Last month, China Telecom, one of my husband’s business partners, asked him if he would agree to be featured in the company’s new television and print advertising campaign. A word about my husband. It is hard to imagine anyone less interested in this type of attention. Nevertheless, in the end, with some prodding, he agreed. Although his colleagues did not say so, we assumed his role would be token foreigner to demonstrate the company’s appeal beyond its traditional Chinese audience.
The campaign officially launched today and already Erik, who is working this week in Beijing, has attracted attention. Much to my amusement (and his embarrassment), a gentleman in a bar stopped him last night to inquire if he were the guy in the new China Telecom Ad. Today, when his car arrived to take him to the airport, the driver took one look at him, started waving his arms, and disappeared. Five minutes later he returned with a translator, who said to Erik, “He wants to know if you are the guy on TV.”
I can’t resist sharing a peak at the ads, which debuted this week across China. You may click here to see the television ad: http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XODQ3MjcyNzI=.html
And here’s one of the print ads.