MAM
PRCAI elects new leadership committee, re-elects Atul Sharma as president
Mumbai: The Public Relations Consultants Association of India (PRCAI) has elected a new managing and executive committee at its annual general meeting held on 12 May.
Ruder Finn India CEO and head, Middle East Atul Sharma has been re-elected as the president, who has been the president for the association since 2021. He will be supported by Value 360 Communications founder and director Kunal Kishore, who will be serving his second term as the vice president, and Kaizzen PR founder and CEO Vineet Handa, elected as the new secretary, part of the managing committee (MANCOM), working along with PRCAI CEO Deeptie Sethi.
Starting this year, Executive Committee (EXCOM) positions have been constituted as part of restructuring the responsibilities, aligned to drive progress on specific identified areas through four National Chairs.
The four elected EXCOM National Chairs include:
1. Adfactors PR executive director Nikhil Dey will assume the role of National Chair Talent and Academia
2. Avian WE managing director Neha Mehrotra will handle the charge of National Chair Growth and Standardization
3. ON PURPOSE founder Girish Balachandran will be responsible to take on National Chair Marketing Communication and Global Network
4. First Partners Communications founding partner Santanu Gogoi will assume the role of National Chair Learning and Thought Leadership
The newly elected leadership team will serve a two-year term, commencing in May 2023 and concluding in May 2025 and work collaboratively with the PRCAI Secretariat and members. Their collective expertise and vision will guide PRCAI in promoting industry best practices, fostering collaboration among members, and advancing the field of public relations across India.
PRCAI President Atul Sharma said, “It’s an honour to be re-elected as president for a second term. I am looking forward to working with Kunal Kishore and Vineet Handa and our new National Chairs. We will continue to set high professional standards, focus on ethics, and collaborate, co-create and celebrate with our member firms in their growth and prosperity. I am excited about the journey that lies ahead and the incredible possibilities that await us.”
PRCAI CEO Deeptie Sethi commented on these appointments, “I would like to thank the outgoing leaders for their contributions and look forward to working with this terrific new leadership team, aiming to not only grow and serve our members better but also take on industry challenges to further the public relations industry.”
The PRCAI elections witnessed enthusiastic participation from a diverse pool of professionals, reflecting the industry’s commitment to democratic decision-making and collective progress.
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.
