MAM
IPL’s brand value up by 4%; CSK replaces Mumbai as the most valuable: Brand Finance
MUMBAI: The Indian Premier League (IPL)‘s brand value has grown for the first time in four years to $3.03 billion, up from $2.92 billion last year a rise of four per cent. But it is still a far cry from $4.13 billion in 2010. The nine franchisees‘ total brand value has reached $325.8 million this year from $321.12 million last year.
The bigger question though is whether the league is fit for the long run. Also sweeping ethical infractions under the carpet is not an option according to a brand valuation report on the IPL made by consulting firm Brand Finance. The lacunae in transparency and accountability in the IPL ecosystem which drives trust and alignment amongst stakeholders remains to be addressed in full measure and lies beneath the waters as a significant unmitigated risk.
The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) is the most valuable IPL franchise. Their value has grown to $45.42 million up slightly from $45.28 million last year. There are three pillars that brand finance used for evaluating a franchises‘ brand value – cricket excellence, corporate governance and marketing excellence and commercial strategy. India Cements joint president marketing Rakesh Singh noted that the franchise aims to be active throughout the year. “”Our aim is that at least every second month there should be an activity. The Chennai Super Kings cannot be just about two months. So we do things across the year that touches different segments of society”.
CSK‘s aim is to look at the bigger picture and be a sports brand by going beyond just cricket. “We feel that it is important that when the CSK brand engages with constituents it should not be only about cricket. This way CSK will be built as a sports brand” said Singh.
The franchise that has grown the most in value has been the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) which saw a 15.2 per cent jump to $44.98 million from $39.03 million last year putting it in second spot compared to fourth last year. In an interview with Indiantelevision.com KKR CEO Venky Mysore said that the aim over the past two years had been to function like a corporate. That meant bringing in systems and processes and having more transparency. The last two years have seen a dramatic change in fortune of the franchise on the field which has translated into better off the field perception and value.
On the other hand the brand value of Mumbai Indians and the Royal Challengers Bangalore has fallen. The Mukesh Ambani owned franchise has seen its value fall to $44.62 million from $48.21 million last year. Last year it was in the top spot. Nonetheless Brand Finance maintains that the franchise along with CSK and KKR is leading in terms of value creation. Meanwhile the Vijay Mallya owned franchise‘s value has fallen to 37.81 million from $41.15 million but it nonetheless holds a lot of promise. These are the only two franchises whose brand value has fallen.
Delhi Daredevils which is currently struggling on the field holds promise as their brand value jump to $34.22 million from 32.19 million last year. The new franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad, owned by Sun TV is valued at $31.49 million and also holds promise.
Kings XI Punjab which has sorted out its legal issues with the BCCI saw a 7.4 per cent jump in value to $30.78 million from $28.68 million. But Brand Finance notes that it continues struggling to create value. The franchise expects that now that things are sorted out the future will be better in terms of areas like sponsorship revenue. The franchises CEO Colonel Arvinder Singh says that all its marketing programmes as well as media and social interactions are positioned keeping in mind the loyal Punjabi Fan. “We have concentrated on being a fan centric team not only through regular engagement but also through on ground social programs such as women‘s empowerment. It is this fan centric approach that has resulted in an increase in brand value for the franchise. We shall also be doing a lot more in this field to further enhance our brand value.”
The Sahara owned Pune Warriors India‘s brand value is also struggling. Its brand value is up marginally by two per cent to $29.45 million. The Rajasthan Royals continue to languish in last position with their value being practically flat at $27.05 million.
Brand Finance global strategy director M Unni Krishnan said that after having witnessed a steep fall in its long-term value of over a billion dollars from its peak, IPL‘s trust capital seems to hold steady at $3.03 billion compared to $2.9 billion last year.
“The relative stability at these lower levels can be largely attributed to efforts being put in by the BCCI as well as the franchisees to bring consistency in the cricketing product enhance fan engagement and loyalty through wide spread marketing efforts. The learning curve has been steep and some clubs seem to have cracked the code across various marketing, cricketing and business performance drivers.”
He adds that with the franchisees entering the sixth year of its operations, they face an acid test of commercial sustenance. Their destiny is intertwined with the IPL‘s as a whole.
He noted that the league is trying to claw its way back with operational improvements. But the trust flows with stakeholders will eventually determine the health of the IPL‘s long-term cash flows. He warns that while the short-term operational improvements are encouraging, they need to be aligned to the strategic canvas of what IPL really means for the emerging Indian identity and cricket as an international sport which can spread opportunity and value in a fair and equitable way.
“IPL is a means towards this greater good and not an end in itself. Whilst all organisations go through highs and lows the real question to be asked is one of sustainability and endurance. Is IPL able to rise to its higher calling and is it fit for the long run?”
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.
