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DDB Mudra appoints Michael Follett as planning head
MUMBAI: DDB Mudra Group has appointed Michael Follett as planning head for its India operations.
Follett joins DDB Mudra Group from Tribal DDB New York, where he served in a similar capacity.
In his new role, Follett will lead planning duties for the four DDB Mudra Group units – DDB Mudra, RAPP India, Tribal DDB India and Mudra Health and Lifestyle. DDB Mudra Group head Sandeep Vij said, “Michael brings with him a unique skill set and intrinsic understanding of brands, markets and consumers. I am certain that our brands here will benefit greatly from the insights and passion he brings to this position and we are delighted to welcome him on board.” Follett, a graduate from Oxford University with approximately 10 years of experience in the advertising industry, has worked on brands such as Philips, Epson, Hasbro, Oxfam, Novartis and Weetabix. Follett began his planning career at DDB London where he worked for seven years before moving to Tribal DDB in New York. “What drew me to DDB India was Sandeep Vij‘s vision to build the agency of the future. We have strong and diverse set of talents to draw from; we have great clients; we have massive opportunities. It‘s a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am really looking forward to making it happen,” said Follett.
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.
