MAM
Wunderman Thompson India onboards Jyoti Mahendru as chief people officer
MUMBAI: Wunderman Thompson India has announced the appointment of Jyoti Mahendru as its new chief people officer, effective 1 August 2022. Mahendru will be responsible for talent development & talent acquisition strategies across the organisation and its group companies while growing and enhancing the agency’s DEI, talent management and development initiatives. She will report directly to Wunderman Thompson South Asia CEO Shams Jasani.
Mahendru is a seasoned professional who has spent over two decades in the industry guiding organisations through growth and transformation. She has held leadership positions across diverse industries, such as media, retail & advertising. She joins Wunderman Thompson from McCann Worldgroup India where she served as the executive vice president of human resources.
Wunderman Thompson South Asia CEO Shams Jasani said on the appointment, “People are our strongest asset and Jyoti’s appointment comes at a time when we are keenly looking at bolstering our efforts to create an environment that fosters learning, growth and development. With her varied exposure, expertise and experience, Jyoti will help us build high performance teams that is integral to our next phase of growth, while helping us streamline processes and shape practices that will enable every employee to accelerate growth, unlock their potential and have a fulfilling career.”
On taking up her new role at Wunderman Thompson, India, Jyoti Mahendru, commented, “Wunderman Thompson India is on an incredible journey to inspire growth for businesses and talent. It is an honour and a privilege to be a part of a legacy agency that has set its vision on being people first that recognises and rewards talent, with a strong focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. As the new chief people officer, I am looking to drive change that not only creates an agile future-ready organisation, but also, increases a sense of employee belonging and fosters the next generation of leaders.”
Brands
DeVANS sparks buzz with self-chilling beer can April Fools campaign
Godfather stunt racks up 7 million impressions, blending humour with hype
NEW DELHI: DeVANS Modern Breweries has stirred up the marketing pot with a playful yet high-impact campaign teasing a futuristic “self-chilling beer can” under its flagship Godfather label.
What began as a seemingly bold product innovation quickly turned into one of the most talked-about brand moments online, before being revealed as an April Fools’ Day prank. The reveal, however, did little to cool the buzz.
The campaign clocked over 7 million organic impressions across platforms including LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and X, with users debating whether the concept was a genuine breakthrough or clever marketing theatre. Thousands of shares and comments turned the idea into a full-blown conversation, drawing in both consumers and industry insiders.
The hook was simple but effective. A self-chilling can positioned as an on-the-go convenience product tapped into the imagination of younger, urban audiences. Add the timing around April Fools’ Day, and the campaign struck the perfect balance between curiosity and scepticism, keeping audiences guessing.
Marketing experts have pointed to the campaign as a case study in leveraging cultural moments. By leaving just enough ambiguity, the brand invited audiences to participate rather than simply observe, turning passive viewers into active contributors to the narrative.
“Godfather has always been an iconic brand, but iconicity must evolve to stay meaningful,” said DeVANS Modern Breweries chairman and managing director Prem Dewan. “The ‘Self-Chilling Can’ was our way of showing up in a cultural moment with confidence and a sense of humour.”
Beyond the numbers, the campaign signals a broader repositioning for Godfather. Long seen as a legacy beer brand, it is now leaning into youth culture, digital-first storytelling and topical engagement to stay relevant in a crowded alcobev market.
In a space where attention is fleeting, DeVANS has shown that sometimes the coolest idea is the one that keeps people guessing.
