HP, the IT major Hewlett Packard, has signed Shah Rukh Khan as the Brand Ambassador to promote their newly launched ‘Go-To-Market’ strategy for small and medium businesses (SMBs).

HP will be starting an integrated marketing campaign using various media such as print, television, radio, online and outdoor. The campaign is part of HP’s worldwide $300 million global marketing campaign called ‘What do you have to say?’.

“Shah Rukh has immense brand value in the country. People have dreams and we want to inspire them to dream bigger. With the kind of success and personality he has, Shah Rukh was a perfect choice to be our brand ambassador.” said Mohit Abrol, country marketing manager, imaging printing group, HP India.

Says Ravi Aggarwal, President- imaging printing group, HP India, “SMBs is one of the fastest growing segments for HP.” SMBs invested 20 per cent more on printing in 2007 compared with the previous year and Aggarwal expects the growth to continue at the same rate.

But , Ravi Aggarwal said, “The company admits that demand from the metros has slowed down in the last few months, which is perhaps why the company has also rolled out a new brand initiative with Shah Rukh Khan specially to target the SMB market.”

India is one of the six countries, where HP has its research and development center. India is second only to the US in terms of HP’s worldwide presence