Brands
Summercool signs 10-episode Teen Taal podcast deal as presenting sponsor
Brand taps content-led marketing with seamless integrations on Aaj Tak show
NEW DELHI: Summercool Coolers has partnered with Teen Taal as the presenting sponsor for a 10-episode podcast series, marking its push into content-led marketing as brands increasingly look beyond traditional advertising formats.
The collaboration with Aaj Tak, part of the India Today Group, aims to tap into the growing influence of podcasts as high-attention platforms where audiences engage more deeply with content.
Instead of standard ad slots, the partnership leans on a content-first approach, with Summercool integrated directly into the show’s environment through studio branding, contextual mentions and visual cues. The idea is simple: be part of the conversation, not a break from it.
Early signs suggest the strategy is working. In the opening episode, the brand is woven into the discussion without interrupting the flow, offering a more natural recall compared to conventional advertising bursts.
Summercool Coolers director finance Abhishek Gupta said, “This partnership reflects our belief in engaging audiences where they are most attentive. By integrating naturally within a compelling storytelling format like Teen Taal, we are able to create authentic connections and drive organic engagement.”
Echoing this, India Today Group Digital CEO Salil Kumar said, “Podcasts today are not just content formats, they are high-attention environments. With Teen Taal, we’ve created a space where brands can participate in conversations, not interrupt them.”
Hosted by Kamlesh Singh, Kuldeep Mishra and Asif Khan, Teen Taal has built a loyal following for its mix of humour, satire and sharp takes on current affairs and everyday culture. That easy, conversational tone makes it a natural fit for brands seeking relevance without being overly intrusive.
With the first episode already live across platforms such as YouTube, Spotify and JioSaavn, the series offers a glimpse into how storytelling and subtle branding can go hand in hand. For Summercool, it is less about cooling the air and more about warming up to a new way of reaching audiences.
Brands
HSBC names Gautam Anand to head global India private banking unit
The bank taps a 25-year veteran to run its franchise as the war for wealthy NRI clients heats up
MUMBAI: HSBC has handed Gautam Anand the keys to its global India private banking business, betting that a seasoned operator can squeeze more out of one of the world’s most lucrative pools of offshore wealth.
Anand, who joined HSBC Private Bank in December 2023 as global co-ordinator for Global India, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe, steps up to lead the franchise outright. He will run the operation across India and its key international outposts in Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Kingdom, putting him squarely in the middle of the corridors through which Indian money flows abroad.
The appointment is a signal of intent. HSBC only launched its global private banking business in India in 2023, pitching hard at high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients as part of a broader assault on Asian wealth management. The bank now wants Anand to turn that beachhead into a fortress.
He comes well-armed. Before HSBC, Anand clocked time at UBS, Credit Suisse, ANZ and ABN Amro, a CV that reads like a roll-call of the banks that have long competed to manage the fortunes of India’s affluent diaspora.
With Indian wealth exploding at home and spreading fast across global financial centres, the race to capture it is only getting fiercer. HSBC is backing Anand to make sure it does not finish second.
