Latest news with #Mandon
Local France
7 days ago
- Politics
- Local France
Macron appoints military adviser as new army chief
Fabien Mandon, a 55-year-old air force general and former Mirage fighter jet pilot, takes over from Thierry Burkhard. The appointment of Mandon, who has extensive combat experience, comes after Macron last week called for a boost in France's defence spending, citing Russia as a threat for all of Europe. Macron said that "if you want be feared you must be powerful" and urged "mobilisation" by all government departments. Advertisement "I have every confidence in General Fabien Mandon," Macron said on X, adding he would "guide our forces in the face of major challenges". Lecornu said Mandon took on the job in the context of "an increasingly demanding security environment". Until Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, France's armed forces were mainly focused on international missions and asymmetric warfare against non-state actors, such as jihadist groups in Africa's Sahel. Over the past three years, Burkhard has overseen a strategic shift to include the possibility of high-intensity war between states. Mandon's career includes several foreign deployments, including in the Central African Republic, Chad, and Tajikistan, from where he flew missions in Afghanistan. "I killed in Afghanistan. And I know whom I killed: Taliban. I have the soul of a fighter," he recently told French magazine L'Express. Mandon also served temporarily as commander at the Avord Air Base, where nuclear-capable fighter jets are stationed. Part of his brief at the Elysée has been to inform Macron about nuclear deterrence questions.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
The Lego Group launches first certified-store in India
MUMBAI: The Lego Group on Friday launched its first certified store in India at Ambience Mall, Gurugram, in collaboration with the Ample Group. The Gurugram store will be followed by a second launch at Bengaluru's Brigade Orion Mall in June, with more stores planned across the country in the coming years. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Spanning over 4,500 sq. ft., the store is now the largest Lego Certified Store in South Asia. 'India is one of our fastest-growing markets in the Asia-Pacific region, and we see strong long-term potential here. For the last three, we have been growing at a strong double digit growth and expected to build on that growth momentum in the next five years as well. Our strategic focus is on building a deeper connection with Indian families through a robust retail and brand presence. The opening of our first Certified Store in Gurugram marks a key milestone in this journey. It is the first step in a phased expansion plan that will see us open more stores across key cities,' India is one of our fastest-growing markets in the Asia-Pacific region, and we see strong long-term potential here. For the last three, we have been growing at a strong double digit growth and expected to build on that growth momentum in the next five years as well. Our strategic focus is on building a deeper connection with Indian families through a robust retail and brand presence. The opening of our first Certified Store in Gurugram marks a key milestone in this journey. It is the first step in a phased expansion plan that will see us open more stores across key cities,' Bhavana Mandon, Country Manager at LEGO India told TOI. The company is also contributing to the broader toy ecosystem through initiatives like its collaboration with The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) under the aegis of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), to support the upskilling of toy designers and engineers in India. Alongside regular workshops and build sessions in-store, the firm aims to expand access to its global portfolio and create more locally relevant experiences. 'India has a strong foundation of curiosity and imagination, and we are committed to supporting it by growing our presence in a way that puts creativity, community and long-term value at the core,' Mandon said.
Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
As Lego opens first store in India, toymaker targets new customers, including adults
When you enter the newly opened Lego store in Gurugram—the toymaker's first in India—you will find that its iconic brick-like toys are not reserved for kids alone. Adults, too, are avid collectors of the Danish company's colourful building-block sets, and Lego is counting on them for future growth. 'The Gurugram store is the closest to delivering the most authentic experience for a Lego fan in India,' Bhavana Mandon, Country Manager for the Lego Group in India, told ahead of the opening of its first certified store in the country on Friday. Located in Ambience Mall, Gurugram—just a short distance from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport—the 4,500-sq-ft store is Lego's largest in South Asia. 'We looked at a few cities before we came in, and we felt there was a very strong audience connection in Gurugram,' Mandon said, when asked why Lego chose the city for its first store in India. 'We found the right location—where the audience could come in—and it matched the kind of store and experience we wanted to offer,' she added, noting that they did not want to deliver a half-baked experience. 'I think it was just about getting it right with the store.' Mandon said the Gurugram store is modelled after other Lego stores around the world, meaning it includes elements like a pick-a-brick wall, a build-a-minifigure station, and play tables—similar to those found in US stores. However, while designing the store, the company also focused on adding local elements, keeping the country in mind. For example, the store features uniquely Indian touches such as a 3D model of a cricketer and a mosaic wall depicting India Gate. The store also features a mosaic made from 74,000 bricks representing India. Consumers in India have been buying Lego brick sets for years, but Mandon said that in the absence of a standalone store, many parents would wait for a trip abroad to get their hands on the latest sets. 'Although we have a strong online business, we are never able to deliver the kind of experience that a physical store offers,' she said. 'The India store will be the first time customers can walk in and build a Lego set on their own—which is exactly the experience we hope to bring to kids.' Mandon said the Gurugram store will offer Lego's widest range of products in India, with over 250 exclusive sets available only at the certified Lego store. 'A lot of parents ask us, 'What's different about Lego bricks?' I think once you visit the store, you will see the full range and understand the appeal. For example, if your child loves vehicles, we have an entire collection focused on that. If they are into fantasy, there is a whole range available for that too. Until now, there wasn't a place to showcase the breadth of our portfolio to parents. With this store, we aim to finally do that,' she said. But Lego, the world's largest toymaker, is not focusing solely on its traditional customer base of kids and parents. Adults love Lego too—in fact, the brand has one of the most loyal adult fan bases of any company. Many of its new products are primarily aimed at adults, regardless of whether they have children. The trend started long before the COVID-19 pandemic, as many adults turned to Lego bricks and collectible toys to tap into their inner child for comfort. Nostalgia is another major factor behind the booming 'kidult' market, and the toy industry is taking note—especially the $10 billion Lego Group. Mandon agreed that adults love playing and building with Lego bricks, and there is a magical element to the experience. It is about self-indulgence and pressure-free creative fulfilment—something that makes playing with Lego distinct from other hobbies. 'We definitely believe there is a lot of value in play for adults. Across the globe, we are seeing this audience grow, as more adults seek meaningful distractions from work. This kind of distraction actually helps them focus better,' she said. 'We have seen a surge in the fan community, and as a result, we have strengthened our portfolio to meet the growing demand. India is no different as a market.' The Gurugram store will feature a large section dedicated to adults, and the brand has ensured its new '18+' labelling clearly indicates which Lego sets are designed specifically for them. 'The adult section is for those who are into cars and vehicles, botanicals for people who enjoy building flowers, or those who like building fantasy worlds and castles,' she said, adding, 'From a portfolio perspective, we have tried to represent all kinds of passions that adults have.' Adults—especially collectors—have become a major part of Lego's growth story in recent years, as well as for the broader toy industry. While it is unclear how many of Lego's consumers are adults, experts say targeting adult fans is a smart move for the brand, as they are likely to have higher purchasing power. At the India store, prices range from Rs 349 to as high as Rs 80,000. 'We have tried to maintain a well-represented portfolio across low, medium, and high price points,' Mandon said. 'There are kids who have never built with Lego bricks or just want to experience the product for the first time. So, we are trying to give them the opportunity to test and explore building.' Mandon said the idea behind the Lego store is to create a 'fun' space where kids can come with their families and adults can spend time as well. 'There are kids who can build but cannot tell stories, and there are kids who can tell stories but cannot build. We want to welcome all of them through the store,' she said. Lego has active partnerships with several well-known brands, including Japanese gaming giant Nintendo. However, Mandon indicated that Lego-Nintendo sets will not be available in India, as such partnerships are often country-specific. Once the store opens to the public on Friday, Lego plans to host various activities to engage customers, including workshops and build-together sessions. After the Gurugram store, Lego plans to open its second store at Orion Mall in Bengaluru. While the launch date has not been finalised, Mandon said the opening is expected sometime between Q2 and Q3 of this calendar year Anuj Bhatia is a personal technology writer at who has been covering smartphones, personal computers, gaming, apps, and lifestyle tech actively since 2011. He specialises in writing longer-form feature articles and explainers on trending tech topics. His unique interests encompass delving into vintage tech, retro gaming and composing in-depth narratives on the intersection of history, technology, and popular culture. He covers major international tech conferences and product launches from the world's biggest and most valuable tech brands including Apple, Google and others. At the same time, he also extensively covers indie, home-grown tech startups. Prior to joining The Indian Express in late 2016, he served as a senior tech writer at My Mobile magazine and previously held roles as a reviewer and tech writer at Gizbot. Anuj holds a postgraduate degree from Banaras Hindu University. You can find Anuj on Linkedin. Email: ... Read More
