Brands
Brands tip their hats to the Mahatma on Gandhi Jayanti
Mumbai: Brands have been paying a symbolic tribute to the father of the nation to mark the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, with the symbols that the Mahatma is identified with the world over viz his spectacles, his ‘Charkha,’ the famous Dandi March and, of course, most significantly- the learnings from Bapu’s life.
Mother Dairy
The milk & milk products major and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) has rolled out a digital film on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti 2021, urging consumers to reduce the use of plastic whenever and wherever possible from their daily lives. The digital film titled #Swachhtagrah- presumably inspired by Gandhiji’s ‘Satyagraha’- stresses on the fact that how unknowingly we have imbibed the use of plastic in everyday activities.
The film featuring actor Tisca Chopra subtly puts forward one such action point for its viewers – switch to products that avoid the use of plastic in its packaging with Mother Dairy’s Token Milk vending system, which offers an environmentally friendly, plastic packaging free milk on a wide scale.
The digital film urging consumers to join the #Swachhtagrah movement has been rolled out across all social media handles of Mother Dairy including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Taneira
The women’s ethnic wear brand from the house of Tata launched an exclusive Khadi collection on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti to commemorate the father of the nation. Revered as a symbol of our nation’s heritage and pride, Khadi is known to be one of the earliest forms of fabrics woven in the ancient age which went on to become the symbol of independence in the Swadeshi movement. This limited-edition collection is a unique amalgam of various indigenous crafts integrating together from different parts of the country to present the essence of the best of India under one roof, said the brand.
Many brands remembered Mahatma Gandhi via creative moment marketing posts on their social media handles paying odes to the leader’s teachings and words of wisdom.
Cadbury Dairy Milk
The confectionary brand saluted the powerful messages advocated by the Mahatma through peaceful means with a testimonial saying: Remembering the one whose life was truly his message- ‘The one who showed us we can gain everything by sweetness- truth, freedom, non-violence, equality, self-sufficiency.’
Remembering the one whose life was truly his message. #HappyGandhiJayanti #GandhiJayanti #MahatmaGandhi #Gandhi #CadburyDairyMilk #KuchAchhaHoJaayeKuchMeethaHoJaaye pic.twitter.com/5IIP0bSsKw
— Cadbury Dairy Milk (@DairyMilkIn) October 2, 2021
McDonald’s
The fast-food company drew a symbolic ‘Charkha’ with its menu in its creative: ‘This year on #GandhiJayanti, we’re revisiting history! (order history included ) What about you?’
This year on #GandhiJayanti, we’re revisiting history! (order history included)
What about you? pic.twitter.com/aVdYGpm1UY— McDonald’s India (@mcdonaldsindia) October 2, 2021
Dunzo
The delivery app took on the social media trend of attributing false quotes to great people of yore by sticking a random quote to their pic with a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the Mahatma: ‘Wisdom Na Milegi Dobara.’
Fevicol
The glue brand known for its witty marketing was on-point, as always with the heartwarming message: ‘Some teachings will stick around forever.’
Some teachings will stick around forever#GandhiJayanti #FevicolKaJod #MazbootJod pic.twitter.com/Zdb0J6JUYY
— Fevicol (@StuckByFevicol) October 2, 2021
Brands
Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen to step down after 18 years in role
Board begins CEO search as Narayen prepares to move to chair role
SAN JOSE: After nearly two decades at the helm, Adobe’s long-serving chief executive Shantanu Narayen is preparing to pass the baton.
The company announced that Narayen will transition from his role as chief executive officer once a successor is appointed, ending an 18-year run that reshaped Adobe from a boxed software seller into a global cloud and AI powerhouse. He will remain chair of the board following the leadership transition.
Adobe’s board has formed a special committee to oversee the succession process, led by lead independent director Frank Calderoni. The committee will evaluate both internal and external candidates.
“Shantanu’s leadership has been instrumental in Adobe’s transformation and in positioning the company for the AI-driven era,” Calderoni said in a statement. “As we begin the next phase of succession planning, our focus is on identifying the right leader for the company’s next chapter while ensuring a smooth transition.”
In a note to employees, Narayen described the moment not as a farewell but as a pause for reflection after a long journey with the company.
“I love Adobe and the privilege of leading it has been the greatest honour of my career,” he wrote, adding that he will continue to work closely with the board over the coming months to ensure a seamless leadership change.
Tributes from the technology industry quickly followed the announcement. Microsoft chairman and chief executive officer Satya Nadella congratulated Narayen on what he described as a “legendary run” at Adobe.
“Congrats Shantanu, on a legendary run at Adobe! You’ve built one of the most important software companies in the world, and expanded what’s possible for creators, entrepreneurs, and brands everywhere,” Nadella wrote on LinkedIn.
“What has always stood out to me is the empathy you’ve brought to the creative process and the example you’ve set as a leader. Grateful for your friendship, mentorship, and for all you’ve done for Adobe and for our industry.”
Narayen’s career at Adobe spans nearly three decades. He joined the company in 1998 as vice president and rose steadily through the ranks before becoming chief executive officer in December 2007.
During that time, he orchestrated one of the most significant reinventions in the software industry. In 2013, Adobe made the bold decision to abandon traditional boxed software sales and move its flagship creative tools such as Photoshop to a subscription-based Creative Cloud model. The shift initially rattled investors but ultimately transformed Adobe into a predictable recurring revenue business and a case study in digital reinvention.
Narayen also pushed Adobe beyond creative tools into the world of marketing technology and data-driven customer experience, spearheading acquisitions such as Omniture and Marketo. Those moves helped build Adobe’s digital experience division and broaden its reach far beyond designers and photographers.
The numbers tell the story of that transformation. When Narayen took over in 2007, Adobe generated roughly $3 billion in annual revenue. Today the company reports more than $25 billion. Over the same period, its workforce expanded from around 3,000 employees to more than 30,000.
In recent years, Narayen has steered Adobe into the generative AI era with the launch of Adobe Firefly, aiming to keep the company ahead in a rapidly evolving creative technology landscape.
Born in Hyderabad in 1963, Narayen studied electronics and communication engineering at Osmania University before moving to the United States for a master’s degree in computer science from Bowling Green State University. He later earned an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.
Widely regarded as one of Silicon Valley’s most steady and effective leaders, Narayen has earned multiple honours during his career, including India’s Padma Shri in 2019.
For Adobe, the upcoming leadership change marks the end of a defining chapter. For Narayen, however, the story is far from finished. As he told employees, the company’s next era of creativity, powered by AI and new digital workflows, is only just beginning.
