MAM
VML appoints Venkatagiri Rao as creative head
MUMBAI: Global digital marketing agency VML has announced the appointment of Venkatagiri Rao as Creative Head – India, as part of a significant step to solidify its creative capabilities. In his new role, Venkat will spearhead the office’s creative practice, which continues to form the foundation for the agency’s growth.
Based in Mumbai, Venkat will report directly to Tripti Lochan, CEO – VML Southeast & India.
“With the digital marketing landscape evolving rapidly over the years, we remain firmly committed to pushing the boundaries of technology and expanding our creative offering to serve brands with brilliant ideas,” said VML CEO southeast & India Tripti Lochan. “We are delighted to have Venkat on board, and are confident that his passion for innovation will drive the change brands need, and take our creative offerings a notch higher.”
Venkat brings with him over 16 years of industry experience across agencies, most recently at DDB Mudra Group, Mumbai, where he served as Executive Creative Director for a period of five years. There, he handled notable companies and brands including Emirates, Volkswagen, Economic Times, Femina, Kalpataru Developers, Lonely Planet, Top Gear and Arshiya Logistics.
Prior to DDB Mudra, Venkat held stints at Ogilvy, Ambience Publicis, Alok Nanda & Company and Fisheye Creative Solutions. He is best known for his work on Economic Times, Femina, Emirates, Victorinox, Tata Safari & Mid-day for which he has won various awards, including One Show, Effies, London- International & Abbys.
Venkat commented, “As VML continues to gain momentum in Southeast Asia and India, I am honoured to be given the opportunity to be part of an agency that is strongly invested in creating awe-inspiring customer experiences that drive proven business impact. I am definitely looking forward to working closely with the India team to push new creative boundaries.”
VML is a global marketing agency that delivers forward-thinking ideas and solutions for the world’s most influential brands, including: Castrol, Kellogg’s, ICICI Bank, Mahindra & Mahindra, INSEAD, Ford, Changi Airport and Mattel.
Founded in 1992 and globally headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., VML has more than 2,300 employees with principal offices in 26 locations across six continents. Regionally headquartered in Singapore, VML has offices in Jakarta, Mumbai and New Delhi. In 2001, VML joined the world’s largest communications services group WPP.
MAM
Publicis Groupe names Rahul Titus global influencer lead
Ogilvy’s former global head of influence to unify creator operations worldwide
UK: Publicis Groupe has tapped Rahul Titus to lead its influencer capability globally, tightening its grip on the fast-maturing creator economy.
Titus, one of the industry’s early architects, joins from Ogilvy, where he built what was billed as the world’s largest and most awarded influencer marketing operation. In his new role, based in London, he will align Publicis Groupe’s influencer agencies under a single global proposition, tasked with delivering consistent solutions that drive growth across its connected media ecosystem.
The move signals Publicis’ intent to professionalise and scale influencer marketing beyond fragmented campaigns and regional silos. Titus will shape the influencer narrative across the Groupe, integrating talent, data and commerce as brands demand sharper returns from creator partnerships.
At Ogilvy, Titus led specialist teams spanning more than 40 markets and over 650 influencer experts. The agency claimed seven consecutive years, from 2019 to 2025, as the most awarded influencer marketing network globally. His teams secured the Grand Prix for Social & Creator at Cannes Lions for three successive years and clinched the Titanium in 2025 for Vaseline Verified.
Titus also steered WPP Onefluence for L’Oréal and served as global influence lead for WPP Open X, overseeing influencer strategy for more than 200 brands across 195 countries for The Coca-Cola Company. Earlier roles included managing partner and head of influence for the UK and EMEA at Ogilvy, as well as senior positions at MediaCom, Dentsu Aegis Network and YMU.
A founding board member of the Influencer Marketing Trade Body, Titus has long argued that the creator economy must move from hype to discipline. Publicis appears to agree.
As influencer budgets swell and scrutiny sharpens, the brief is clear: scale fast, integrate smarter and prove the returns. The creator economy has grown up. Now it must deliver.
