MAM
Saatchi & Saatchi creates new TVC for Skoda Laura
Mumbai: Saatchi & Saatchi has launched a new television commercial for Skoda Laura RS, the new addition to the Rally Sports legacy in Skoda portfolio.
The TVC is based on the insight that men find a game of speed irresistible.
Saatchi & Saatchi chief creative officer Ramanuj Shastry said, “Power and performance in a car being a huge turn on for men is a well known fact. We dramatised this fact by having our leading lady use the aphrodisiac quality of ‘the smell of burning rubber‘ to be more attractive to men. The film is more refreshing visually at least than a stereotypical male racing the car around town.”
The 30-second TVC opens to showcase a hip club in a big city. The car enters the frame and stops just outside the club. To the surprise of the waiting crowd, the car revs up again and performs powerful stunts before coming to a stop once again. An attractive woman then gets off the driver‘s side and dabs on the burnt rubber on her neck. She walks towards the club confident of her irresistible attractiveness, all thanks to smell of the burnt rubber.
MAM
HUL appoints Pavan Bedi as CMO for Foods business
Veteran marketer with 22-plus years at Unilever takes charge of foods portfolio in Mumbai.
MUMBAI: HUL’s foods division just got a seasoned flavour boost because when it comes to seasoning success, Pavan Bedi knows exactly how to stir the pot. Hindustan Unilever (HUL) has elevated long-time leader Pavan Bedi to chief marketing officer for its Foods business, the company confirmed on 23 February 2026. Bedi, who has spent over 22 years with the FMCG giant, shared the news himself on LinkedIn, writing: “I’m delighted to share that I will be stepping into a new role as CMO Foods, HUL”.
Before this Mumbai-based appointment, Bedi served as global brand vice president for more than four years. His career is dotted with high-impact global roles: he was global brand director for Pond’s (based in Singapore), driving innovation across South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, led the high-profile rebranding of Fair & Lovely to Glow & Lovely as global brand director; and spent six years shaping Lifebuoy’s “Purpose agenda” and “Social Mission”, forging public-private partnerships with the United Nations and other platforms.
Now overseeing HUL’s sprawling foods lineup from staples to snacks and everything in between Bedi steps into one of the company’s most dynamic verticals at a time when consumer tastes are evolving fast. His track record blending global scale, brand transformation, and purpose-led marketing makes him a natural fit for steering strategic growth and creative campaigns in the category.
In his LinkedIn post, Bedi underscored his enduring commitment to Unilever’s vision, framing the move as another chapter in a career built on long-term impact rather than quick wins.
For an organisation that thrives on trusted, household names, Bedi’s elevation is less a surprise and more a reminder, the best recipes for growth often come from ingredients that have been simmering for over two decades. Whether it’s rebranding icons or building purpose at scale, he’s now tasked with making sure HUL’s foods business stays as appetising tomorrow as it is today.
