MAM
Virat Kohli becomes brand ambassador for Hero MotoCorp
MUMBAI: Two-wheeler manufacturer Hero MotoCorp has announced cricket icon and captain of the Indian national cricket team Virat Kohli as its brand ambassador.
Kohli will start his innings with Hero MotoCorp, riding on the new Xtreme 200R premium motorcycle. The campaign featuring Virat on the Xtreme 200R went live on Wednesday across TV, print, outdoor and digital platforms, to coincide with the start of the nationwide retails sales of the Xtreme 200R.
The new premium motorcycle has been priced at Rs 89,900 (ex-showroom Delhi).
Hero MotoCorp chairman MD and CEO Pawan Munjal says, “Hero MotoCorp is all about new-age, technologically superior and aesthetically pleasing products which are also fun to ride. Brand Hero stands for trust, excellence and resilience – the qualities that truly personifies the charisma of Virat as a global icon. He represents the youth of today, which ‘Fears Nothing’ and aims for the pinnacle – characteristics that have always defined Brand Hero. It is indeed my pleasure to welcome Virat onboard the global family of Hero MotoCorp and wish him a lot of success and fun in this new innings.”
Virat epitomises the way of life and attitude of the new generation of youth across India and the world. Displaying leadership qualities from a young age, when he led the Indian team to win the U-19 Cricket World Cup in 2008, Virat has evolved over the past decade to emerge as a global youth icon that ‘Fears Nothing’. Virat is today the world’s top test and one day international (ODI) batsman in the ICC rankings.
Kohli adds, “Millions of young boys and girls of my generation have grown up riding Hero motorcycles and scooters and it is, therefore, a unique and special feeling to associate with this brand. I have known Pawan Ji for long, and I thank him for giving me this opportunity to represent Hero MotoCorp at the global arena. Hero MotoCorp has been one of the largest corporate promoters of sports and sportspersons across various disciplines over the past two decades, and I consider this a huge privilege to be a part of the Hero family. I am eagerly looking forward to an exciting ride ahead.”
Hero MotoCorp has been one of the largest corporate promoters of multiple sporting disciplines, including cricket, golf, football, field hockey and motorsports in India and across the world. The company has also promoted sports persons from various disciplines of sports, including cricket, football and golf.
Hero MotoCorp’s well-documented association with cricket spans over two decades, in various capacities. Over the course of this long association, it was one of the global partners of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Several top Indian cricketers have earlier been associated with the company as brand ambassadors for many years. Hero MotoCorp has also been a partner of the Indian Premier League (IPL) – both at the central level as well as the team sponsor of the Delhi Daredevils and Mumbai Indians. The company is currently the title sponsor of the Hero Caribbean Premier League, (Hero CPL) – the biggest T20 tournament in the Caribbean.
Brands
Burda Media sells BurdaLuxury to Jaipur Capital in Southeast Asia push
Deal hands regional media portfolio to Singapore investor eyeing luxury growth
MUMBAI: Burda Media has agreed to sell its Southeast Asia-focused business, BurdaLuxury, to Jaipur Capital, marking a strategic shift for both companies as they double down on their respective growth priorities.
The deal will see Jaipur Capital acquire BurdaLuxury’s media operations across Thailand, India, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. The portfolio spans content marketing and media brands in travel, luxury and aviation, giving the investor a ready-made regional footprint and a sizeable audience base.
Jaipur Capital plans to build on this foundation to create a premium media network in Southeast Asia, blending high-end editorial with scalable digital platforms. As part of the transaction, all BurdaLuxury employees, including its management team, will move to the new owner, ensuring continuity as the business enters its next phase.
For Burda Media, the sale is part of a broader strategy to sharpen its focus on core European markets while scaling investments in digital-first opportunities. The company will, however, maintain its interest in the region through Burda Principal Investments, its global growth capital arm.
“This transaction reflects our commitment to sharpening our international focus while ensuring that BurdaLuxury continues to thrive in Southeast Asia,” said Burda Media CEO Jan Wachtel, adding that Jaipur Capital recognises the strength of the brands and teams involved.
Jaipur Capital, meanwhile, is betting big on the region’s appetite for premium content. “This acquisition significantly strengthens our premium content ecosystem,” said Jaipur Capital director Vikas Johari. He highlighted the business’s strong digital tilt, with 46 per cent of revenues coming from online channels, alongside a diversified presence across five markets.
The numbers tell a compelling story. BurdaLuxury clocks 48 million annual page views and reaches more than 40 million followers on social media, with no single market contributing over a quarter of total revenues. Jaipur Capital now aims to expand these brands further into Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines, while also exploring opportunities in the Middle East, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
With this deal, Burda Media trims its global footprint to focus on depth over breadth, while Jaipur Capital steps onto a bigger stage in the premium content space. If execution matches ambition, this could be a defining chapter for luxury media in the region.
