MAM
Mallikarjunadas replaces Srinivas as SMG India head
MUMBAI: Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) has announced that its India CEO Mallikarjunadas CR will assume full responsibility for running the agency in India.
Mallikarjunadas replaces CVL Srinivas who has resigned to join GroupM as their South Asia CEO. Srinivas was the Chairman of SMG India but Mallikarjunadas will continue to be designated the CEO while assuming the role of Srinivas.
He will continue to remain as the CEO. In his new role, he will report to Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) president, emerging markets Matt Blackborn, He will now join the Global Management Group, the SMG leadership team of market and client leaders.
As CEO, Malli has been responsible for the day-to-day management of SMG‘s clients in India, as well as leading its business momentum, with recent client wins Dabur, Axis Bank and Aircel, and leading the development of innovative products and an analytical center of excellence for SMG, the company statement read.
Blackborn said, “Since being named as CEO, Malli has worked very closely with CVL Srinivas (Srini), to grow its position in India, serve its clients and motivate its employees. During this time, Srini helped us build a new management structure and transitioned leadership responsibilities to Malli. With the structure set and a strong management team in place, the transition has been completed, and Srini is leaving the company.”
Malli started his career at Leo Burnett Media (now Starcom) working on P&G and has also worked on the client side at Asian Paints and Tata Group, before joining Madison where he was COO of one of the Group companies. He had re-joined SMG as CEO in May 2011.
Also read:
CVL Srinivas replaces Sakhuja at GroupM as South Asia CEO
MAM
Dettol launches new emotional campaign for Antiseptic Liquid
Heartfelt film celebrates mother’s instinct with the tagline “Nothing protects like Mom & Dettol.”
MUMBAI: Dettol has found the perfect formula for its latest campaign, a generous mix of maternal love and antiseptic care that’s sure to tug at every Indian heartstring. The iconic germ protection brand has rolled out a touching new campaign for Dettol Antiseptic Liquid built around the universal truth of a mother’s instinctive care. The film brings to life the simple yet powerful idea: “Nothing protects like Mom & Dettol.”
Set against the lively chaos of a shaadi ka ghar, the story follows a young boy who hurts himself but puts on a brave face to hide his pain. The moment he reaches his mother, she instinctively senses something is wrong. As she gently tends to his wound with Dettol Antiseptic Liquid, his guard drops, leading to a tender role reversal where the child ends up comforting his mother. The film ends with the poignant line, “Apnon ki suraksha ka mazboot sahara.”
The campaign reinforces Dettol’s timeless place in Indian homes as a reassuring companion in moments of vulnerability. It was conceptualised and written by Prasoon Joshi
, with an original track composed by Vishal Khurana K, sung by Javed Ali, and lyrics by Prasoon Joshi. Amit Sharma directed the film.
Reckitt EVP regional director for South Asia Gaurav Jain said the campaign captures the deep emotional bond between a mother’s instinct and Dettol’s protection. “This campaign encapsulates that delicate, human truth, a mother senses hurt even before it is spoken, and Dettol strengthens her ability to respond with care and confidence,” he noted.
Prasoon Joshi added, “When a child is hurt, the first instinct is to reach for their mother, their ultimate safe space. And in that moment, the mother turns to Dettol, something she trusts to protect what matters most.”
As the flagship product in the Dettol portfolio, the Antiseptic Liquid continues to offer unmatched protection for cuts and wounds, standing shoulder to shoulder with mothers through life’s small scrapes and bigger worries.
In a world full of flashy advertisements, Dettol has quietly reminded us once again that the strongest protection often comes wrapped in the simplest, most heartfelt moments, the kind only a mother and a trusted bottle of Dettol can provide.
