Brands
7UP and Spotify spice things up with sonic flavour boost
MUMBAI: 7UP, is now aiming to ignite taste buds with its “7UP Spiceit Playlist,” a collaboration with Spotify that marries science and sound. It’s a sensory assault designed to crank up the spice factor in your favourite fiery dishes.
Backed by research from Oxford University’s Charles Spence, the playlist leverages specific musical frequencies to amplify the perception of heat. “We’re not just selling a drink; we’re selling a spicy symphony,” says shailja joshi, category lead, cola and flavours, pepsico india. “And 7UP’s the perfect cool-down after the sonic spice explosion.”
7UP has enlisted music maestro Anirudh Ravichander, who stars in a digital campaign film that’s as much a visual feast as it is an auditory one. “Music can amp up anything,” Ravichander quips in the film. “Even the heat of a vindaloo.”
“This isn’t your average playlist,” says Spotify india director of sales Sanketh Garimella, “It’s a full-blown sensory experience, a collision of refreshment and rhythm.”
The campaign, conceptualised by Leo India, will be blasted across TV, digital, and social platforms, with limited-edition 7UP packs featuring qr codes for instant playlist access. “We’re turning every meal into a multi-sensory mosh pit,” says Leo south Asia chief creative officer Vikram Pandey.
So, whether you’re tackling a tandoori inferno or a chilli-laden curry, 7UP and Spotify are promising to crank up the heat, and then cool you down. “It’s a spicy sonic boom,” concludes Joshi. “And 7UP is the aftershock of refreshment.”
Brands
IndiGo names William Walsh CEO
Former IATA chief to take charge in August after Elbers exit, Bhatia steers interim
India’s biggest airline has moved fast and gone global. InterGlobe Aviation, which operates IndiGo, has tapped aviation heavyweight William Walsh as chief executive officer, subject to regulatory approvals, marking a sharp pivot as the carrier eyes its next burst of expansion.
Walsh, currently director general at the International Air Transport Association, will step down on July 31, 2026, and is expected to take charge by August 3. The appointment comes barely three weeks after Pieter Elbers exited the corner office, with Rahul Bhatia holding the fort in the interim.
The choice signals intent. Walsh brings decades of cockpit-to-boardroom experience, having led British Airways and later International Airlines Group, the parent of Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling. His tenure across carriers has been defined by hard resets, restructurings and cross-border consolidation—skills IndiGo may need as competition intensifies and scale becomes decisive.
Vikram Singh Mehta, chairman and non-executive independent director of IndiGo, said Walsh’s experience in managing large-scale airline operations and navigating complex market dynamics makes him well-suited to lead IndiGo in an increasingly competitive global aviation environment, adding that the appointment marks a new chapter as the airline scales in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets.
Rahul Bhatia said Walsh’s global perspective, operational expertise and customer-focused approach would be critical as IndiGo enters its next phase of expansion.
Walsh, widely regarded as one of the industry’s most influential figures, will oversee overall management and strategic direction, with a mandate spanning operational performance, network expansion, commercial strategy and customer experience. He is expected to work closely with the board and leadership team to sharpen IndiGo’s growth trajectory.
Walsh said IndiGo has a strong foundation and is well-positioned to capitalise on the evolving aviation landscape, adding that he looks forward to fostering a culture of excellence, innovation and sustainable value creation across the organisation.
A new captain, a bigger runway—and a market that rewards scale. IndiGo is lining up for its next take-off.
