MAM
Deepali Naair steps down as group CMO at CKA Birla Group after power-packed run
MUMBAI: Marketing heavyweight Deepali Naair has called time on her high-voltage tenure as group chief marketing officer at the CKA Birla group, wrapping up a transformative 2.5-year stint marked by bold rebranding moves, big-league M&As, and boardroom-to-ground level action across a sprawling portfolio of businesses.
Naair, a veteran of IBM, IIFL, Mahindra Holidays and L&T Insurance, exits after helming marquee projects like the launch of BirlaNu, renaming of Trust Hospitals, and the pivotal transition from CK Birla Group to the sharper, sleeker ‘CKA’ moniker. Her remit spanned industrial giants—from NBC Bearings to GMMCO, Orient Electric to Avtec—and included stints leading marketing strategy for Birlasoft, Neosym, and the group’s hospitals and fertility ventures.
“It felt like being at a private equity firm with a front-row view,” Naair said in a LinkedIn post, recalling her tenure that also saw her coordinate four mergers and acquisitions, launch a new school, and even host the president of India.
Colleagues describe her as a formidable mix of brand savant and business tactician—one who brings both EQ and IQ to the table. Known for her cross-industry versatility, Naair has toggled between digital transformation, brand identity overhauls, and sales pipeline acceleration with equal flair.
The exit marks the close of yet another chapter in a career that spans three decades and top-drawer roles at Tata Motors, BPL Mobile, Marico, HSBC Asset Management, and Mahindra group, where she was also on the diversity council. From launching Mediker’s “school adda” campaigns to reshaping demand patterns at Mahindra resorts via analytics, Naair has consistently played in the big leagues.
With no announcement yet on her next move, speculation is already swirling about what challenge she’ll take on next. If history is anything to go by, it’ll be bold, brand-first, and anything but boring.
Brands
Royal Stag launches ‘Live It Large’ campaign with six celebrity faces
Rohit Sharma, Bumrah, Badshah lead new Royal Stag brand film
MUMBAI: Big dreams, bigger personalities and a message that ambition comes in many forms. That is the pitch behind the new ‘Live It Large’ campaign from Seagram’s Royal Stag Packaged Drinking Water, which brings together six well known faces from sport, music, cinema and gaming.
The campaign features cricketers Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, rapper Badshah, actors Sidharth Malhotra and Naga Chaitanya, and gamer Payal Dhare, each representing a different facet of what the brand calls “Generation Large”.
Announced by Pernod Ricard India, the campaign film travels across regions of the country to highlight how ambition and self expression take on different cultural flavours across India. From the swagger of North India to the tech driven vibrancy of the South, the music rich East and the rustic energy of the West, the film positions the country as a “Land of Large”.
The campaign marks an evolution of Royal Stag’s long running philosophy of encouraging young Indians to dream big. The brand says the new narrative reflects a generation that is redefining success and choosing unconventional paths.
Debasree Dasgupta, chief marketing officer at Pernod Ricard India, said the campaign builds on the brand’s legacy of celebrating aspiration. She said bringing together personalities from different industries and regions reflects how ambition today has many voices and expressions.
For Sharma, the campaign echoes the mindset required on the cricket field. He said living large is about backing oneself even when the odds are stacked against you and enjoying the journey along the way.
Malhotra described the collaboration as a natural fit with his belief in pushing boundaries and trying new things, while Badshah said the campaign celebrates individuality and the confidence to chase one’s own path.
Bumrah said the philosophy resonated with his own approach to the game, where discipline and belief matter as much as headline moments. Chaitanya added that the brand’s ability to stay rooted in culture while evolving with the times made the collaboration meaningful.
Dhare, one of India’s leading gaming creators, said the campaign reflects the spirit of young dreamers who are redefining success on their own terms.
The ‘Live It Large’ campaign will roll out through a multi platform strategy spanning television, digital media, print and outdoor advertising as Royal Stag looks to connect with India’s young, aspirational audience.
