Brands
Manforce Condoms unveils virtual muse Myra as brand star
MUMBAI: Manforce Condoms has swiped right on artificial intelligence, unveiling its new brand ambassador, Myra Kapoor, a computer-generated beauty designed to stir conversations about desire, intimacy and everything in between.
India’s leading sexual wellness brand under Mankind Pharma has taken a bold leap into the future, introducing Myra through a sultry new television commercial. Far from a stiff avatar, the AI star radiates emotions like passion, love and temptation, aiming to make chats about fantasies feel as natural as pillow talk.
Myra’s arrival is no gimmick. Born from insights gathered at a leading management institute, she represents a paradigm shift in how brands communicate. Grapes Worldwide, the creative brains behind her, ensured Myra’s charm feels relatable and human, giving her the ability to headline campaigns that ebb and flow with seasons – starting with the monsoon.
To debut her, Manforce staged a digital face-off called ‘India’s most desirable’ with Filtercopy. The twist? Myra competed against real people and clinched victory through public votes, proof that audiences are ready to embrace AI allure.
Mankind Pharma, vice chairman and managing director, Rajeev Juneja called the move a “transformative journey” in brand storytelling, promising limitless creative possibilities. Grapes Worldwide, co-founder and global CEO, Shradha Agarwal added that Myra pushes AI beyond automation to deliver meaningful engagement.
With Myra, Manforce Condoms isn’t just selling protection. It’s selling imagination, sparking fantasies with a pixel-perfect partner who might just be too good to be true.
Brands
Mahesh Samat steps down from The Walt Disney Company after 9 years
Veteran executive closes four-decade career spanning Disney, J&J and Epic
MUMBAI: Mahesh Samat has stepped down from The Walt Disney Company, bringing the curtain down on a career that has spanned four decades across FMCG, healthcare, media and entertainment.
In a personal note marking the milestone, Samat said, “After 40 years, I’m calling it a day,” reflecting on a journey that saw him build brands, launch businesses and lead teams across multiple geographies.
Samat spent over nine years at Disney in senior leadership roles, most recently serving as global head of publishing and branded retail. Prior to that, he held positions including EVP, consumer, games and publishing for APAC, and managing director for India, playing a key role in expanding the company’s regional footprint.
Before rejoining Disney in 2016, he founded and led Epic Television Networks, where he helped shape a distinct content-led television brand in India.
His earlier career included leadership roles at Johnson & Johnson, where he served as managing director for Southern Europe in vision care and vice-president for Asia-Pacific, underscoring his cross-sector experience.
An alumnus of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Samat’s career has been marked by a mix of corporate leadership and entrepreneurial ventures across markets including India, Singapore, the UK and Europe.
Reflecting on his journey, Samat emphasised that beyond titles and milestones, it was the people and relationships that defined his career. As he signs off, his exit marks the close of a long and varied innings in India’s corporate and media landscape.
