Brands
BCCL appoints Pankaj Jain as director legal to strengthen governance
Former AstraZeneca legal head to steer strategy and compliance at TOI group
MUMBAI: Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd., publisher of The Times of India, has appointed Pankaj Jain as director legal, bringing in a seasoned hand to lead its legal and compliance functions.
Jain joins with over 25 years of experience across pharmaceuticals, insurance and professional services, with a strong track record in legal strategy, governance and risk management.
He most recently served as head legal at AstraZeneca Pharma India Ltd., where he played a key role in shaping patent strategy and handling complex legal matters. His work also included supporting high-value business transactions such as partnerships, licensing deals and regulatory engagements.
Over the years, Jain has held leadership roles across organisations including Strides Arcolab Limited, Sistema Shyam Teleservices, HDFC Standard Life Insurance, Cholamandalam MS General Insurance and Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, building a diverse portfolio of legal expertise.
At BCCL, he will oversee the entire legal function, advising the leadership team on strategic matters while strengthening governance frameworks across the organisation. His remit includes managing litigation, contracts, intellectual property and regulatory compliance, alongside building a future-ready legal team.
The appointment comes as BCCL continues to evolve in a rapidly changing media landscape, where strong legal oversight is increasingly critical.
With Jain at the helm of its legal operations, the company is looking to balance growth ambitions with robust governance, ensuring it stays on the right side of both opportunity and regulation.
Brands
DeVANS sparks buzz with self-chilling beer can April Fools campaign
Godfather stunt racks up 7 million impressions, blending humour with hype
NEW DELHI: DeVANS Modern Breweries has stirred up the marketing pot with a playful yet high-impact campaign teasing a futuristic “self-chilling beer can” under its flagship Godfather label.
What began as a seemingly bold product innovation quickly turned into one of the most talked-about brand moments online, before being revealed as an April Fools’ Day prank. The reveal, however, did little to cool the buzz.
The campaign clocked over 7 million organic impressions across platforms including LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and X, with users debating whether the concept was a genuine breakthrough or clever marketing theatre. Thousands of shares and comments turned the idea into a full-blown conversation, drawing in both consumers and industry insiders.
The hook was simple but effective. A self-chilling can positioned as an on-the-go convenience product tapped into the imagination of younger, urban audiences. Add the timing around April Fools’ Day, and the campaign struck the perfect balance between curiosity and scepticism, keeping audiences guessing.
Marketing experts have pointed to the campaign as a case study in leveraging cultural moments. By leaving just enough ambiguity, the brand invited audiences to participate rather than simply observe, turning passive viewers into active contributors to the narrative.
“Godfather has always been an iconic brand, but iconicity must evolve to stay meaningful,” said DeVANS Modern Breweries chairman and managing director Prem Dewan. “The ‘Self-Chilling Can’ was our way of showing up in a cultural moment with confidence and a sense of humour.”
Beyond the numbers, the campaign signals a broader repositioning for Godfather. Long seen as a legacy beer brand, it is now leaning into youth culture, digital-first storytelling and topical engagement to stay relevant in a crowded alcobev market.
In a space where attention is fleeting, DeVANS has shown that sometimes the coolest idea is the one that keeps people guessing.
