Brands
Google Cloud names Vaibhav Gawde as head of customer engineering, Apac data management and database cloud
Tech veteran to lead customer engineering for data and database cloud across Apac
SINGAPORE: Google Cloud has elevated Vaibhav Gawde to head of customer engineering for Apac data management and database cloud, expanding his leadership remit across the Asia Pacific region.
In his new role, Gawde will lead teams that work with some of the region’s largest enterprises, helping them modernise their data foundations and adopt advanced database and cloud technologies. His focus will be on enabling scalable data architectures, accelerating innovation and supporting organisations as they navigate complex digital transformation journeys.
Based in Singapore, Gawde will steer Google Cloud’s customer engineering organisation for its database business across Apac. A key part of his mandate includes shaping the company’s “data-to-AI” go-to-market strategy, positioning modern data infrastructure as a stepping stone for generative AI adoption.
He will also work closely with sales leadership to drive cloud consumption among large enterprises while removing technical roadblocks that often slow digital transformation. Internally, he is tasked with nurturing a practitioner-first culture aimed at attracting and retaining top technical talent across the region.
Gawde joined Google in 2021 and previously served as head of customer engineering for financial services in India before moving into the role of principal architect for financial services across Apac. In those roles, he led C-suite engagements with banks and insurers to design AI-led cloud and data strategies.
Before Google, Gawde spent over a decade at Oracle, where he led India sales consulting and worked on technology strategies spanning cloud infrastructure, databases and enterprise systems for large BFSI and telecom clients.
With more than three decades in enterprise technology, Gawde’s career has moved from building mission-critical infrastructure to helping businesses rethink their data strategy in the age of AI. His latest promotion signals Google Cloud’s growing focus on data platforms as the bedrock of the next wave of digital innovation.
Brands
DeVANS sparks buzz with self-chilling beer can April Fools campaign
Godfather stunt racks up 7 million impressions, blending humour with hype
NEW DELHI: DeVANS Modern Breweries has stirred up the marketing pot with a playful yet high-impact campaign teasing a futuristic “self-chilling beer can” under its flagship Godfather label.
What began as a seemingly bold product innovation quickly turned into one of the most talked-about brand moments online, before being revealed as an April Fools’ Day prank. The reveal, however, did little to cool the buzz.
The campaign clocked over 7 million organic impressions across platforms including LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and X, with users debating whether the concept was a genuine breakthrough or clever marketing theatre. Thousands of shares and comments turned the idea into a full-blown conversation, drawing in both consumers and industry insiders.
The hook was simple but effective. A self-chilling can positioned as an on-the-go convenience product tapped into the imagination of younger, urban audiences. Add the timing around April Fools’ Day, and the campaign struck the perfect balance between curiosity and scepticism, keeping audiences guessing.
Marketing experts have pointed to the campaign as a case study in leveraging cultural moments. By leaving just enough ambiguity, the brand invited audiences to participate rather than simply observe, turning passive viewers into active contributors to the narrative.
“Godfather has always been an iconic brand, but iconicity must evolve to stay meaningful,” said DeVANS Modern Breweries chairman and managing director Prem Dewan. “The ‘Self-Chilling Can’ was our way of showing up in a cultural moment with confidence and a sense of humour.”
Beyond the numbers, the campaign signals a broader repositioning for Godfather. Long seen as a legacy beer brand, it is now leaning into youth culture, digital-first storytelling and topical engagement to stay relevant in a crowded alcobev market.
In a space where attention is fleeting, DeVANS has shown that sometimes the coolest idea is the one that keeps people guessing.
