A dynamic force in the world of consumer goods marketing, Saurabh Jain comes with a rich and diverse background in brand management. He has consistently demonstrated a knack for driving growth and innovation. His leadership at Reckitt has been marked by his commitment towards keeping consumers at the heart of not only core marketing decisions but all aspects of its growth strategies.
Consumer behaviours and expectations are evolving rapidly and Jain has steered his team to adapt to these changes. Marketers and brands are in a unique position to impact consumer habits and instil changes that improve human lives and benefit the generations to come. Jain takes this aspect of marketing seriously.
“As marketers, we have a great responsibility for shaping consumer behaviour for good. At Reckitt, I feel privileged for marrying good business while doing good as well,” he says while accepting the BW Top Marketers award.
The Social Impact
Brands under Jain’s charge at Reckitt include the likes of Harpic that have associated with larger causes and sustainable development goals impacting water and sanitation. Reckitt took into consideration the 55 per cent of people who don’t have access to safely managed sanitation, and in line with its purpose, Harpic led the company’s fight against the global sanitation crisis, associating with World Toilet Day.
Its campaign on ‘making the invisible visible’, with a focus on the impact that the sanitation crisis has on groundwater, spreading human waste into rivers, lakes and soil, polluting underground water resources, drew significant attention to the concern. In 2022, Reckitt’s partnership with Water.org also translated into encouraging numbers such as 677,000 people now have better access to sanitation and over 154,135 investments made in better sanitation solutions. From a business perspective, globally, the group is now 28 per cent larger than it was in 2019 on a like-for-like net revenue basis, with India being a significant contributor.
Data Driven
In addition to the big-picture impact, Jain’s emphasis on data-driven decision-making, market research and understanding consumer insights has been pivotal in crafting effective marketing campaigns for the company.
Under his guidance, Reckitt has launched several successful products and initiatives, solidifying its position as a market leader in the South Asian region. His strategic vision and ability to foster cross-functional collaboration have been instrumental in driving brand growth and profitability. He is known for his thought leadership in the industry, sharing insights on the ever-changing dynamics of consumer goods marketing.