MAM
Media frat bonds at first global Aids creative meeting
MUMBAI: A couple of days ago, the first-ever global creative meeting on HIV/Aids was held by the United Nations in New York.
The event was attended by over 100 creative and programming directors from 35 media companies, leading media figures and non-government organisations from around the world.
The participants included Indian director Revathy Menon, whose film Phir Milenge addressed the social problem earlier this year. Actor and long-time activist Richard Gere delivered the keynote address at the meeting. He dwelt on the Heroes Project, a three-year campaign to combat the Aids in India.
Viacom chairman and CEO Sumner M Redstone said, “With two-thirds of the estimated cases preventable through information and education, the power of media is one of the most formidable tools that we have in fighting HIV/Aids. This disease knows no boundaries, no genders, and no ethnicities and so must our response.
“Now, more than ever, our industry must work together to find new and compelling ways to make HIV/Aids relevant to our audiences and to deliver lifesaving information to our viewers. Collectively, we can make a critical difference by helping to save millions of lives.”
Case studies that were featured at the meeting included Sesame Workshop’s co-produced series with South Africa Broadcasting Corporation, Takalani Sesame. This claims to be the first pre-school TV show to tackle the issue of stigmatisation through an HIV-positive five-year-old girl Muppet named Kami.
MTV Networks International creative director Cristian Jofre presented The R-Evolution of HIV/AIDS Communication. This was an overview of how media campaigns have evolved globally since the 1980’s among the film, music, television, sports and advertising industries.
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.
