MAM
GolinOpinion appoints Asheesh Malhotra as ED
MUMBAI: Asheesh Malhotra has parted ways with advertising to pursue a career shift. He leaves his role as president at Bates CHI & Partners to join GolinOpinion, the PR division of PointNine Lintas, as the executive director. This marks a significant shift for Malhotra, who’s spent his entire career in creative agencies, as he ventures into the landscape of PR. At GolinOpinion, he will lead the strategic planning function and oversee the agency’s social media centre-of-excellence, the Bridge.
PointNine Lintas CEO Vikas Mehta said: “Convergence of marketing disciplines is here to stay. An omni-channel marketing plan today is incomplete without elements like advocacy and conversations. To stay relevant, PR firms need brand practitioners in addition to PR experts. Asheesh has built blue-chip brands while working with India’s two most respected agencies, Lowe Lintas and Ogilvy. We’re delighted to have him back in the Lintas family and look forward to his contribution in further strengthening PointNine Lintas’ PR service-stack.”
Asheesh joins GolinOpinion from the Ogilvy group where he was the president, Bates CHI&Partners heading its Mumbai and Delhi offices. He was earlier a unit head looking after a large Unilever portfolio as well heading a global hub for Castrol and BP at Ogilvy. A new business junkie, he was also leading the growth agenda for Bates. Prior to that, he spent fruitful eight years in the Mumbai office of Lowe Lintas, leading the ICICI Prudential and J&J businesses.
As the executive director, Malhotra will report to Ameer Ismail – GoinOpinion president & PointNine Lintas chief growth officer. Ismail said, “A senior professional, strategist and well-respected leader who has worn many hats in advertising is going to lead this audacious vision.”
Malhotra said, “Credibility of brands, people and institutions is being challenged every day. In this thin-skinned world, PR holds a huge responsibility of being both, a shield and the statesman that shapes conversations, communities and culture.”
Responsible for a national mandate, Malhotra has joined GolinOpinion with immediate effect and will be based out of Mumbai.
MAM
Spinny celebrates Sachin Tendulkar’s 53rd birthday with offer
Customers get Rs 3,500 voucher with car purchases in limited-period campaign.
MUMBAI: Not every birthday comes with a freebie but this one came with four wheels and a voucher. Spinny marked the 53rd birthday of Sachin Tendulkar with a customer-focused campaign titled “Master’s Birthday Treat”, blending nostalgia with a tangible incentive for buyers.
Under the limited-period offer, every customer purchasing a car received a Rs 3,500 TENxYOU voucher, adding an extra layer of value to the buying journey. The vouchers, redeemable across multiple lifestyle brands, extended the experience beyond the transaction into shopping, gifting and everyday indulgences.
The campaign leans on Tendulkar’s enduring image as the ‘Master Blaster’, aligning his legacy of trust and consistency with Spinny’s positioning as a transparent, seamless car-buying platform.
Rather than a conventional discount-led push, the initiative taps into emotion and familiarity, using a cultural icon to anchor engagement while offering a clear, measurable benefit to customers.
In an increasingly competitive digital auto retail market, the move reflects a broader strategy stand out not just on price or inventory, but on experience. By tying a celebratory moment to customer reward, Spinny is effectively turning a birthday tribute into a brand touchpoint.
Because sometimes, the best way to celebrate a legend is to give customers something to drive home literally.
