MAM
Abhik Santara, VR Rajesh to manage Mumbai ops at Ogilvy
MUMBAI: In a recent development at Ogilvy India, Abhik Santara and VR Rajesh have been handed over the responsibilities of Mumbai office as head and managing partner, respectively. As part of their responsibilities, they will also oversee the growth of the Kolkata office.
The move is in the direction of Ogilvy India to drive aggressive internal transformation to stay at the top of the game. Ogilvy India CEO Kunal Jeswani says, “Abhik Santara and VR Rajesh are the new captains at Ogilvy Mumbai. With these appointments, Ogilvy Mumbai now has a stellar business, creative and strategic leadership team in place. They, along with the Mumbai EXCO, will drive our transformation agenda together, leading India’s best modern marketing communications agency office to new heights.”
Santara started his career in Delhi and worked with JWT before moving on to lead offices for Rediffusion Y&R and the Lowe Lintas Group. He managed a range of brands in his time with these companies, including Nokia, Pepsi, Airtel, Adidas, Dabur and LG. He leads the business relationships across Unilever Beverages, Bajaj Auto and Marico and, along with the Mumbai EXCO, will now focus on driving this office forward.
Rajesh was rejected by Ogilvy three times before he was finally taken on by the company 15 years ago. In his long career with Ogilvy, VR has worked across a range of clients and brands including Asian Paints, Tata Sky, ITC, Unilever Beverages and Star Plus. He has also helped energise and grow the Kolkata office in a tough market environment. Many of the clients in Kolkata – Bandhan Bank, ITC Kwiknic, Greenply, MP Birla and Yatra – have also felt his great passion and influence. He will partner Abhik to lead Ogilvy Mumbai.
AD Agencies
Prakash Nair reportedly quits Ogilvy after 23 years
One of the agency’s longest-serving leaders has moved on, with his next destination still unknown
MUMBAI: After more than two decades at one address, Prakash Nair has left the building. The president and head of office, north at Ogilvy has moved on from the agency, according to highly placed industry sources. His next move remains unknown. Ogilvy did not respond to requests for comment.
Nair spent over 23 years at the agency, making him one of its longest-serving senior figures. He was elevated to lead the Gurugram office in April 2022, a role that put him at the helm of Ogilvy’s northern operations at a time of considerable churn across the advertising industry.
Before taking charge in the capital, Nair served as associate president at Ogilvy Mumbai, where he worked on some of the agency’s most prized accounts, including Mondelez, Tata Motors, and BP Castrol. Over the years, he built a reputation for driving modern, integrated, and award-winning work, the kind that wins metals at Cannes and keeps clients from straying.
His departure was marked in style. A farewell gathering was held in Delhi, attended by senior figures from across the advertising fraternity, a signal of the regard in which Nair is held in an industry that does not always pause to say goodbye properly.
Where he goes next is the question the industry is now asking. After 23 years at one of the world’s most storied agencies, the answer, when it comes, will be worth watching.
