MAM
Will Salman Khan succeed to keep his brand value intact?
MUMBAI: With over Rs 200 crore riding on the actor, Salman Khan’s brands and producers are as worried as the actor himself. After Mumbai Court’s verdict earlier today, Khan will be spending the next five years in jail, which inevitably puts a big question mark over his brand value.
Forbes listed Khan at the pole position in the list of top earning celebrity with Rs 244.30 crore and there are numerous brands, which have him as a brand ambassador. As the days ahead unfold, it remains to be seen if the verdict does impact the brands he’s associated with.
Khan has been associated with brands like Thums Up, Revital, Wheel, Astral Pipes, PN Gadgil Jewellers, Dixcy Scott, Relaxo and Suzuki. However, the media buying and planning fraternity they seems to have been prepared for the verdict, which was announced today.
Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Helios Media managing director Divya Radhakrishnan says, “Brands were prepared for this. Salman didn’t commit the crime now and whichever brand has associated with him was aware of the fact that he may land up in jail any moment as the case was in court. On the question if this will impact brands; well, after knowing that Salman is accused of murder and illegal hunting, people gave him record weekends in theatres. I think that just about settles the argument.”
Another industry expert and brand manager with a talent management firm opines that the current judgment spelt a career-ending move for Khan. “There is a strong reason for brands to drop Salman Khan. Brands like Coca Cola, Suzuki or Unilever have all talked about an integrity and ethical based management style, social governance and social responsibility. They speak about being leaders in society. For them, to have a point of view and image and then also to have a convicted murderer as their brand ambassador, just doesn’t fit well. If he continues as a brand ambassador, they will lose all credibility in terms of social integrity and leadership,” the manager says.
A media executive dealing with celebrity brand endorsements, on condition of anonymity, too remarks in the negative. Speaking about the outrage on social media, he says, “Yes, you will have a large number of people expressing their sympathies. That’s the fan base and they and will support him. From their perspective, if he has killed someone and then bribed the driver maybe to take the blame, the person does not deserve to go to jail.”
Providing another insight, he adds, “Having to listen to what his supporters have to say is very polarizing. One section also strongly feels that he should go to jail and as a marketer you cannot have something polarizing. Yes, he has a fan base but it is going to antagonize the majority. Brands have no choice but to drop Salman Khan. They continued their association until now as the case was on-going and it was a matter of being innocent until proven guilty.”
On his expected appeal in the high court, the executive remarks, “He will appeal in the High Court but he bottom line is that he is guilty until proven otherwise.”
The advertising industry has always spoken aggressively about ethics and honesty. Echoing the same sentiments, a creative director of a reputed organization says, “As he has been officially convicted for breaking the law, it would be moral suicide for brands if they still stick to Salman Khan… at least till the time that he has served his term in jail. He has been lying to the court that he was not on driver’s seat when the accident took place and one after another conspiracy theorieswere put forth. He has a huge fan base and certainly they will stick to him even now but a criminal is a criminal and brands should not make him the face of promotion, in my opinion.”
Khan was also the host of the popular reality show Bigg Boss on Colors. The channel was supposed to have his services as host in the upcoming season too.When enquired about the impact of court’s verdict, a source in the channel says, “It is too early to make a statement on this as the show is still four to five months away.”
While there was a bloodbath on the bourses today, with the Sensex and Nifty falling 723 points and 228 points respectively, media scrips associated with the actor like Eros International Media and Mandhana Industries also saw a fall following the court’s verdict. Eros International Media, which owns the global rights of Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Hero, fell 5.72 per cent to close the day at Rs 380.80. On the other hand, Mandhana Industries, which has the exclusive global license to design, manufacture, retail and distribute Khan’s Being Human Clothing line, was down 4.24 per cent and closed the day at Rs 264.54.
Brands
Hardik Jhaveri named senior director marketing at Colgate-Palmolive Asean hub
Former Hill’s Pet Nutrition general manager returns to the company to steer marketing for South Asean from Kuala Lumpur
KUALA LUMPUR: Hardik Jhaveri has been appointed senior director marketing for the South Asean hub at Colgate-Palmolive, marking a return to the consumer goods major after a three year stint with Hill’s Pet Nutrition. He will be based in Kuala Lumpur and will lead marketing strategy for the region.
Jhaveri joins the role after serving as general manager at Hill’s Pet Nutrition in Taipei, where he led a cross functional team and oversaw the business with full profit and loss responsibility. The role placed him at the helm of operations in Taiwan, managing growth in what he described as a start-up style environment within a global multinational.
Before that, Jhaveri spent over a decade with Colgate-Palmolive across several marketing and innovation roles in Asia. As associate director innovation for Apac excluding China, based in Hong Kong, he led new product development and launches across multiple markets.
His portfolio ranged from developing specialised oral care products such as a diabetes focused toothpaste for the Indian market to launching premium oral care experiences under the Colgate Total brand in Australia. Alongside innovation, he also worked on launch planning, brand strategy and communications for the company’s oral care portfolio.
Earlier in his Colgate-Palmolive journey, Jhaveri held roles including marketing manager innovation, senior brand manager and brand manager. His work spanned urban and rural markets in Mumbai and customer development responsibilities in the Greater Kolkata Area.
Prior to his long association with Colgate-Palmolive, Jhaveri worked as brand officer home care at Unilever, where he helped drive marketing initiatives for the Rin detergent brand, including nationwide relaunch and on ground activation campaigns.
He began his career in advertising with Bates David Enterprise, working on brands such as IDBI Bank, The Leela Hotels and The Times of India.
Jhaveri holds a post graduate programme in management from the Indian School of Business and has also completed a level 4 diploma in wine from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust.
Announcing the move, Jhaveri said he is excited to begin his new chapter at Colgate-Palmolive’s South Asean hub and thanked colleagues and mentors who supported his journey at Hill’s Pet Nutrition.
