Brands
Himalaya hits the streets: bringing cool comfort to Chennai’s sweltering summer
MUMBAI: Chennai’s Marina Beach saw an unusual sight this July: not just sunbathers or cricket matches, but a Himalaya-branded truck booth parked amid the crowd, drawing traffic police, sanitation workers, and commuters seeking relief from the unrelenting Tamil sun.
In a campaign more about care than commerce, Himalaya Wellness took its Aloe Vera Gel Face Wash directly to the streets with mobile Aloe Vera Truck Carts stationed at hotspots across Tamil Nadu. The setup was refreshingly simple—free face washes, a shaded spot, and a brief pause from the city’s heat. For many, it felt like more than a brand activation; it was a moment of genuine respite.
The response was immediate. Traffic constables stopped in for a cool wash, sanitation staff cleansed away the city’s grit, and passersby lingered not just for a product demo but for a rare moment of connection—with themselves, and with a brand showing up when it counted.
“For us, wellness is about how we show up in people’s real lives,” said Ragini Hariharan, Marketing Director – Beauty & Personal Care, Himalaya Wellness. “In Tamil Nadu’s peak summer, our booths became safe, soothing spaces. Whether a constable cooled off or a vendor washed away fatigue, these small moments made a big impact. That’s real connection.”
For Pratheep Kumar, Media Manager at Himalaya and a Chennai native, the idea was born out of empathy. “Anyone who’s lived here knows how relentless the heat is. Marina Beach is where the city comes alive—so it was the perfect place to offer a moment of relief.”
A short film capturing the activation showcases candid reactions—smiles, sighs, and thanks—from those who experienced the booth. The footage doesn’t just spotlight the face wash; it tells a story of care, comfort, and a brand living its purpose one face at a time.
For Himalaya, the Aloe Vera Truck Cart is more than a marketing pop-up. It’s a real-world gesture rooted in the brand’s nature-first legacy—a reminder that sometimes, the most powerful brand moments come in simple, human acts: a cool wash on a hot afternoon, offered with empathy.
To see the spirit in action, watch the campaign video here:
And if you’re braving Chennai’s summer, keep an eye out—you never know when a Himalaya truck might roll by, offering a much-needed pause in the heat.
Brands
HSBC names Gautam Anand to head global India private banking unit
The bank taps a 25-year veteran to run its franchise as the war for wealthy NRI clients heats up
MUMBAI: HSBC has handed Gautam Anand the keys to its global India private banking business, betting that a seasoned operator can squeeze more out of one of the world’s most lucrative pools of offshore wealth.
Anand, who joined HSBC Private Bank in December 2023 as global co-ordinator for Global India, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe, steps up to lead the franchise outright. He will run the operation across India and its key international outposts in Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Kingdom, putting him squarely in the middle of the corridors through which Indian money flows abroad.
The appointment is a signal of intent. HSBC only launched its global private banking business in India in 2023, pitching hard at high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients as part of a broader assault on Asian wealth management. The bank now wants Anand to turn that beachhead into a fortress.
He comes well-armed. Before HSBC, Anand clocked time at UBS, Credit Suisse, ANZ and ABN Amro, a CV that reads like a roll-call of the banks that have long competed to manage the fortunes of India’s affluent diaspora.
With Indian wealth exploding at home and spreading fast across global financial centres, the race to capture it is only getting fiercer. HSBC is backing Anand to make sure it does not finish second.
