Kapil Sharma

Director, Communications
Ford Motor Company India & International Markets Group

Bangkok

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“Don’t succumb to mediocrity. Only stop at nothing."

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Inspired by heart, motivated by ideas and driven by perfection is the MO of Kapil Sharma, who became one of the youngest head of comms at a large company in India at aged 36. As head of comms for motoring giant Ford in India, he led storytelling for the brand across traditional and new platforms, and his innovative campaigns and ideas helped the comms team scoop multitudes of awards. When the company announced the restructuring of its India business in September 2021, he took up the mantle to relay the ‘imperfect’ news with empathy, transparency and context to multitudes of stakeholders, and became the force behind one of the company’s most impactful campaigns across India which was recognised at the SABREs South Asia in 2022. His expanded role sees him take responsibility for all product communication activities across Ford’s International Markets Group spanning markets across APAC, the Middle East and Africa. 

Sharma isn’t shy of using his own passions to create campaigns, and he tapped into his love of poetry to build a trend-setting Discover More With Poetry campaign for Ford, which netted more than 20 industry recognition including a SABRE award. His innovative thinking has ensured Ford maintains a steady flow of relevant news, even throughout the pandemic, and he’s lauded in the industry for his sheer resilience. 

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How do you define innovation?
To think & execute something out of nothing

What is the most innovative PR or marketing initiative you've seen over the past 12 months?
Ford #CommittedToServe

In your opinion, which brands and/or agencies are most innovative in their approach to PR and marketing?
#Apple, #Nike (Globally) #Zomato (India)

Describe a moment in your career that you would consider to be innovative.
The time when I used my interest/ hobby and love for writing poems to build a communications campaign i.e., Discover More with Poetry featuring original poems. The campaign received >20 industry recognitions Incl. SABRE for Creativity & Innovation in Communications.

Who do you admire for his/her approach to innovation?
Steve Jobs. Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.

How do you get out of a creativity rut?
Listen & Observe. Don’t Try Too Hard.

What advice would you give to the PR industry around embracing innovation?
Don’t succumb to mediocrity. Only stop at nothing.

What would you be doing if you weren't doing your current job?
An academic Or Professor

Which book/movie/TV show/podcast/playlist/other cultural source has provided inspiration over the past year?
Squid Games, The Kominsky Method, Crown, After Life (TV Show); Coke Studio Pakistan (Music); A Poem A Day: 365 Contemporary poems 34 Languages, 279 Poets (Book)

How would you like to see work culture, and the role of the office, evolve?
As someone opined, the role of the office needs to evolve and become more inspiring with enhanced and evolved leadership & team engagements.

How can the PR and communications industry harness innovation to make more progress on diversity, equity and inclusion?
PR and Communications should go outside Communications Schools to hire. That would bring SMEs and drive innovation, lateral thinking, and inclusion.