MAM
Jitender Dabas to exit Cheil X, join Omnicom as BBDO group CEO
Cheil X chief moves to Omnicom to steer BBDO’s creative and growth agenda
MUMBAI: Omnicom Advertising India is set to appoint industry veteran Jitender Dabas as chief executive officer of the BBDO Group, bringing one of the country’s most respected strategy minds into the global network’s top India role.
Dabas currently serves as chief executive officer at Cheil X, a position he took up in May 2025 after more than 14 years at McCann Worldgroup. His move to Omnicom signals another high-profile leadership shift across India’s advertising networks, as agencies sharpen their creative and data-led offerings.
At McCann, Dabas rose through the ranks to become chief operating officer and chief strategy officer for India, a role he held from 2020 to 2025. Before that, he served as chief strategy officer and earlier as executive vice president and head of strategy, shaping brand and business narratives for a wide roster of clients.
His career in planning spans more than two decades, with stints at JWT, Grey Worldwide and Draft FCB Ulka. Across these roles, he built a reputation for blending cultural insight with sharp brand thinking, earning industry recognition and awards along the way.
An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, where he completed a B.Tech, Dabas is known in the industry for his distinctive voice on creativity, effectiveness and the evolving role of advertising.
At Omnicom, he is expected to lead the BBDO Group’s next phase of growth, with a focus on creative strength, integrated capabilities and closer alignment with client business outcomes.
Brands
Kotak Mahindra Bank appoints Ramesh Iyer to board
Veteran financier replaces Ashok Gulati, who retires in March
MUMBAI: Kotak Mahindra Bank has announced a change to its board of directors, with independent director Ashok Gulati set to retire at the end of his term on 5 March.
The company said it has appointed Ramesh Ganesh Iyer as an additional and independent director for a four-year term, effective 17 February, subject to shareholder approval.
Iyer brings more than four decades of experience in financial services. He spent much of his career at Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services, where he served as vice chairman and managing director before taking on the role of president for the financial services sector and member of the group executive board at Mahindra & Mahindra. He retired from the group in April 2024.
During his tenure, Iyer was instrumental in expanding rural and inclusive finance initiatives, scaling the company’s assets and customer base. He also led the creation of subsidiaries in rural housing finance, insurance broking and asset management, and oversaw international joint ventures.
Iyer holds a commerce degree and a doctorate of letters, and currently serves on the boards of several listed and unlisted companies.
The board meeting approving the changes was held in Mumbai on February 17 between 6.30 pm and 6.50 pm.
