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Publicis Media unveils Spark Foundry India
MUMBAI: When Publicis Media struck the match, it lit more than a spark. The network has officially launched Spark Foundry India, a full-funnel media agency built on data, AI and a future-first mindset, marking another bold step in its rapid growth across the Indian media landscape.
Announced in Mumbai on 17 November 2025, the new agency strengthens Publicis Media India’s already diverse portfolio and reinforces its position among the top two media players in the country. Spark Foundry India enters the market with a modern, AI and data powered model that connects brand building, performance and commerce to deliver measurable growth from discovery to conversion and loyalty.
Niti Kumar, formerly chief growth officer at Publicis Media India, has been appointed chief executive officer of Spark Foundry India. Known for strategic clarity and strong client relationships, Niti now leads the mandate to shape the agency into a high performance, future looking media brand.
Meanwhile, Ravi Bhaya has stepped into the role of chief growth officer at Publicis Media India to build further momentum across the network.
Zenith and Starcom will continue to be led by Jai Lala and Rathi Gangappa, who take on expanded responsibilities under Publicis Connected Media. Jai will sponsor Connected CRM while Rathi will helm Connected Influence, bolstering the network’s integrated, data driven capabilities.
All four leaders will report to Lalatendu Das, chief executive officer, Publicis Media South Asia, who welcomed the moves and praised the strengthened leadership bench. He noted that the refreshed structure will deepen client partnerships and open new avenues for innovation in India’s fast evolving media ecosystem.
Publicis Groupe South Asia chief executive officer Anupriya Acharya, highlighted India’s decade of strong double digit growth and its emergence as a strategic centre for talent, innovation and transformative media solutions. She credited the leadership team for driving impact and reinforcing Publicis Media’s role as a growth engine for the Groupe.
With Spark Foundry India now officially in play, Publicis Media appears ready to turn this spark into a blazing streak of momentum.
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.
