Indiantelevision.com Team

(22 January 2007 12:00 pm)

MUMBAI: The Mudra Group has announced a slew of senior management changes. The current president at Mudra Mumbai office Jude Fernandes has been promoted to executive director. Filling his shoes in Mumbai is Aniruddha Banerjee (Ani).

In his capacity, Fernandes will have additional responsibilities that will include helping define the group's strategic direction, strengthening Mudra's offering to clients and improving the product, states an official release.

Commenting on Fernandes new position, Mudra Group CEO and managing director Madhukar Kamath said, "Jude has been a source of great strength for the Mudra Group. He is our rock and a true leader. His promotion is recognition of his fabulous work over the years, particularly as the head of Mudra Mumbai. It is also a statement of our aggressive growth plans, we need talent of his quality to help us define the Group's strategic direction, strengthen our offering to clients and improving our product."

Fernandes has spent over two decades in advertising - 14 of which he has spent at Mudra handling businesses such as the Godrej Group, LIC, the Pantaloon Group, SBI, Philips, Air India, HPCL, MTDC, Johnson & Johnson and Reliance ADAG among others.

Fernandes said, "I've had a long and rewarding association with Mudra and have enjoyed every minute of it. The Mudra Group is looking at some very aggressive growth over the next few years, and I love the idea of being part of that. My new role promises to be a lot of fun."

Aniruddha Banerjee has also come on board, taking Fernandes' old position. On the addition of Banerjee to the management team Kamath said, "As far as Ani is concerned, he comes to us with an impeccable track record. I think he is an excellent advertising mind, a great account man and a terrific team leader. He is just the right guy to continue the good work Jude has done. I have great regard for Ani's proven abilities in organization building, and I'm sure he'll revel in the challenge of taking Mudra Mumbai to the top"

Banerjee brings with him experience and has stints at Everest, Leo Burnett, Bates Worldwide (then Clarion) and Contract.
Banerjee said, "I am tremendously excited about the challenge of leading Mudra Mumbai. The agency already has an enviable roster of clients and from what I hear, a couple of large ones in the pipeline and more importantly great relationships with each one of them. I've been handed a healthy operation and good talent. I couldn't ask for more!"