MAM
Ceat signs Aamir Khan as brand ambassador for two years
MUMBAI: Ceat Tyres has signed Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan as its brand ambassador for two years. As part of an integrated marketing campaign, Aamir Khan will feature in two commercials during the course of the IPL 2020 to promote Ceat’s SecuraDrive range of premium car tyres. The first ad will be aired at the beginning of IPL and will also be rolled out/promoted across different media platforms both online and offline. The campaign based on the theme ‘don’t be a dummy’ emphasises on the usage of high quality tyres that provide complete safety in any kind of driving conditions.
Created by O&M, the campaign, is based on an interesting storyline set in an advanced tyre testing facility, where test dummies are used for testing. Aamir Khan’s character is that of a dummy who comes to life when no one’s watching and manipulates situations to save himself from the perils of tyre testing. The idea is to propagate safety and showcase how the Ceat SecuraDrive car tyres enable a safe drive in different driving situations, through superior control at high speed turns and precise braking. Ceat’s SecuraDrive tyres are meant for premium sedans and compact SUVs such as Honda city, Skoda Octavia, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Creta, Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Honda WR-V, etc.
Ceat Tyres CMO Amit Tolani said, “We at Ceat have always believed in our vision of ‘Making Mobility Safer and Smarter Every day’. The launch of our new campaign articulates the same for our premium sedans and compact SUVs tyre range. The central idea is to highlight the importance of using credible, reliable and durable tyres as against using any ‘dummy’ tyre. We are delighted to have Aamir Khan on board for this campaign as he perfectly embodies Ceat’s core values of integrity, passion, perfection and innovation. With one of the best actors in the industry, associating with one of the best tyres in its segment, we believe we have a winning combination at hand. IPL offers an ideal opportunity for us to connect with our customers as it is one of the most widely watched events in India with a massive viewership.”
Aamir Khan said, “I am proud to be associated with one of the most respected brands in India. When Ceat reached out to me for this campaign, I instantly connected with the idea and completely fell in love with the script. Playing a character of a dummy was a unique experience and I thoroughly enjoyed the shoot. I am looking forward to an exciting journey with Ceat tyres.”
O&M group creative director Rohit Dubey said, “On a regular day CEAT tries to push the envelope of tyre advertising, so when it came to Super Bowl of India – IPL, the brand set the bar higher for itself. Disruption, with a tinge of CEAT’s trademark tongue-in-cheek approach, led us to collaborating with Aamir Khan. A big challenge was, what newness can we create with him. And hence the ‘paranoid, crash test dummy.’ Being aware of COVID production reality, we scripted it such that it doesn’t require a crowd scene and kept it contained. We hope “Baat safety ki hai, Don’t be a dummy”, strikes a chord with consumers and stands out in the crowd of IPL spots.”
The Ceat SecuraDrive tyres with the wide longitudinal tread grooves and smart compounding technology help keep the vehicle within the driver’s control on wet and dry road conditions. The enhanced tyre tread technology helps in lowering noise levels while commuting and delivers an extremely comfortable driving experience.
MAM
Beacon Group appoints Dr Rajesh Patel as Group CEO
36-year healthcare veteran to lead Beacon Diagnostics, Vector Biotek, Biogeny.
MUMBAI: A new chief, a fresh diagnosis and a sharper prescription for growth. Beacon Group has appointed Dr Rajesh Patel as its Group Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1, 2026, signalling a decisive push to scale its presence in the diagnostics and IVD space. Patel steps into the role with 36 years of experience across the healthcare and diagnostics industry, bringing a career shaped by leadership roles spanning sales, marketing, business development and operational strategy. His mandate is both expansive and precise: to steer the group’s overall strategic direction while tightening coordination across its three core entities Beacon Diagnostics, Vector Biotek and Biogeny Diagnostics.
In practical terms, that means driving cross-company synergies, accelerating market expansion and strengthening organisational capability areas increasingly critical as diagnostic players compete for scale in a fragmented yet rapidly evolving healthcare ecosystem. The group is positioning itself to capture unmet demand across chain laboratories, key accounts and standalone labs, segments that remain underserved despite growing diagnostic needs.
The appointment comes at a time when the In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) sector in India is entering a more competitive and innovation-led phase, with companies focusing not just on product pipelines but also on service delivery, integration and customer-centric models. Beacon’s leadership appears to be betting that Patel’s execution-focused approach can help translate ambition into operational momentum.
Welcoming the appointment, Chairman Dr D K Joshi described Patel’s induction as a strategic move aligned with the group’s long-term vision, emphasising the role of leadership depth in navigating the next phase of growth.
For Beacon Group, the message is clear, in a sector where precision matters, leadership is the new differentiator—and this appointment is intended to set the tone for what comes next.
