MAM
‘Virgin experience’ on Virgin Atlantic
MUMBAI: Virgin Atlantic has introduced a new, exciting and funky radio spot to woo customers. The lively spot is being aired on Radio City reiterating the fun experience on board Virgin Atlantic upper class.
The entire campaign would run for a period of 30 days with 40 second spots running three times a day. Praise for the subtle and brilliant interpretation of the virgin message goes to the creative team of McCann Erickson.
According to Virgin Atlantic Airways marketing manager Neha Lidder Ganju, “Virgin is a Fun and Quirky brand! We have a lot of fun with the brand though we are very serious where our customer brand experience is concerned. Value for money, a seamless air journey, continued product innovation and world-class service are the benchmarks in our business. We are always looking at ways to excite our customers and that has helped us create that niche for ourselves. The radio spot truly conveys what we are best at – delighting our customers.”
McCann Erickson creative group head Gautam Mehta said, “Working for a brand like Virgin is always challenging yet great fun. The Radio Spot essentially reflects the Virgin spirit and best describes the comforts of flying Upper Class with Virgin Atlantic”
The radio spot aptly describes the virgin experience wherein the airhostess’s politely urges passengers to go ashore but passengers blissfully ignore her pleas, encapsulating crisply the fun experience on-board Virgin Atlantic.
Virgin Atlantic was founded by Sir Richard Branson in 1984, as a part of the Virgin group. It has grown to be Britain’s second largest long haul airline serving 22 destinations in the world. Virgin Atlantic launched its operations in India on 5 July 2000. It operates three weekly flights on the Delhi-London route.
Virgin has carried over 30 million passengers world wide, boasting one of the youngest fleet of aircraft in the world. It was the first airline to introduce e-mail and SMS facility on-board, other innovations include on-board bar, massage and manicure facilities. Virgin’s other lines of business include Virgin Music, Virgin Mobile, Virgin Trains, Virgin Express, Virgin Blue, Virgin Holidays, Virgin Cosmetics, Virgin Cars and bikes. In the year 2001, the combined sales of the different Virgin holding companies were around ? 4 billion.
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.
