MAM
NDTV, Malaysia Tourism board look to capitalise on F1 fever
MUMBAI: Malaysia – Truly Asia! With Narain Kartikeyan joining the Formula One team of Jordan, F1 fever is on a gradual rise in India.
In order to capitalise on the excitement and lure Indians to Malaysia, the Malaysia Tourism Board has announced a tie up with news broadcaster NDTV. One of the races takes place in Sepang Malaysia from 18-20 March 2005.
NDTV is all geared up for a heavy promotion across its three channels (NDTV 24×7, NDTV Profit and NDTV India) from 28 February. Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, at a corporate do on 22 February, NDTV CEO Raj Nayak said, ” We will be conducting a Speed to Sepang Contest. Viewers get the chance to win an all expense stay in Malaysia to see the race . Advertisers are already showing interest in F1 and the sport will grow in popularity faster than people think. Till now it has been all cricket.
“However with Kartikeyan and Sania Mirza in tennis doing well sponsorship money will go to these sports. Of course a lot will also depend on how these two fare as the year goes on.”
Nayak added that in 1997-98 when he was selling ESPN Star Sports, Kingfisher sponsored a F1 car. “They must be kicking themselves that they did not continue with the sponsorship. There is a need for corporates to encourage sports other than cricket. We at NDTV will put our best foot forward. In the promos you will see shots of Kartikeyan as well as what facilities Malaysia has to offer. While we would love to use Kartikeyan as a promotional tool he is very busy travelling. We might also tie up with Fosters for cross branding in pubs and restaurants.”
Malaysia Tourism Board representative Manoharan pointed out that Malaysia is a tourists’ paradise. ” In 2003 we had used Celina Jaitley and got a 1000 visitors from India. Last year because of the elections in India the number of people travelling to Malaysia came down. This year we are targetting at least 2000 visitors from India for the race. If we reach 5000 we will be over the moon. Overall we are looking at 120,000 visitors. In 1999 when we started we got 80,000 visitors.
“We chose NDTV because of its reach and the fact that people that can afford to spend watch the channel. I am sure that Indians will cheer Kartikeyan on and if given a chance they would visit our country. It is cheaper than Europe and also the plane ticket cost is cheaper than some domestic flights in India. Hopefully we will be able to get Celina again though I understand that she is busy making films. If we cannot get her then we will look at roping in another Bollywood star.”
The Sepang International Circuit (SIC) organises and promotes the 2005 Formula One Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix. Manoharan added that in India the board promotes its customised packages among corporate sponsors. This marks a change in strategy from a few years ago when their promotions revolved around creating awareness about the country and what it offered. The board has initiated dialogue with 60 sponsors. Emailers are one important promotional tool for the board. The board has also in the past used channels like CNN for a cross regional promotion. Print insertions will also appear in select Indian publications urging people to visit the country.
“For Formula One attendees there will also be a Gala dinner. We expect several thousand attendees. The proceeds will go towards helping the victims of the Tsunami natural disaster.”
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.
