MAM
Abhijit Sethi appointed as Howden India’s COO
Mumbai: Howden, the global insurance intermediary, has appointed Abhijit Sethi as the chief operating officer of its India operations. In his new capacity, Sethi will lead strategic efforts, overseeing nationwide placements, streamlining business operations, enhancing processes, and nurturing insurer relationships to drive sustainable growth and innovation.
Abhijit brings to the role his renowned dynamic leadership and strategic acumen, built over nearly two decades. Prior to joining Howden India, he played pivotal roles in crafting go-to-market strategies and structuring intricate placement programs at esteemed firms like Aon, Marsh Insurance Brokers, and Prudent Insurance Brokers.
With its trading license granted in 2004, Howden India now employs over 300 professionals across offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, and Hyderabad. As the sixth-largest broker in the country, it has established a strong reputation as a specialist commercial insurance broker, focusing on key areas like liability & specialty, agriculture, health & benefits, aviation, property & construction, and reinsurance. In 2022, Howden obtained approval from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) to increase its stake in Howden India to 100 per cent, underscoring the company’s dedication to cultivating a leading broking business in the nation. This commitment revolves around fostering enduring client partnerships, investing in talent, and advancing data and technology.
MAM
Lego brings Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappé, Vinicius together
Campaign clocks 314 million views ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 buzz.
MUMBAI: Four legends, one frame and not a single tackle in sight. Lego has pulled off a crossover few thought possible, uniting Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior in a single campaign ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 only this time, they’re building dreams brick by brick.
Titled “Everyone wants a piece”, the campaign features the quartet assembling a Lego version of the World Cup trophy, before placing miniature versions of themselves atop it, a playful nod to football’s ultimate prize. Shared widely across social media, the ad carries a pointed disclaimer: it is not AI-generated, a subtle but telling signal in an era where even reality is often questioned.
The numbers tell their own story. The campaign has already crossed 314 million views on Instagram across the players’ accounts, with fans hailing it as a rare, almost nostalgic moment particularly for the reunion of Messi and Ronaldo, whose last shared campaign ahead of the 2022 World Cup became one of the platform’s most-liked posts.
Beyond the film, Lego is extending the play with exclusive, player-themed sets tied to each of the four stars, part of a broader football-led programme designed to ride the global momentum building towards 2026. The idea, as echoed by the players themselves, leans into the parallels between football and play experimentation, creativity, failure, and triumph.
Messi described the sets as a way to bring on-pitch moments into an imaginative, hands-on world, while Ronaldo called the transformation into a Lego figure a rare honour, blending sport with storytelling. Vinícius, meanwhile, struck a more personal note, recalling childhood moments of building with Lego and framing creativity as a universal language that transcends borders.
The timing is no accident. With the 2026 World Cup set to run from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico, and featuring an expanded 48-team format, global anticipation is already building. Argentina, led by Messi, will enter as defending champions, adding another layer of intrigue.
For Lego, the campaign does more than celebrate football, it taps into its mythology. Because when icons become figurines and rivalries turn into play, the beautiful game finds a new kind of pitch. one built, quite literally, by hand.
