After an 'absolute best year 2007', JWT India revamps its senior management

JWT India officials are happy with the agency’s performance in 2007, and the New Year has begun with some reshuffling in the agency’s senior management. Mumbai head Tarun Rai has been moved to a corporate role, while Bangalore Head Dhunji Wadia takes over Mumbai. Simultaneously, Rajesh Gangwani has been elevated to Senior VP, JWT Bangalore.

e4m by Noor Fathima Warsia
Published: Jan 7, 2008 6:46 AM  | 5 min read
After an 'absolute best year 2007', JWT India revamps its senior management

The year 2007 has been the best year ever for JWT India, according to the agency’s CEO Colvyn Harris. Harris is of the opinion that change brings fresh impetus to the system, and the New Year has already begun with key changes in the roles of some of the members of agency’s senior management.

Mumbai head Tarun Rai has been moved to a corporate role, while Bangalore Head Dhunji Wadia takes over Mumbai. Rai has been heading the Mumbai office for the last six years, and has been moved to the corporate office as Managing Partner and National Business Development Head.

This is a new position in the company and the role and the responsibility is to “ensure future relevance”. In this role, Rai will work closely with Harris to help identify and incubate new business ideas that JWT can venture into, and hence, expand its offerings to its clients. Rai has been with the company for the past 17 years.

Taking his place is Dhunji Wadia, who was Managing Partner and SVP, JWT Bangalore. Wadia has been at the Bangalore office since 2002, and has been with the company for the last 15 years. Rajesh Gangwani, VP and GM, Bangalore has been promoted to SVP, Bangalore. Gangwani joined JWT in Mumbai in 1991, and has been in Bangalore since 2002.

Harris observed, “Dhunji has been in Mumbai earlier, and at that time he had worked on businesses like Unilevers, De Beers and Kellogg’s. At Bangalore, he has worked on some iconic brands like Levi’s, Nike and Kingfisher, and the Bangalore operations have grown immensely under him. The Mumbai office has grown significantly under Tarun. He is now going to support me in the new business role, which is about what new areas we need to enter into to help our clients meet their needs. This is more of a strategy role. Once something is identified, the mandate to take it forward would be given to the respective operating company.”

“I am very hopeful that Bangalore would continue to do well under Rajesh. He is a very hands-on professional, a deep brand thinker and meticulous in his approach,” added Harris. Wadia is excited about the new task ahead of him. He said, “Mumbai is where I’ve grown up learning my craft. It’s where I started off my career in advertising as a management trainee. And it feels great to come back here as the branch head of India’s number one advertising agency. The wheel surely has come full circle.”

Offering further clarity on Andre Nair’s (former GroupM India CEO) role at JWT, Harris explained, “Andre Nair has been with JWT for the last seven months as Chief Strategy Officer for JWT Asia. Part of his role is also RMG Connect. JWT is a matrix structure – wherever there is skill, we tap into that knowledge. Andre is a resource that we can tap into as and when we need to. He is still in the process of developing an overriding strategy across markets.”

Speaking further on 2007, Harris said, “It has been an absolute best year ever. If I look back, every operating company has surpassed any targets that we had set for ourselves – whether it was creative works, winning awards, or the kind of talent we hired. We had some big wins in the last year, including strong Indian brands like Bharati Retail, brands from Airtel, and globally admired brands like Nokia, Sony Viao, Sony Bravio and STAR, and we added a slew of senior talent.”

The year saw the entry and exit of Josy Paul as NCD within a span of six months. How was the experience for the agency? Harris replied, “You must look at JWT as an institution that is here for the long term. All our clients operate either as the number one or the number two player in their respective sectors. We need to be structured in a way that we can help our clients reach their leadership goals. Each of our offices is fully-staffed – in the creative function alone, across India, we have around 300 people. So, if someone chooses to leave, we have 299 others who are very good.”

Meanwhile, the next big question for the agency is on the changes that could be expected in the creative function. Certain sections of the media has speculated JWT’s NCD Agnello Dias’ exit from JWT to BBH. Harris, however, has rubbished these rumours. It doesn’t appear that JWT is in a hurry to look for Paul’s replacement. Since Paul’s exit, Dias has already doubled up to look after all the clients of JWT India. However, there is still time before the formal and final word on that is known.

Some of the senior hands that the agency added in the last quarter of 2007 include Adip Puri, who has come in as Global Planning Director on Radiant. Prior to this, he was with Saatchi & Saatchi; Sushobhan Mukherjee joined JWT Mumbai as Vice President and Strategic Planning Director. Prior to this, he was with Publicis Singapore. Some of the other senior appointments in the year were Hari Krishnan, Sanjay Tandon and Shavon Barua – all three joined JWT Delhi as VP and Client Services Director.

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ABP Network appoints Ananta Natha Jha to lead UnCut

He has been roped in as Associate Vice-President of ABP Live

e4m by sunny saini
Published: Oct 11, 2023 6:25 PM  | 1 min read
people movement

ABP Network has onboarded Ananta Natha Jha as the Associate Vice-President of ABP Live. With a rich experience in handling digital content and an in-depth understanding of video and radio content, he will take charge as the Editor of the UnCut team. Ananta Natha Jha will lead a young team of journalists who put out digital content for Gen-Z and millennials, the network said.

Jha has experience working at several reputable organisations in crucial roles. A well-recognised voice, he has donned various hats being a radio jockey, a news anchor, voiceover artist, producer, programming head, and a talk show host, stated a release.

Ananta Natha Jha will play a key role in reshaping UnCut and rechanneling focus towards the younger generation with a focus on high-quality content, the release stated.

UnCut is a Gen-Z/millennials-focused vertical of ABP Network.

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Network Advertising appoints Rahool Talukdar as Group Creative Director, Digital

Rahool previously worked at Dentsu iProspect

e4m by sunny saini
Published: Oct 9, 2023 6:37 PM  | 2 min read
people movement

Network Advertising has announced the appointment of Rahool Talukdar as Group Creative Director, Digital. Rahool, previously at Dentsu iProspect, brings over 15 years of rich experience, having worked across both mainline and digital agencies.

Rahool is captivated by the digital medium and the innovative ways in which brands can connect with audiences through new media storytelling. At Network, he shares, "I resonate with the creative freedom provided by an independent venture, where transparency and clear direction foster professional growth. I am thrilled to be a part of their growth story."

During his tenure at Dentsu iProspect, Rahool led a team responsible for award-winning work on a diverse range of accounts, including State Bank of India, Essilor, Fossil Luxury Watches, Biba Apparels, Angel One, Finolex Pipes, Switzerland Tourism, ICICI Direct, and Shaze Luxury, among others.

Akashneel Dasgupta, CCO, Network Advertising, expresses enthusiasm about Rahool's addition to the team, stating, "Rahool will help shape our future as a fully integrated agency. He possesses extensive experience in nurturing young talent and guiding them towards greater accomplishments. We look forward to an exciting future and exceptional work with him on board."

Vinod Nair, Managing Director, Network Advertising, underscores the significance of digital communication for the agency, saying, "Digital Communication is a crucial element in our integrated offering to clients. Under Rahool's creative leadership, I am eager to see him add value to our clients' businesses alongside his dynamic team."

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Times Network digital head Shouneel Charles to quit after 4+ years

Sources have told e4m that Charles is currently serving his notice period

e4m by sunny saini
Published: Oct 1, 2021 1:00 PM  | 1 min read
test
Shouneel Charles, Executive Vice President and Business Head Digital at Times Network, has called it quits and is serving his notice period with the organisation, sources close to the development have told exchange4media.com.
Times Network refused to comment on the development till the time of filing this report.
Shouneel is a seasoned digital and media professional with over two decades of experience. He joined Times Network in April 2017 as Senior Vice President — Digital. In July 2019, he was elevated as EVP to further boost audience growth and turnover of the network’s digital platforms.

In his previous assignment, Charles was leading the digital business at NDTV Convergence as Chief Sales & Marketing Officer and Chief Revenue Officer. He has also worked with multinational companies like Yahoo, Turner Broadcasting, Star India and National Geographic where he launched multiple channels and media properties.

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CNBC’s Latha Venkatesh to “transition” out of daily anchoring schedule

Venkatesh is taking the ‘break’ from August 1 to plan son’s wedding

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Jul 26, 2021 6:36 PM  | 1 min read
Latha Venkatesh

Latha Venkatesh, Executive Editor with CNBC-TV18, will be “transitioning” out of the daily anchoring schedule and play much more of a supervisory role.” The arrangement will come into effect on August 1.

Venkatesh will continue to be the Executive Editor, and “only take a break from the daily activities.” She will be taking the break to plan her son’s wedding.

“Latha mam has kept the fire burning for almost two decades. She has brought her heart to work every day. Never once complained about the long hours, the stress, the pressure, because she loves what she does with a passion that is undeniable. As is the case with her, she doesn’t do anything half-heartedly and so as she gets ready to plan a BIG FAT INDIAN WEDDING for her son, she is keen to free up her time and mind space to focus on a wonderful life altering moment,” read an internal communication at CNBC accessed by exchange4media.

“She will continue to do her special shows and come in to do links/interviews etc even on daily shows as necessary and appropriate. But from Aug 1, she will not be anchoring Bazaar as a regular feature or fixing the show etc,” the read the communication.

Sonal Bhutra will take over from Venkatesh.

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OMD India ropes in Udhayakumar Pasupathi to lead Chennai office

Pasupathi has spent the last 9 years at Mindshare where his most recent role was that of cluster lead in Bangalore...

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Jul 26, 2021 6:27 PM  | 2 min read
OMD India

OMD India has onboarded Udhayakumar Pasupathi as new Lead at the company’s Chennai office, reporting to Sulina Menon, Chief Client Officer, OMD India.

“Udhaya is an MBA graduate in marketing and joins with 12 years of diverse and prolific industry experience. He spent the last 9 years at Mindshare where his most recent role was that of cluster lead in Bangalore. Udhay has also worked with Lodestar UM, and has worn multiple hats as a planner, team lead, strategist, and media consultant. His roles have pivoted around providing integrated strategic solutions to brands, including marquee names such as Max Fashion, Lifestyle, Home Centre and Eenadu, among many others,” the agency said.

Commenting on the new appointment, Sulina Menon said, “We’re extremely pleased to have someone like Udhaya, with his experience and expertise, join our Chennai team, and are confident that we will benefit greatly from the insights he brings to the table. I’m especially excited about the growth journey ahead and look forward to collectively pursuing a host of new opportunities.”

Priti Murthy, CEO OMD India welcomed Udhaya Pasupathi on board saying, “All of us at OMD are eagerly looking forward to Udhaya’s fresh new perspectives combined with the rich repertoire of industry knowledge he’s gathered over the years. There are some exciting growth avenues ahead, and we can’t wait to unlock them together.”

Speaking about this new step in his career, Udhaya Pasupathi reflected, “It’s been over a decade of experience, learnings and leadership in the realm of media strategy & planning, and surely there’s no better place to mark 12 years than OMD. With its vast global network and its growth-driven environment, I’m delighted to be in a space where together we quite literally make better decisions, faster!”

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OMD India ropes in Udhayakumar Pasupathi to lead Chennai office

Pasupathi has spent the last 9 years at Mindshare where his most recent role was that of cluster lead in Bangalore

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Jul 26, 2021 6:27 PM  | 2 min read
OMD India

OMD India has onboarded Udhayakumar Pasupathi as new Lead at the company’s Chennai office, reporting to Sulina Menon, Chief Client Officer, OMD India.

“Udhaya is an MBA graduate in marketing and joins with 12 years of diverse and prolific industry experience. He spent the last 9 years at Mindshare where his most recent role was that of cluster lead in Bangalore. Udhay has also worked with Lodestar UM, and has worn multiple hats as a planner, team lead, strategist, and media consultant. His roles have pivoted around providing integrated strategic solutions to brands, including marquee names such as Max Fashion, Lifestyle, Home Centre and Eenadu, among many others,” the agency said.

Commenting on the new appointment, Sulina Menon said, “We’re extremely pleased to have someone like Udhaya, with his experience and expertise, join our Chennai team, and are confident that we will benefit greatly from the insights he brings to the table. I’m especially excited about the growth journey ahead and look forward to collectively pursuing a host of new opportunities.”

Priti Murthy, CEO OMD India welcomed Udhaya Pasupathi on board saying, “All of us at OMD are eagerly looking forward to Udhaya’s fresh new perspectives combined with the rich repertoire of industry knowledge he’s gathered over the years. There are some exciting growth avenues ahead, and we can’t wait to unlock them together.”

Speaking about this new step in his career, Udhaya Pasupathi reflected, “It’s been over a decade of experience, learnings and leadership in the realm of media strategy & planning, and surely there’s no better place to mark 12 years than OMD. With its vast global network and its growth-driven environment, I’m delighted to be in a space where together we quite literally make better decisions, faster!”

Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)

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OMD India ropes in Udhayakumar Pasupathi to lead Chennai office

Pasupathi has spent the last 9 years at Mindshare where his most recent role was that of cluster lead in Bangalore

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Oct 8, 2021 6:23 PM  | 2 min read
OMD India

OMD India has onboarded Udhayakumar Pasupathi as new Lead at the company’s Chennai office, reporting to Sulina Menon, Chief Client Officer, OMD India.

“Udhaya is an MBA graduate in marketing and joins with 12 years of diverse and prolific industry experience. He spent the last 9 years at Mindshare where his most recent role was that of cluster lead in Bangalore. Udhay has also worked with Lodestar UM, and has worn multiple hats as a planner, team lead, strategist, and media consultant. His roles have pivoted around providing integrated strategic solutions to brands, including marquee names such as Max Fashion, Lifestyle, Home Centre and Eenadu, among many others,” the agency said.

Commenting on the new appointment, Sulina Menon said, “We’re extremely pleased to have someone like Udhaya, with his experience and expertise, join our Chennai team, and are confident that we will benefit greatly from the insights he brings to the table. I’m especially excited about the growth journey ahead and look forward to collectively pursuing a host of new opportunities.”

Priti Murthy, CEO OMD India welcomed Udhaya Pasupathi on board saying, “All of us at OMD are eagerly looking forward to Udhaya’s fresh new perspectives combined with the rich repertoire of industry knowledge he’s gathered over the years. There are some exciting growth avenues ahead, and we can’t wait to unlock them together.”

Speaking about this new step in his career, Udhaya Pasupathi reflected, “It’s been over a decade of experience, learnings and leadership in the realm of media strategy & planning, and surely there’s no better place to mark 12 years than OMD. With its vast global network and its growth-driven environment, I’m delighted to be in a space where together we quite literally make better decisions, faster!”

Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)

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