Name: Jaikishin Chhaproo

Designation: Manager - Group Media - Godrej Consumer Products

Sun Sign: Leo, 13 August 1973

Educational Experience
Bachelor of Engineering (Instrumentation) - 1994. Vivekanand Education Society's Institute of Technology (VESIT), Bombay University.

Post Graduate Program in Management Studies (Marketing) - 1997. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research (SIMSR), Bombay.

Professional Experience
Joined R.K. Engineering in 1994 as Sales Engineer - Designing & Marketing of Control Valves & related accessories.

Joined Plus Channel early 1997 handling media research & acquisitions of serials & movies marketed by Plus.

Joined Wipro Consumer Care in Feb. 1999 as Manager - Media, handling the media requirements for brands like Santoor, Wipro Baby Care, Wipro Corporate Identity (Sunflower logo).

Joined Godrej Consumer Products Ltd in June 2001 as Manager - Group Media.

Job Profile
Handling media for Cinthol, ColourSoft, FairGlow, Godrej No. 1, Godrej Ezee etc. Besides this I coordinate for the media requirements for Group Companies Godrej Sara Lee, Godrej Foods, and Godrej Agrovet (Real Good Chicken).

Marketing as career choice
After doing my engineering, I joined a marketing firm- R.K. Engineering and worked for a year only to realize that I could not do this for the rest of my life. I opted to study further and so decided to do my MBA and joined Somaiya. I was actually planning to specialise in Finance.

Somewhere then I firmed my mind and decided to seriously consider Marketing as the field and make a career in Media. Maybe it was based on the down trend in the finance sector.

Once my mind was made - all roads ahead were towards a career in advertising. Be it my projects or summers. I would actually approach agencies and interact with client servicing heads and media directors to understand the various facets in advertising.

Must surely take this opportunity to thank all those good Samaritans. A very special mention to Ms Sumita Das - who was very helpful. Thank You Sumita.

Current Marketing scenario
Thankfully the market for most categories has revived close to normalcy. Unlike a few years back when all we could hear and see was recession. Every other person was jumping onto the dot com jamboree. As far as the categories I have worked on - the market will take maybe a year to two years to start showing a positive swing.

Right and wrong about the current marketing scenario
The marketers have pampered the consumer and spoiled his/her purchase behavior. I think we have taken "Customer is the King" a bit too literally.

Where is the (loyal) consumer? Have you seen one lately?? The consumers are today loyal to brands offering them gold coins, foreign trips etc?? Till Stocks last.

Five years from now
Buying Media.

Hobbies
Fishes. I have an aquarium at my place. I keep adding more fishes almost each week. Besides this, while traveling I usually prefer to move with a book. I usually enjoy fiction and have read all the books of Sidney Sheldon and Jeffery Archer. Currently I am enjoying the collection of Ken Follet. Besides this I enjoyed Why Men Don?t Listen and Women Can't Read Maps. The Alchemist is my favourite book.

Idea of enjoyment
Usually try to spend weekends with my family and plan weekend outings with my wife.