MAM
Oplifi appoints Pranjal Sharma as head- business development
Mumbai: The digital media company Oplifi has appointed Pranjal Sharma as head of business development of the company. Sharma will be based out of Oplifi’s Gurgaon office.
Sharma has a decade of experience and has worked with companies like mCanvas, The Quint, Pocket FM. His last stint was with Statiq, where he was heading the entire media business operations and client partnerships for DOOH and Digital offerings. He is an MBA postgraduate from Chitkara university and holds the Executive Business strategy degree from IIM Kozhikode. He started his career as an Audio engineer which has ingrained creativity and a sense for detail in his business development modus operandi.
Speaking on the appointment, Oplifi co-founder Anup Kumar said, “We are thrilled to welcome Pranjal Sharma, who brings a unique blend of digital media sales expertise and a remarkable entrepreneurial spirit. This hire reflects Oplifi’s commitment to pioneering innovation and harnessing the power of entrepreneurial minds. With our new leader on board, we’re excited to drive growth and create new opportunities for our clients and partners, further solidifying our presence in the Indian market.”
Commenting on his new role, Pranjal says, “This role is exciting, where we are building new relationships and always coming up with innovative solutions to solve business problems. Oplifi is on a rapid growth trajectory, and I am happy to be a part of this journey.”
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.
