Brands
Fastrack compelled to withdraw its latest ad
MUMBAI: Long ago, in 1995, when models Milind Soman and Madhu Sapre went bold to show their seductive side while endorsing a shoe brand, they created a furor. While the advertising fraternity claimed it to be a coming of age ad, almost all the “socially responsible” groups came together to raise their voice against the ad that put everyone associated with it in a sticky situation.
Even after almost two decades the situation doesn’t seem to have changed much. This time the youth brand, Fastrack, which has become popular for its daring stance on youth issues, is at the receiving end. A latest Out-of-Home (OOH) campaign by the fashion and lifestyle brand from the house of Tata’s shows youngsters draped in tape that has “sale” written on it.
The campaign conceptualised by Lowe Lintas was launched in the middle of this month and will be on till mid-February. Ironically, the brand, which till now has been appreciated for its unprecedented take on the social causes, had to take a step back in this case.
Sources from the industry reveal that the campaign has been at the receiving end from certain sections of the society since the time it was launched, some even claiming the ad to be objectifying women. Thus, the brand was compelled to take off the ad.
Lowe Lintas’ NCD Arun Iyer confirmed the news with indiantelevison.com and said that it was a mutual decision taken by both the teams (brand and creative) to take off the advertisement. However, a new campaign will replace it within 24 hours, he informs.
The brand has over eight million likes on Facebook.
Brands
Emami names Dhruv Aggarwal as chief growth officer
Former Bain partner steps in as FMCG firm sharpens growth playbook
MUMBAI: Emami Limited has appointed Dhruv Aggarwal as its chief growth officer, effective 25 March 2026, following the resignation of Giriraj Bagri.
Aggarwal joins the FMCG major from Bain & Company, where he most recently served as partner. With over two decades of experience across consulting and strategy, he brings a global perspective shaped by work across India, the US, the UK and Germany.
During his tenure at Bain, Aggarwal advised consumer, retail and media companies on large-scale transformations, business turnarounds and growth strategies. He was also closely involved with India’s startup ecosystem, guiding early-stage ventures on scaling and digital expansion, while supporting private equity and venture capital firms on investment decisions.
His earlier stints include a brief role at Barclays Capital and operational experience at Jindal Power, giving him a mix of financial and industry exposure.
Academically, Aggarwal holds an MBA from Indian Institute of Management Bangalore and has also been associated with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as a PhD candidate and teaching assistant.
The appointment comes at a time when Emami Limited is looking to sharpen its growth strategy in a competitive consumer market. With a seasoned strategist now at the helm of growth, the company appears set to double down on transformation and expansion in the months ahead.
