedy night to tackle stereotypes with punchlines, not platitudes

    Foxtale launches ‘No Fox Given’ comedy night to tackle stereotypes with punchlines, not platitudes

    MUMBAI: When skincare meets stand-up, you know someone’s rewriting the script—and Foxtale just did. The homegrown beauty brand has taken its boldest leap yet with No Fox Given, a no-holds-barred comedy experience aimed at Indian women, launching 27 June 2025 at Balgandharva Rang Mandir in Bandra, Mumbai.

    This isn’t a product plug in disguise. No Fox Given blends biting humour, candid conversation and unapologetic storytelling to call out the everyday judgments women face—from what they wear to how loudly they laugh. Foxtale is turning that noise into laughter and, in the process, building a stage that doubles as a megaphone.

    Taking the mic for the debut show are two names that need no introduction on the Indian comedy circuit. Swati Sachdeva, known for her brutally honest humour and viral reels, joins Shashi Dhiman, whose razor wit spotlights the many contradictions of womanhood in India. Together, they promise a night packed with truth bombs and belly laughs.

    “When women experience No Fox Given, I want them to shed the weight of expectations, judgment, and pressure that often come with simply existing as a woman”, said Foxtale founder & CEO Romita Mazumdar. “This isn’t just an event — it’s a statement. A cultural platform that reflects our brand’s purpose: to champion real voices and spark real conversations. Our hope is for No Fox Given to evolve into a cultural touchstone that continues to grow, year after year”.

    With tickets starting at Rs 499 on District, the show is targeted at Gen Z and millennial audiences who prefer unfiltered storytelling to picture-perfect campaigns. In a world where digital ‘likes’ don’t always translate to real connection, Foxtale is betting on the ancient power of laughter—live and unedited.

    “Building a brand today means showing up with purpose, not just products. No Fox Given is our response to the cultural and emotional realities our audience navigates every day. Comedy, when rooted in truth, becomes a powerful connector. This initiative turns consumer insight into a scalable cultural platform — one that celebrates identity, encourages self-expression, and moves the conversation forward”, said Foxtale CSO Anindita Biswas.

    The event marks Foxtale’s evolution from a skincare brand into a culture-shaping platform. In an industry obsessed with appearances, No Fox Given offers something radical: a space where realness is the only beauty standard.

    Tickets are live.

    The mic is on.

    Judgement’s off.

  • Highway Roop drives in Dharmesh Arora as CEO to steer its global ambitions in auto components

    Highway Roop drives in Dharmesh Arora as CEO to steer its global ambitions in auto components

    MUMBAI: For India’s auto component sector, the race is heating up—and Highway Roop just brought in a serious driver. The newly-formed platform has named industry veteran Dharmesh Arora as its CEO, marking a pivotal leadership shift as it gears up for scale and global competitiveness.

    The appointment brings over three decades of expertise to Highway Roop Precision Technologies Limited, a merged platform of Highway Industries Limited and Roop Automotives Limited. Arora previously served as
    Schaeffler Group CEO – Asia Pacific and led Schaeffler India for seven years before that. His career journey began in 1986 as a product engineer at Maruti Suzuki, later spanning leadership stints at General Motors across supply chain and procurement.

    “We are excited that Dharmesh has joined as CEO of Highway Roop. He is a highly experienced professional who has a deep understanding of the automotive industry and brings decades of global experience in building and managing automotive businesses. Dharmesh will be focusing on accelerating growth, driving operational excellence, and leveraging innovation to deliver enhanced value for the Platform’s customers and strengthen its market position”, said Highway Roop non-executive chairman Mohit Oswal.

    With the Indian automotive ecosystem entering an electrifying phase—literally and figuratively—Highway Roop’s timing is sharp. The company manufactures forged and precision-machined components, steering assemblies, and transmissions for electric, hybrid and ICE-powered vehicles. Under Arora’s stewardship, the company aims to add synergistic assets and expand its footprint across global markets.

    “I am honored to join Highway Roop at such an exciting time for India’s automotive industry. The platform’s strong manufacturing capabilities, diverse product portfolio, and global customer base create a powerful foundation for expansion. I am looking forward to collaborating with the talented Highway Roop team to create long-term and sustainable value for its customers and stakeholders”, commented Arora.

    Backed by a rich legacy and a forward-looking product lineup, Highway Roop appears ready to shift gears. With Arora at the helm, the company is positioning itself to play a leading role in the evolving auto supply chain—where scale, sustainability, and speed will define who leads and who lags.

  • Japan’s Kikkoman taps manga magic to introduce soy sauce to Indian consumers

    Japan’s Kikkoman taps manga magic to introduce soy sauce to Indian consumers

    MUMBAI: Global Japanese brand Kikkoman has introduced its signature soy sauce to India’s food tapestry by distributing it to more than 1.5 million restaurants through the cultural exports manga. They launched a new series Varun & Pramod – Their Secret Ingredient for the campaign.

    Kikkoman’s soy sauce is not just limited to the big food owners of India but is also accessible for junior chefs, cooks, and culinary school students to add a robust flavour to their platter. It  is tapping into India’s manga fanbase to spice up the country’s culinary scene. The campaign using manga series showcases Kikkoman’s creative approach to establishing a foothold in India and influencing the country’s dynamic cuisine.

    Using the manga approach to its marketing goal it uses its pivotal character Pramod- a young chef who learns that his job is in threat after changing the restaurant’s menu solitarily. However, his destiny led him to meet Varun who is a renowned restaurant owner’s heir. The two bond over their shared love for cooking and mutually agree to open a restaurant under their belt.

    They aim to use this movement to change the dynamics of the food industry by using their secret ingredient- Kikkoman Soy Sauce.

    Indian Federation of Culinary Associations and Kikkoman India Industry advisor Chef Manjit Gill complimented this campaign narrative as nostalgic and an enjoyable marketing approach.Talking about the campaign he said, “I strongly believe that Kikkoman’s message will resonate with many chefs in India. There are said to be more than 200,000 chefs in the organised sector alone.”

    “I was fondly reminded of my own younger days – when the hero was trying hard, making all possible efforts to make dishes more delicious – using the best ingredients. I look forward to this story reaching out to a wide audience, making a real impact in India. In fact, I’m waiting impatiently for the next episode of this interesting Kikkoman Manga,” Gill added.

    Currently, Kikkoman India is directly engaging with top chain restaurants and large format restaurants, gradually increasing its brand recognition and adoption. Given their fresh presence in India its recognition among restaurateurs and the country’s culinary experts is yet to be determined.

    This campaign aims to familiarise the Kikkoman brand with Indian chefs who might be unfamiliar with it, encouraging them to experiment with its soy sauce in their recipes, including Chinese cuisine, and ultimately increasing its adoption in the Indian food industry. With this innovative creative strategy Kikkoman’s manga project hopes to leverage their storytelling method to make their sauce as an important ingredient to the recipes in the Indian market.

    To make it accessible for all, the Kikoman manga will be available in English, Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, and Marathi.

  • Ranveer Singh’s McDonald’s meal launches across North and East India

    Ranveer Singh’s McDonald’s meal launches across North and East India

    MUMBAI: Warning: This meal may cause spontaneous dancing. McDonald’s India – North and East has teamed up with hindi movie energy powerhouse Ranveer Singh to launch ‘The Ranveer Singh Meal’, a limited-time offering that’s equal parts flavour bomb and fan service.

    Joining global icons like BTS and Travis Scott, Singh becomes the first Indian celebrity to be part of McDonald’s global Famous Orders platform, bringing his go-to favourites to golden arches across North and East India.

    So, what’s on the Ranveer menu? Fans can choose between a McVeggie (Xplode) or McChicken (Xplode) amped up with a chilli-creamy ‘Xplode’ sauce and crispy golden onions, dialling up the drama on your everyday burger. It’s paired with the brand-new Golden Pop Fries, crispy potato pops that crunch and melt in a single bite, and the debut of Bobaaa Blast, a poppy boba pearl drink that’s part beverage, part party trick.

    The meal starts at Rs 249 for the vegetarian option and Rs 269 for non-veg, and is available from 13th June for a limited period across all McDonald’s outlets in North and East India including via the McDonald’s App, takeaway, drive-thru, Swiggy, and Zomato.

    A celebration of personal taste, pop culture, and playful nostalgia, this collab turns a meal into a mood and perhaps, a quick bop at the counter.

  • HCBS Developments ropes in Dimple Bhardwaj to fire up sales and brand buzz

    HCBS Developments ropes in Dimple Bhardwaj to fire up sales and brand buzz

    MUMBAI : HCBS Developments has brought in real estate veteran Dimple Bhardwaj as assistant vice president – channel sales, marketing and communication, adding serious firepower to its leadership lineup. With over 20 years in the trenches at Raheja Developers, Bhardwaj now steps into a pivotal role at HCBS to sharpen its brand, energise channel partnerships, and fuel growth in the Delhi NCR region.

    Bhardwaj’s résumé reads like a masterclass in real estate marketing. As head – channel sales, marketing and communication at Raheja, she drove integrated campaigns that boosted market visibility and reach. She’s also worn the general manager – marketing & communication hat, crafting multi-platform outreach across flagship projects.

    With a postgrad in PR and journalism from IIMAT, Chennai, Bhardwaj’s toolkit spans customer engagement, CRM, sales strategy, and brand storytelling — essentials in a market where perception sells before possession.

    HCBS Developments group managing director Saurabh Saharan said, “We are thrilled to have Dimple in our leadership team; her deep industry knowledge and proven leadership in high-impact real estate marketing align perfectly with our vision. Dimple’s addition to our team will not only accelerate our ongoing projects but also strengthen our connection with customers and channel partners alike.”

    Bhardwaj commented, “I am excited to join HCBS Developments at such a pivotal time in its journey. With over two decades of experience in real estate marketing and channel sales, I look forward to bringing strategic depth and innovation to the company’s outreach. My focus will be on driving meaningful customer engagement, strengthening our brand presence, and supporting HCBS’s long-term growth vision.”

    The move signals HCBS’s intent to not just build homes, but a future-ready brand that speaks louder, connects deeper, and sells smarter.

     

  • Adobe brings the AI thunder to Cannes with creative, campaign and customer orchestration tools

    Adobe brings the AI thunder to Cannes with creative, campaign and customer orchestration tools

    CANNES: Adobe is rewriting the playbook on customer experience with a bold tech salvo unveiled at leading advertising fest, the Cannes Lions. With a sharp focus on creativity-fuelled personalisation, Adobe’s latest updates promise to fuse generative AI, marketing tech and agentic intelligence into a potent cocktail for brands.

    Touted as the next leap from customer experience management, Adobe’s new suite under the banner of customer experience orchestration (CXO) aims to help brands deliver hyper-relevant content at scale across every consumer touchpoint. It’s a creative marketer’s dream: intuitive tools for orchestrating AI agents, conjuring short-form video ads, and even gaming the LLM algorithm to boost discoverability on AI browsers and chatbots.

    ““Delivering one-to-one personalization at scale demands a powerful fusion of creativity, marketing and AI,” said Adobe president digital experience business Anil Chakravarthy. “We are pioneering innovations through Adobe’s AI platform that enable teams to craft the most compelling and relevant customer experiences, helping businesses drive impact and seize this enormous opportunity.”

    Among the star tools:

    * GenStudio for Performance Marketing slashes campaign creation time with generative AI support for video, display, email, and more.

    * Firefly Services offers APIs for 3D images, avatars, and AI-powered video editing with drag-and-drop simplicity.

    * LLM Optimizer is Adobe’s answer to the AI content visibility race, giving marketers an edge in GenAI search results.

    Major brands—from Coca-Cola and Estée Lauder to Publicis and Prudential—are already plugged into Adobe’s AI stack, reporting sharper engagement, higher conversion, and serious time savings
    .
    Also live is the Adobe experience platform agent orchestrator, enabling brands to build and manage intelligent AI agents—like the new data insights agent and product support agent—taking the grunt work out of analytics and user support.

    As Cannes Lions toasts the creative elite, Adobe makes its case clear: in the era of AI-fuelled brand building, experience is everything—and the hotshop is betting big on orchestrating every pixel of it.

  • Bhumika Realty cements leadership with Avinash Nagpal as president–projects

    Bhumika Realty cements leadership with Avinash Nagpal as president–projects

    MUMBAI: Bhumika Realty has added serious muscle to its execution engine by naming industry stalwart Avinash Nagpal as president–projects. With over 27 years of bricks-and-mortar experience across India’s real estate and infrastructure giants, Nagpal steps in to steer project delivery with speed, precision, and cost smarts.

    Known for his boots-on-ground approach, Nagpal has led projects at top-tier firms including Trinity Landspace, Conscient Group, Emaar MGF, Mundra Port, and Punj Lloyd — climbing the ranks from deputy manager to senior vice president. From estimation tables to site trenches, he’s been in the thick of it, delivering complex builds on time and on budget.

    At Bhumika Realty, he’ll drive the entire lifecycle of development — from blueprint to brick — overseeing planning, structural execution, MEP works, finishings, and client handovers. His mandate: deliver faster, build stronger, and keep the bottom line lean.

    Bhumika Group CMD Uddhav Poddar said, “We are delighted to welcome Mr. Avinash Nagpal to our team. His vast experience in managing complex residential and commercial developments, coupled with his deep understanding of construction and project delivery, aligns perfectly with our vision of creating high-quality, timely-delivered spaces. We believe his leadership will further strengthen our execution capabilities and set new benchmarks across our ongoing and future projects.”

    Bhumika Group CEO Siddharth Katyal said, “Mr. Avinash’s deep expertise in project execution, technical leadership, and large-scale development management makes him a valuable addition to our leadership team. With his strategic approach and hands-on experience, we are confident he will play a key role in ensuring the timely and high-quality delivery of our projects, while further strengthening our operational excellence.”

    Nagpal said, “I am honoured to be a part of Bhumika Group and look forward to contributing to its forward-looking vision. With over 27 years of experience in managing large-scale developments, my focus will be on ensuring seamless project execution, timely delivery, and uncompromising quality. I am excited to bring my expertise to strengthen the project delivery framework and support the company’s commitment to excellence in every development.”

    For Bhumika, this is more than just a hire — it’s a concrete move to anchor its next chapter in operational excellence.

  • Social and Prime Video launch ‘The Traitors Thursday’ to turn café-bars into cunning game nights

    Social and Prime Video launch ‘The Traitors Thursday’ to turn café-bars into cunning game nights

    MUMBAI: Deception is on the menu, and the vibe is pure drama. Social café-bars across India have teamed up with Prime Video to launch The Traitors Thursday—a weekly offline event series where guests step into a real-life game of trust, betrayal and deduction, inspired by the Indian reality show The Traitors, hosted by Karan Johar.

    Launched on 12 June with a high-octane premiere night at Khar Social in Mumbai, the event brought together fans, content creators and celebrity players like Raftaar, Elnaaz Norouzi, Urfi Javed, Sufi Motiwala and Nikita Luther. The gameplay unfolded live, as participants mingled with the crowd, formed alliances and outed the Traitors among them. The boundary between show and spectacle blurred fast—along with a few friendships.

    The concept reimagines the tense energy of The Traitors into an interactive offline format where guests register to play either as ‘Innocents’ or ‘Traitors’. Every Thursday 5 pm, select Social outlets transform into arenas for strategy, suspense and spontaneous chaos. Non-players can join table challenges and score giveaways like beer buckets, brand vouchers and bragging rights.

    “The Traitors Thursday is one of our boldest offline content integrations yet. The Traitors, with its thrilling gameplay and Social mind games, is a natural extension of what Social stands for: shared experiences that spark connection, conversation, and community. We’re excited to have collaborated with Prime Video to reimagine the show’s intrigue within our café-bar spaces, making it tangible and participative for our guests,” said Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality Pvt. Ltd CGO Divya Aggarwal.

    The Traitors Thursday is being hosted across Social outlets in Mumbai (Dadar Social), Pune (FC Road Social), New Delhi (Connaught Place Social), Indore (Ring Road Social), Chandigarh (Sector 07 Social), Bangalore (Koramangala Social), Hyderabad (Mindspace Social), and Kolkata (Park Street Social). The event will run weekly from 12 June to 3 July, syncing with the show’s new episodes that drop every Thursday at 8 pm on Prime Video.

    As The Traitors takes over screens, Social turns its outlets into live-action extensions of the show’s high-stakes gameplay. The IP is part immersive theatre, part reality experiment and part night-out thrill, continuing Social’s streak of reinventing community rituals—from trivia nights to Dhokha Thursdays.

    The traitors may lie, but the Thursday night fun?

    That’s very real.

  • Arun Srinivas appointed as Meta India’s new country head and MD

    Arun Srinivas appointed as Meta India’s new country head and MD

    MUMBAI: From tea leaves to timelines, Arun Srinivas is now brewing strategy at Meta India. In a move that signals both continuity and elevation, Meta has announced the appointment of Arun Srinivas as its new Managing Director and Country Head for India. Already a key figure within the company, Srinivas will now oversee all business, innovation, and revenue priorities across the region cementing Meta’s long-term commitment to the Indian market.

    Srinivas joined Meta in 2020 and has since led its Global Business Group and Ads Business for India, steering strategic revenue levers like AI, Reels, and Messaging. In his expanded role, he will now unify Meta India’s core pillars to better serve the platform’s advertisers, partners, and users.

    With nearly three decades of experience under his belt, Srinivas has worked across marquee names like Hindustan Unilever, Reebok, Ola, and private equity firm Westbridge Capital. His past roles included launching Ola in London, leading Unilever’s food, skincare, and beverage verticals in South Asia, and investing in high-growth consumer brands during his stint at WestBridge.

    Meta’s leadership hopes the appointment marks a sharper, localised strategy in a market that remains one of its largest and most dynamic.

    “As we look ahead, we remain focused on building products that drive growth for our partners while driving innovation for the ecosystem,” the company stated.

    With Srinivas now leading Meta India’s charge, all eyes will be on how he blends deep-rooted brand-building wisdom with the platform’s global tech playbook and what that could mean for India’s digital future.