MAM
Coke ads to fizz with Courteney, Penelope, Mya
MUMBAI: Cola ad wars have taken yet another interesting twist with Coca-Cola signing on Penelope Cruz, Courteney Cox and singer Mya for the latest ad campaign. According to a report by WallStreet Journal, the new campaign has been inspired by PepsiCo Inc.’s signature use of ‘young, hip celebrities’.
The latest campaign includes three commercials. One with Penelope Cruz drinking Coca-Cola, another with Friends’ star Courteney Cox pouring a Coke for her husband, actor David Arquette and the third shows singer Mya in her own hip-hop version of Eddie Harris’s golden oldie Compared to What.
Coke’s new tagline, Coca-Cola Real, echoes its classic ‘The Real thing’ slogan. The company will also put out new print ads including one with boxer Muhammad Ali and NASCAR drivers, the report says.
PepsiCo, on the other hand, has signed singer and actress Beyonce Knowles to endorse Pepsi Cola, thus joining a long line of pop stars which includes Michael Jackson, Madonna, and most recently, Britney Spears. The report adds that the new ads, which were tested extensively with consumers, are intended to fill an important gap by appealing to teens and ethnic consumers.
Brands
FSS names Anand Krishnamurthi head of global digital delivery
Tech veteran to drive AI-first, cloud-led transformation in payments globally
CHENNAI: Financial Software and Systems (FSS), an AI-first payment infrastructure company, has appointed Anand Krishnamurthi as head of global digital delivery.
In his new role, Anand Krishnamurthi will lead FSS’s global digital delivery capabilities, focusing on AI-first and cloud-led transformation while ensuring predictable, high-quality outcomes for customers worldwide. He will be based in Chennai and report to V. Balasubramanian, CEO of FSS.
Bringing 28 years of experience in technology and digital transformation across banking, capital markets, financial services, and insurance, Anand has held senior leadership positions at Cognizant and NuSummit. He is recognised for scaling multi-geography delivery teams, leading mission-critical platforms, and embedding AI-driven automation in complex, regulated environments.
“What drew me to FSS is its deep payments expertise, strong product DNA, and the scale at which its platforms power real-world financial ecosystems,” said Anand Krishnamurthi. “I aim to strengthen delivery predictability, execution rigor, and engineering quality, building empowered teams that deliver measurable customer outcomes. FSS has a unique opportunity to create real-time, AI-infused payments infrastructure that is resilient, secure, and globally scalable.”
V. Balasubramanian added, “Anand’s track record in leading multi-geography delivery programs and AI-first operating models makes him the ideal leader for FSS as we accelerate our AI-driven digital payments business. His leadership will help us raise the bar for outcomes globally.”
This appointment is part of FSS’s broader push to build an AI-powered, cloud-native delivery organisation capable of meeting the evolving needs of banks, fintechs, and financial institutions worldwide.
