Brands
Create a sonic identity which reflects brand emotion: BrandMusiq’s Raja
MUMBAI: The International Advertising Association (IAA) India Chapter’s Young Turks Forum hosted Rajeev Raja, Founder & Soundsmith, BrandMusiq at the fourth session of the Advertising and The 5 Senses series, presented by MTV India.
The ‘Advertising and The 5 Senses’ series highlights the importance of using all our five senses in advertising, as opposed to only visual (sight “print advertising”) or audio (sound “Radio”). The series presents sessions by industry experts with a background in each of the 5 senses – Taste, Sound, Sight, Smell and Touch so the audience could learn about the nuances of these senses as they relate to communication and together add immense value.
As part of session on ‘Sound’ Rajeev Raja delivered an insightful lecture to demonstrate the power of sound in advertising. Creator of the concept of MOGO or ‘musical logo’, Raja shared examples of how sound has the ability to evoke images, emotions and even trigger memories and therefore stressed on the need to create a sonic identity which reflects the emotion of the brand.
Speaking about the event, Rajeev Raja commented, “I enjoyed demonstrating the whole design of sound. Designing sound for a brand is something that is going to be absolutely evoked by the time they graduate and come out. Thanks to International Advertising Association I got this opportunity to spend some time with young kids and it was truly fantastic.”
The previous events under the series included a session consisting of a conversation between Chef Sanjeev Kapoor and Roshni Bajaj. Sanjeev Kapoor spoke about the importance of all five senses coming together to make the food experience wholesome. Amit Sarda, MD, Soulflower hosted the second session describing the role played by olfactory senses in aromatizing and augmenting experiences. Gaelle Carbonneil, Brand Manager, Clinique highlighted the role of sight and brand aesthetics in advertising.
The International Advertising Association is the world’s only globally-focused integrated advertising trade association with membership representing Advertising agencies and the Media. The IAA comprises Corporate Members, Organizational Members, Educational Affiliates, as well as 56 Chapters with individual members and young professionals from 76 countries including the top 10 economies in the world. lAA is over 75 years’ old and is headquartered in New York.
Brands
Rohini Laya Venkateswaran named executive director at Gillette India
P&G veteran with two decades of experience steps into leadership role
NEW DELHI: Rohini Laya Venkateswaran has been appointed executive director at Gillette India Pvt. Ltd., bringing with her more than two decades of experience across sales, strategy and brand leadership within the consumer goods sector. In her new role, she will help steer the company’s strategic direction and growth while strengthening its footprint in the grooming and personal care category.
Venkateswaran joins the board after a long career at Procter & Gamble, where she spent nearly 21 years shaping sales strategy, building brands and driving market expansion across India and international markets.
Most recently, she served as chief sales officer for India at P&G. Prior to that, she was vice president and country manager for east gulf markets, overseeing operations in Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar while also guiding sales strategy across the Gulf region, including the UAE.
Earlier in her career, she led sales strategy and planning for India while serving as marketing leader for brands such as Olay and Old Spice. During this stint, she focused on reshaping go-to-market channels and building awareness through digital, social and influencer-led campaigns to drive growth.
Her journey at P&G also included roles such as director sales strategy and planning leader India, associate director modern retail and ecommerce, regional manager for Delhi and Rajasthan, and several key account and trade marketing roles across the country. She also spent time in the United States working on the P&G Walmart international team, collaborating on global retail initiatives.
Venkateswaran holds an MBA in marketing from SP Jain Institute of Management and Research and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from RV College of Engineering.
With her mix of sales acumen, brand-building experience and global exposure, Venkateswaran’s appointment signals a sharpened focus on growth and market leadership for Gillette India.








