MAM
Dentsu Creative names John Mescall global chief creative partner
MUMBAI: Dentsu Creative has appointed John Mescall as its global chief creative partner, a move designed to sharpen the agency’s creative edge and align standards across markets.
Based in New York, Mescall will work closely with Yasu Sasaki, Dentsu’s global chief creative officer, to strengthen creative craft, foster collaboration and integrate emerging technologies like AI into workflows. He will also focus on talent development across the network.
“What drew me to Dentsu Creative is its deep belief in the power of creativity to drive meaningful impact,” said Mescall. “It’s rare to find a global organisation so aligned in purpose yet so attuned to the strengths of its local teams.”
Mescall is one of advertising’s most decorated creative leaders. At Mccann Worldgroup, where he served as global executive creative director and president of its global creative council, he helped steer the network to Cannes Lions and Effie global network of the year titles. His career haul includes more than 100 Cannes Lions, eight of them Grand Prix, along with top honours at D&AD, One Show, Clio and beyond. Adweek has named him to its creativity 50, while Business Insider ranked him among the world’s top 10 most creative people in advertising.
Dentsu Creative, global president, Abbey Klaassen said Mescall’s “ability to unite teams around a shared vision” will be key to scaling the agency’s creative impact. Sasaki added that his appointment reflects the network’s “commitment to transformative creativity that delivers cultural and business impact.”
Brands
Radico Khaitan appoints Kunal Madan as chief marketing officer
Promotions signal focus on premium spirits, global expansion and homegrown leadership
UTTAR PRADESH: Radico Khaitan has elevated two long-serving insiders to its top leadership team, signalling a bold push into premium spirits and global markets. Kunal Madan steps in as chief marketing officer, while Sudhir Upadhyay takes charge as chief sales officer, both part of what managing director Abhishek Khaitan calls a consciously built next-generation leadership bench.
“At Radico Khaitan, our growth has always been powered by people,” Khaitan said. “True leadership is not imported, it is cultivated.” He added that empowering internal talent ensures continuity while keeping the company globally competitive and future-ready.
Madan, with over 20 years of experience across global sales and marketing, will drive brand architecture, marketing strategy, and the premiumisation agenda, including travel retail. Upadhyay, who has 25 years in the industry and was most recently national sales head, will oversee distribution expansion and execution across markets.
The leadership reshuffle comes amid Radico’s intensified focus on premium spirits, a segment driving higher margins and international growth. Last year, Ajay Kakkar was brought on to head the Premium On-Trade vertical, targeting modern and institutional channels to boost presence in high-growth segments.
Meanwhile, Amar Sinha stepped down as chief operating officer after contributing across multiple growth phases. Khaitan acknowledged Sinha’s role in supporting the company’s trajectory, while Sinha described his tenure as “an absolute privilege,” crediting Khaitan’s leadership for shaping the company’s strategic direction.
With a homegrown leadership bench and a clear premium agenda, Radico Khaitan is set to accelerate its global expansion while doubling down on brand elevation and market impact.
