MAM
Sharp ties up with NBC Universal for AQUOS
MUMBAI: Sharp Electronics, the U.S. subsidiary of Sharp Corporation, has entered into a five-year partnership with NBC Universal that will make the Sharp AQUOS the official high-definition television of the NBC Experience Store.
More than 150 Sharp AQUOS LC-TVs have been installed throughout the store and selected areas of the NBC Studio Tour, providing a high-definition (HD) upgrade to the popular visitor destination. Sharp’s stunning 65-inch AQUOS, the world’s largest available LCD, will serve as the centerpiece, displayed in a dedicated Sharp window on 49th Street and in the main Rockefeller Plaza entrance, states an official release.
“NBC is a pioneer in bringing HD content to broadcast, and Sharp is a pioneer in bringing high-definition LCD TVs into consumers’ homes,” Sharp Electronics Corporation senior director of retail & consumer marketing Judah Zeigler. “This collaboration will bring the excitement of HDTV to even more consumers, and allow them to see firsthand the amazing clarity of HD content as well as the superior picture quality of the AQUOS LCD TV.”
“We’re excited to team up with Sharp to make the NBC Experience Store truly state-of-the-art with high-definition AQUOS televisions,” NBC Universal VP Retail Operations & Consumer Marketing Judith Dutch said. “This upgrade provides added value to customers in the store, enabling them to watch our HD content up close, and to interact with it while on the NBC Studio Tour.”
The partnership is part of the second phase of Sharp’s “More to See” brand campaign, which focuses on expanding the brand’s recognition to a wider and influential audience. Many of the AQUOS sets displayed in the NBC Experience will show content from the high-profile campaign, including the acclaimed broadcast commercial.
The partnership extends beyond the NBC retail store, placing AQUOS units in the windows outside the “TODAY” studios that face Rockefeller Center as well as throughout the famed Studio 8H, where “Saturday Night Live” is produced in HD, and selected areas of the NBC Studio Tour, the release adds. AQUOS sets inside the Experience Store will also play a variety of NBC Universal’s HD programming. NBC is a pioneer in the high-definition revolution.
The AQUOS collection offers consumers the widest selection of screen sizes and stylish designs of LCD TVs available today. All products in the AQUOS line feature Sharp’s Emmy(R) award-winning LCD technology, offer a long-life backlight (60,000 hours), 170-degree viewing angles, multiple video signal inputs, one or more built-in cable TV tuners, remote control, V-Chip and high brightness for more vibrant colors in darker environments. AQUOS LC-TVs are currently available in 13- to 65-inch screen sizes, in traditional 4:3 and widescreen 16:9 aspect ratios.
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.
