MAM
Huhtamaki India appoints Neha Phale as head of public affairs
Mumbai: Huhtamaki India Ltd has announced the appointment of Neha Phale as head of public affairs and member of the leadership team at Flexible Packaging India.
In this role, Phale will support the delivery of Huhtamaki’s 2030 growth strategy and the positioning of the company as a leading manufacturer of sustainable packaging solutions in India. As part of this, she is responsible for stakeholder communications and developing partnerships with key stakeholders working towards delivering sustainable packaging solutions and managing public affairs issues, said the company in a statement.
Phale has over 15 years of experience in communications and public affairs. She joins Huhtamaki from Welspun India Ltd where she was responsible for shaping the company’s overall communication strategy as well as creating and managing relationships between internal and external stakeholders. Prior to this, Phale held senior communications and public affairs roles at Huntsman International and Dow Chemical.
Welcoming Phale on board, Huhtamaki India’s MD Sudip Mall said, “Neha brings with her sound experience of B2B communications that will benefit us, as we engage with stakeholders to protect food, people and the planet. Huhtamaki, in conjunction with others, has an important role in providing sustainable packaging solutions in India which help drive towards a circular economy and we look to Neha to work with key stakeholders and spearhead our public affairs agenda to support the organization’s larger purpose.”
Speaking about her appointment, Phale said, “I am delighted to join a company that is focused on delivering benefits to society and am excited to be part of the next growth phase of the company in India.”
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.
