MAM
Ibis’ global rebranding campaign involves virtual pillow fight
MUMBAI: As part of a new global rebranding campaign, ibis, the brand family of economy hotels from Accor, will be launching the world‘s biggest virtual pillow fight – the “ibis Pillow Fight Party” on Facebook as an application.
The campaign has been developed by Havas’s Media Contacts Singapore.
The campaign targets Facebook users in the Asia-Pacific region inviting consumers to discover the unique personality of the ibis brand family in a creative way. The inspiration for the campaign is the brand’s iconic pillow logo.
The pillow fight runs until 21 November and all fans of the ibis Facebook page in Asia-Pacific can take part in it. The first step is to become a fan of the ibis Facebook page and connect to the ibis Pillow Fight Party application. Next, participants create customised pillows and craft personalised messages to their friends. Then players throw their pillows at each other to score points – each virtual “throw” earns one point, while each pillow thrown back at them nets them two points.
At the end of the six-week campaign, the top ten highest-scoring players will win a three-night stay at selected ibis family hotels in popular Asia-Pacific destinations including India, Bangkok, Bali and Singapore. In addition, each week one randomly “Mystery Pillow” also rewards one player with a hotel stay.
Accor Asia-Pacific vice president digital marketing and distribution Jens Uwe Parkitny said, “We are very excited to celebrate the rebranding of the ibis brand family with the launch of the ibis Pillow Fight Party Facebook application. Given the rapidly evolving social media landscape – and its growing importance for reaching consumers – in Asia-Pacific, we believe that this application is one of the best ways to introduce the ibis family to our target customers.”
He also added that the Facebook community in the region mirrors the ibis brand – energetic, savvy, connected and on-the-go.
Media Contacts Singapore managing director Gautam Dutt said, “We wanted to use social media to communicate the rebranding undertaken by ibis in an engaging and innovative fashion. We had a great time working on this application and we are hoping that Facebook users in Asia-Pacific will have as much fun in interacting with this as we had in creating it.”
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.
