MAM
Embark on the journey of the future: Witness the Nex Big Thing from Ampere
Mumbai: The much-anticipated Ampere’s new electric scooter – coined as the Nex Big Thing from Greaves Electric Mobility Pvt Ltd (GEMPL), the e-mobility business of Greaves Cotton Ltd has embarked on a groundbreaking journey from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Embarking on a 5,100-kilometre journey, starting from Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir on 16 January 2023, this odyssey will not only demonstrate remarkable determination and resilience but also highlight the electric scooter’s impressive power, performance, and style.
Over 45 days, the vehicle will journey across the entire length of the country, navigating various terrains and making stops in numerous prominent towns and cities along the route. This journey is set to redefine the landscape of electric mobility in India.
More than just a scooter, Ampere’s Nex Big thing is a revolution on wheels. Designed with innovation and sustainability at its core, it democratises style and speed for everyone, making it a modern yet familiar, high-performance, family-oriented vehicle. The scooter’s cutting-edge features are ingeniously categorised into Nex.IO (the brain–cluster and software) and Nex.Armor (the brawn – frame, motor, battery, design).
The scooter is equipped with one of the lightest OS and brightest touchscreens, ensuring seamless navigation and connectivity elevating the riding experience. Inspired by the Arctic Tern, a bird known to travel the circumference of the Earth interestingly passing over Kanyakumari, and infused with Indian design elements, the scooter embodies a unique blend of modern aesthetics and rich heritage. Going beyond the mere display of the scooter’s technical capabilities, the historic journey from Kashmir to Kanyakumari celebrates India’s diversity and vibrancy. It navigates the vast tapestry of the nation’s cultures, terrains, and culinary traditions, each reflecting a symbiotic relationship.
Greaves Electric Mobility Pvt Ltd CEO Sanjay Behl said, “The Nex Big Thing by Ampere is a revolutionary vehicle, not just about transportation; it is about reimagining mobility for a sustainable future. As it embarks on this epic journey from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, the scooter will conquer challenging terrains and connect with the essence of what it means to be Indian – a dynamic fusion of tradition and modernity, resilience and community spirit.”
Ampere’s Nex Gen Scooter’s sleek and premium design will be juxtaposed against India’s breathtaking beauty, creating a visual spectacle that embodies the spirit of exploration and innovation.
This marks a new chapter in Greaves Cotton’s 164-year rich legacy of engineering excellence and Ampere’s 15 years of EV manufacturing leadership. With a pan-India network and commitment to exceptional service, GEMPL is poised to revolutionise the electric scooter ecosystem with Ampere’s Nex Big Thing.
Pre-booking of the scooter commences today. More information on the scooter is here.
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.
