MAM
Mohapatra quits Starcom for Modi
MUMBAI: Associate Media Director, in charge of broadcast, Madan Mohan Mohapatra has put in his papers at Starcom Worldwide. The agency simultaneously announced the appointment of Gautam Rajgopal, with immediate effect, as the Manager-Broadcast Investment.
According to Publicis Groupe owned Starcom MediaVest Group’s releases, after three successful years in the company’s Mumbai office, Mohapatra decided to call it quits. Mohapatra is expected to join Modi Online Lottery as Marketing Manager, effective from 8 September 2003, says the release. Meanwhile Rajgopal who was earlier in charge of media negotiations at Carat Media Services, Mumbai, joined the agency early last week.
Madan Mohan Mohapatra, during the three year stint with the agency, had gained many full service and media-only, says the release
Speaking about Mohapatra’s resignation Starcom Worldwide, India-West & South managing director Ravi Kiran said: “Madan was part of the early years of Starcom in India and has been a great support system to us. The agency gained immensely from his passion, enthusiasm and great relationship with media owners. As he moves on to explore a different kind of career in a marketing organization, we wish him nothing but the best for future. I am looking forward to Gautam stepping into Madan’s shoes; and I am confident that he will grow into it under Manish Porwal’s guidance.”
According to Starcom Worldwide general manager-Investment & New Initiatives Manish Porwal, ” It is difficult to be dealing with day today negotiations, satisfying the needs of ever demanding planners and still keeping an eye on the strategic view-point of all investments for the clients. Having known Madan as a business associate and then as a colleague, I am quite enamoured with his ability to deliver in every endeavour he takes up. In the few months that Madan and I worked together, he helped me free my mind from up keeping and improving our standards on broadcast investment and concentrate better on Starcom’s new initiatives. I am not sure if I should be more happy for him as he finds his way to his new assignment or sad for ourselves, as we would miss his Midas touch. I am sure Gautam will take on from where Madan leaves and help reach the high standards we have set for ourselves.
Rajgoplan has been associated with the advertising and media buying seven years. Prior to joining Starcom, he held a position of buying supervisor at Carat Media Services, handling businesses worth Rs 3 billion.
He has previously worked with Hindustan Thompson Associates as Sr. Media Buyer, Madison Communications, Contract Advertising, and Living Media. During his career, he handled brands such as Cadbury, Asian Paints, Philips, Mattel Toys, Parle, Virgin Records, General Mills, United Distillers and Vintners, Hindustan Pencils, Beiersdorf India Ltd, S Kumars, Sahara, Bajaj Auto, Indian Naval Services, Procter and Gamble, Coca Cola, Godrej, Bharat Petroleum, Warner Lambert, Heinz I Ltd, Geoffrey Manners and Associated Cement Companies.
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.
