MAM
Reliance Games ups Amit Khanduja as CEO
MUMBAI: Reliance Entertainment has appointed Amit Khanduja as the new CEO of Reliance Games.
Khanduja, who is currently the COO of the company, will take on his new position from 1 June, 2015 from the present CEO Manish Agarwal.
With about 10 games scheduled to launch globally, Reliance Games is well poised for continued success in global markets, especially in North America and Western Europe. The company also announced a new market expansion strategy to gain share in the domestic market.
Reliance Group, group managing director Amitabh Jhunjhunwala said, “Amit is a proven leader, and has built a strong foundation for innovation and growth. I am confident that under his leadership, we will chart a promising new phase of success in the global mobile and digital gaming space.”
Khanduja added, “I am deeply honoured to take this role and lead the team on an exciting journey both in the global and fast growing domestic markets. We have been on the forefront of delivering great consumer experiences on digital platforms over the past 36 months, and will continue on the growth path with renewed focus on new innovations and market expansions in this space.”
Khanduja has an experience of over two decades in mobile and digital media. Prior to joining Reliance Group, he held various positions in companies like Sun Microsystems and Hewlett Packard among others.
Brands
DeVANS sparks buzz with self-chilling beer can April Fools campaign
Godfather stunt racks up 7 million impressions, blending humour with hype
NEW DELHI: DeVANS Modern Breweries has stirred up the marketing pot with a playful yet high-impact campaign teasing a futuristic “self-chilling beer can” under its flagship Godfather label.
What began as a seemingly bold product innovation quickly turned into one of the most talked-about brand moments online, before being revealed as an April Fools’ Day prank. The reveal, however, did little to cool the buzz.
The campaign clocked over 7 million organic impressions across platforms including LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and X, with users debating whether the concept was a genuine breakthrough or clever marketing theatre. Thousands of shares and comments turned the idea into a full-blown conversation, drawing in both consumers and industry insiders.
The hook was simple but effective. A self-chilling can positioned as an on-the-go convenience product tapped into the imagination of younger, urban audiences. Add the timing around April Fools’ Day, and the campaign struck the perfect balance between curiosity and scepticism, keeping audiences guessing.
Marketing experts have pointed to the campaign as a case study in leveraging cultural moments. By leaving just enough ambiguity, the brand invited audiences to participate rather than simply observe, turning passive viewers into active contributors to the narrative.
“Godfather has always been an iconic brand, but iconicity must evolve to stay meaningful,” said DeVANS Modern Breweries chairman and managing director Prem Dewan. “The ‘Self-Chilling Can’ was our way of showing up in a cultural moment with confidence and a sense of humour.”
Beyond the numbers, the campaign signals a broader repositioning for Godfather. Long seen as a legacy beer brand, it is now leaning into youth culture, digital-first storytelling and topical engagement to stay relevant in a crowded alcobev market.
In a space where attention is fleeting, DeVANS has shown that sometimes the coolest idea is the one that keeps people guessing.
