MAM
Accor appoints Nidhi Verma as director of marketing & communications for India and South Asia
Mumbai: Accor, the leading global hospitality Group, is pleased to announce the appointment of Nidhi Verma as director of marketing & communication for India and South Asia. With an extensive background in marketing, public relations, and brand development, Nidhi brings a wealth of experience and expertise to Accor’s marketing and communication efforts in the region.
As director of marketing & communications – India and South Asia, Nidhi will be responsible for driving the development and execution of integrated public relations campaigns that align with the brand’s marketing strategies, alongside leveraging a 360-degree approach across various media platforms.
Throughout her career, Nidhi has demonstrated a sharp acumen for managing PR agencies and marketing partners, ensuring effective collaboration and delivering exceptional results. Her strong communication skills have allowed her to build relationships with high-profile editors, major social media influencers, and corporate leaders, facilitating successful partnerships and brand visibility. Along with a talent for balancing multiple priorities and handling challenging situations, Nidhi has excelled in managing crisis communication and overcoming obstacles to achieve desired outcomes.
Nidhi has a proven record of developing and implementing successful PR campaigns, fostering media and influencer relationships, and managing regulatory issues. She has also been instrumental in positioning brands as industry leaders.
Congratulating Nidhi Verma on her appointment, Senior VP operations, India and South Asia Puneet Dhawan said, “We are confident that Nidhi’s extensive experience, expertise and leadership skills will further strengthen Accor’s presence and reputation in India and South Asia. With her strategic mindset, innovative approach, and dedication to excellence, I am certain that she is poised to make a significant impact on Accor’s marketing and communication strategies in the region.”
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.
