Brands
Asian Paints on-boards Virat Kohli as the brand ambassador for – ‘Neo Bharat Latex Paint’
Mumbai – Asian Paints, India’s foremost paint and décor company, proudly announces the onboarding of cricketing icon, Virat Kohli as the brand ambassador for their upcoming new launch – Neo Bharat Latex Paint.
With Neo Bharat Latex Paint, Asian Paints will revolutionize the paint category by expanding its footprint in this dynamic industry & democratize it further. Neo Bharat Latex Paint is revolutionary in every way as it comes equipped with special polymer technology that provides superior finish, higher coverage, and better washability. These “colours of progress”, as is the tag line for Neo Bharat, are an ode to the millions of Indians who are in pursuit of a better life, and Asian Paints aims to partner with them in their journey.
As a pioneer in the market, Asian Paints has consistently introduced innovative products that redefine standards, and Neo Bharat Latex Paint is set to galvanize the category yet again.
Who better than Virat Kohli would do justice to a launch of this magnitude. Virat embodies the values and spirit of the brand reflecting Asian Paints’ leadership and commitment to excellence and performance, making him the perfect face for both Asian Paints and the innovative Neo Bharat Latex Paint.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the forthcoming launch and its brand ambassador, Asian Paints Ltd. MD & CEO Amit Syngle said, “Our upcoming launch, Neo Bharat Latex Paint, marks one of Asian Paints’ biggest moments in history, and having Virat Kohli as the face of this disruptive brand adds to our excitement. Kohli is credited today to transform the game and the Indian team in a way that many have not. His popularity cuts across regions, his persona exudes the confidence of the new India. Kohli’s influence and resonance with the masses perfectly align with this revolutionary product. Neo Bharat is set to not only redefine the paint category but also fuel the industry’s growth in India. We welcome Virat Kohli to the Asian Paints family and look forward to this journey together.”
Commenting on his association with Asian Paints, Kohli stated, “I am truly excited and ecstatic to be associated with a brand known for its leadership, innovation and strong values. Asian Paints for me represents more than a brand and is like cricket; being a part of almost every Indian Home bringing joy and exhilaration to our lives. Aligning with this transformational journey, I am truly honoured to be partnering the launch of Asian Paints Neo Bharat Latex Paint, propelling Asian Paints to being a strong part of a new and progressive India”.
Asian Paints will soon unveil further details about Neo Bharat Latex Paint and launch a massive campaign for the brand with its dynamic brand ambassador. The campaign is set to go live across all mediums in the next few weeks, promising to be the biggest yet.
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.
