Brands
Tata Motors revs up, hits the curvv with Indian cinema star Vicky Kaushal
MUMBAI: When Indian cinema charisma meets automotive innovation, sparks fly—quite literally. Tata Motors, not content with merely leading India’s automotive race, just turbocharged their brand appeal by roping in Indian cinema’s versatile superstar, Vicky Kaushal. Known for breaking barriers and roles alike, Kaushal is the perfect fit for Tata Motors, a brand always steering boldly off the beaten track.
Launched with the vibrant ‘Take the Curvv’ campaign this IPL season, this high-octane partnership reflects Tata Motors’ commitment to rewriting the rules of mobility. ‘Take the Curvv’ isn’t just about taking turns; it’s about swerving boldly away from the ordinary, a philosophy both Tata Motors and Kaushal embody.
“At Tata Motors, we are constantly pushing boundaries and setting new standards of excellence,” says Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd CCO Vivek Srivatsa. “We are proud to welcome Vicky Kaushal, whose values align with ours—authenticity and positive disruption. Both Vicky and Tata Motors share an unwavering pride in India. With innovation at the core of our brand, the ‘Take the Curvv’ campaign celebrates individuals who choose to carve their own path.”
Equally thrilled, Kaushal expressed, “I am thrilled to make my foray into the world of cars with Tata Motors—a homegrown brand that has redefined how India travels. Tata Motors’ unwavering legacy, coupled with its relentless commitment to innovation and disruption, perfectly reflects my own passion, making this partnership a natural choice.”
The campaign introduces the Tata Curvv, a mid-SUV designed to shake up the market with its striking aesthetics and category-first features. As Vicky speeds through dynamic 20-second IPL spots, he mirrors the spirit of the Curvv, championing boldness, innovation, and individuality.
Brands
Estée Lauder to shed 10,000 jobs as new boss bets on digital shift
The cosmetics giant raises its profit outlook but stays silent on a possible merger with Spain’s Puig, as job cuts deepen and a three-year sales slump weighs on the turnaround
NEW YORK: Stéphane de La Faverie is not done cutting. Estée Lauder announced on Friday that it plans to eliminate as many as 3,000 additional jobs, taking its total redundancy programme to as many as 10,000 roles, up from a previous target of 7,000 announced a year ago. The company, which owns La Mer, The Ordinary, Tom Ford, and Aveda, employs roughly 57,000 people worldwide. The mathematics of what is now being contemplated is stark.
The fresh round of cuts is expected to generate a further $200 million in savings, bringing the total annual savings from the programme to as much as $1.2 billion before taxes. That money, De La Faverie has made clear, will be ploughed back into the turnaround.
A CEO in a hurry
De La Faverie, who took the helm in January 2025, inherited a company that had endured three consecutive years of annual sales declines. His response has been to move fast and cut deep. A significant portion of the latest redundancies reflects his push to reduce headcount at US department stores, long a cornerstone of Estée Lauder’s distribution model but now a channel in structural decline. In their place, he is accelerating the shift toward faster-growing online platforms, including Amazon.com and TikTok Shop, a pivot that is reshaping not just where Estée Lauder sells but how it thinks about its customers.
The numbers are moving in the right direction
Despite the pain, there are signs the medicine is working. Estée Lauder raised its profit outlook for the remainder of the fiscal year, guiding for adjusted earnings per share in the range of $2.35 to $2.45, above analyst estimates and a notable step up from the $2.05 to $2.25 range it had guided for in February. Organic net sales growth is expected to come in at 3 per cent, the company said, at the high end of the range it set out in February.
The share price tells a mixed story. After De La Faverie took charge, the stock surged nearly 60 per cent, buoyed by investor optimism that a longtime company insider could finally arrest the decline. But 2026 has been rougher: the shares have fallen 27 per cent this year, weighed down by disappointing February results and the overhang of unresolved merger talks with Spanish beauty giant Puig Brands SA. The company gave no additional details about those discussions on Friday, leaving the market to guess.
Silence on Puig
The proposed tie-up with Puig remains the most consequential unknown hanging over Estée Lauder. A deal with the Barcelona-based group, which owns brands including Carolina Herrera and Rabanne, would reshape the global luxury beauty landscape. But with nothing new to say and a turnaround still very much in progress, De La Faverie is asking investors to trust the process.
Three years of sales declines, 10,000 job cuts, and a merger that may or may not happen. At Estée Lauder, the overhaul has barely started.
