Gionee India signs Virat Kohli as brand ambassador

Gionee India has signed on Virat Kohli as brand ambassador, as it increases its presence in the country where Chinese smartphone makers including the company have eaten into market shares of local and multinational rivals.

Gionee also plans to increase the number of retail stores in the country to 500, up five times, in 2017 with the aim to reach a larger target audience base. The company did not share the contract value for Kohli,Chinese mobile phone companies are eating into sales of Indian and multinational manufacturers and Gionee wants to double its market share by March, from about 5% six months ago.

It is pinning its hopes on its the marketing budget – it hired first brand ambassador, actress Alia Bhatt, who has been signed on for two years – and the reach of about 8,000 retailers in the offline market, to achieve this target. The company spent about Rs 200 crore during Diwali period in 2016.

“Virat is joining her in helping the brand touch new heights. He will soon be seen in the upcoming campaign of Gionee, and will also be actively involved in a host of innovative marketing and customer experience initiatives of the brand,” said the company.

Gionee is sponsoring IPL Cricket team Kolkata Night Riders, Football Club Shillong Lajong, and Pro Kabaddi League for the last few years. Gionee has two manufacturing units in India and is planning to opn 500 brand stores in India along with doubling their strength of retail representatives to 20,000.

“The association with Virat Kohli will further enable the brand to carry forward it’s high decibel visibility and connect,” said Gionee.

On the partnership, Arvind.R Vohra, Country CEO & MD, Gionee India said: India is one of the fastest growing young economies in the world and Gionee takes immense pride in having India’s biggest youth icons Virat Kohli and Alia Bhatt as its brand endorsers. With the two of the most loved icons in India our motto of Making Smiles is bound to create a new benchmark across billions of young hearts.

On the association, Indian Captain Virat Kohli said: I play my game with dignity and passion and apply the same rule in choosing my partnerships. Gionee comes across as a brand that is fueled by passion, determination and focus to innovate and perform and with all of this have it’s heart in the right place by giving back to society. Thus, I feel and believe that this association will go a long way. I am very excited to start this journey with Gionee.

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