MAM
VISA’s joyride with Mr. Bond
West meets East seemed to be theme of VISA’s much appreciated television commercial starring the suave 
Pierce “Bond” Brosnan and Zhang Ziyi, the svelte actress who portrayed the rebellious martial arts exponent in the blockbuster Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon with aplomb. The memorable TV commercial for the Asia Pacific region was created by VISA’s ad agency BBDO.
The charming and enigmatic Brosnan seemed to be a perfect foil to the the “wild” Zhang in the 60-second nail-biting, action packed commercial. Of course, the typical Bond brand of humour and the famed facial expressions which have become a hallmark of Brosnan’s Bond character are all there in this roller-coaster drive of an advertisement. However, two things stand out and threaten to overshadow the superstars – the ‘tuk tuk’ and its driver!
Advertising folklore has it that the TVC was shot with over 200 crew, 100 extras and more than 100 cars and trucks to reconstruct a Chinatown setting with markets and traffic jams. Realism at its best in order to reflect the ethos and culture of the Oriental!
The commercial opens to the setting of a typical street in the crowded city of Bangkok with Brosnan caught in Bangkok’s famous traffic jam. Brosnan is racing against time to make it to his latest heartthrob Zhang. He abandons his sleek limousine and hitches a ride with a tuk tuk driver. The driver, who is an avid film watcher and a typical Bond fan, gets carried away with Bond’s on-screen persona. He embarks upon the “ride of his life” and the sophisticated Mr. Bond has to tag along. Brosnan empathises with his bravado and decides to humour him by joining in.
What follows is a nerve-wrecking journey along the streets of Bangkok as the obsessed driver crashes through billboards, restaurants and crowded markets. The “duo” – should we include the tuk tuk and say “trio” – leave a trail of destruction in their wake as they traverse through the lanes, bylanes and streets – not a trace of cemented avenues or four-lane concretised roads. Mercifully, the journey comes to an end and the debonair Brosnan is delivered to the doorstep of his beloved – at least for the time being.
It is then that tragedy strikes! The tuk tuk falls apart even as the driver and the urbane, refined and polished Brosnan escape without a scratch – or should we say “shaken but not stirred”. The thorough gentleman that he is, a grateful Brosnan whips out his VISA card and offers to pay for the damages!
The commercial ends on a humourous note as Brosnan discovers the tuk tuk driver waiting and wooing him for another ride on his brand new turbo-powered vehicle. The unbeatable gusto and charming smile of the tuk tuk driver will remain etched in memory for years. The punch line “All it takes” is VISA!
The TVC conveys that life is full of possibilities and the power to make things happen lies in the hands of the consumer – with VISA to assist the consumer. The advertisement highlights the versatility and power of VISA and is in line with the global “All it takes” brand advertising campaign. The advertisement exudes energy and confidence with bold and distinctive images – representing the vitality of VISA.
VISA International’s South Asia country manager Santanu Mukherjee says: “We believe this advertisement will reinforce VISA’s brand image as a leader in India. By combining our international association with the James Bond movie Die Another Day and bringing together international celebrities like Pierce Brosnan and Zhang Ziyi, who have a strong appeal across Asia and India, we hope to provide memorable and entertaining advertising. The advertisement aims at providing extraordinary surprises to ordinary everyday situations like a traffic jam!”
An excellent script laced with humour, the unmistakable charm of Brosnan and the rustic simplicity of an “ordinary” human being being elevated to sublime heights in the presence of an icon has delivered another winner for the global brand!
MAM
PwC India announces leadership change in Deals practice
Shashank Jain steps down as co-leader after nearly three decades with the firm.
MUMBAI: When one dealmaker steps off the pitch, another is ready to take the baton because in the fast-moving world of transactions, the game never really stops. PwC India has announced a leadership transition in its Deals practice, with Shashank Jain stepping down from his role as co-leader to pursue an opportunity in the industry. The practice will continue to be led by Mohit Chopra, ensuring continuity and sustained growth momentum.
PwC India partner and leader for advisory dinesh Arora paid tribute to Jain’s contributions. “We deeply appreciate the significant contributions made by Shashank over close to three decades he has spent with PwC, particularly his defining role in shaping and strengthening our Transaction Services practice in India,” he said. Arora highlighted Jain’s support for clients through some of the most complex and significant transactions in the Indian market, noting his deep technical expertise, sound judgment and nuanced understanding of the evolving M&A landscape.
The Deals practice remains a key growth driver for PwC India, and the firm expects continued expansion under Mohit Chopra’s leadership. He will continue to guide clients through complex transactions and transformational business moments, building on the strong foundation established over the years.
Reflecting on his journey, Shashank Jain said, “I have had an exceptional journey at PwC. I owe my growth and learning to the nurturing environment and leadership development that PwC provided.” He added that he had been working closely with Mohit and the larger team to ensure a smooth transition and expressed confidence that Chopra would take the Deals practice to newer heights.
From intern to respected deals leader, Shashank Jain has clearly closed many successful transactions and now, it seems, he’s ready to strike a new deal of his own.
