[lunchbox]

From a NYT article on Intel:

The real inventors are not in the ads; they are played by actors. Mr. Bell said he wanted to ensure the commercials were humorous, and avoid arguments with Intel employees over which should be featured.

"When you are required politically to cast certain people and get everyone involved, you tend to get this watered-down, feel-good campaign that works really well internally and makes the company itself feel good," but does not appeal to consumers, he said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/06/business/media/06adco.html

[chaosprophet]

That argument does not really hold much water. The fact remains that you are portraying the same person, so these arguments which Intel wanted to avoid would still come up. Considering that, they should just have gone with the real guy.

[Andys]

Its an advertisement, a lower grade of information than even a puff piece or glossy brochure.

For TV advertisements, you need people who can act. Engineers aren't actors. Save the real engineers for informational pieces like this interview.

[pbhjpbhj]

Most people are able to act as themselves quite competently! For a TV ad featuring a person as themself the requirements are that you are that person ...

[Legion]

Unless you're under the impression that Ajay really does strut around Intel to the sound of screaming girls, "acting as themselves" wouldn't really be what they'd need to do in the commercial.