MAM
FCB Ulka appoints Surjo Dutt as national creative director
MUMBAI: FCB Ulka has appointed Surjo Dutt as national creative director. Surjo joins FCB Ulka from Sapient Nitro where he worked as Head of Creative – Delhi.
Surjo played a key role in the most successful year for Sapient Nitro’s advertising business since its’ inception in India. The Delhi office won marquee creative projects for brands like Nestle, British Airways and Philips during his 15-month stint.
The British Airways campaign #fuelledbylove and Nestle’s corporate campaign titled #100andrunning were standout pieces of creative work that not only worked in the marketplace, but also, were highly awarded. Goafest, Kyoorius, APAC brand engagement awards, Hollywood A-list awards, CIDCA, TAMBULI are some of the award shows where these campaigns were recognized.
Prior to this he was with JWT Delhi as Vice President and Executive Creative Director (ECD). He began his career with JWT as a trainee copywriter 17 years ago. In his 17-year stint Surjo worked on a huge variety of brands and categories including pretty much all brands in JWT Delhi.
Some of the brands Surjo worked on included Pepsi, 7UP, Mirinda, Mountain Dew, Slice, Tropicana, Frito Lay, Nestle, Airtel, Nokia, GSK, Hero Motocorp, UNICEF, CONGRESS, NOKIA, Hamdard and RADIKAL. He was also a part of JWT’s global High Performance Group for 2 years.
Speaking on Surjo’s new role at FCB Ulka, FCB Ulka CCO Swati Bhattacharya said, “I remember the first time we heard the line ‘cheetah bhi peeta hai’ in JWT. We all knew the new kid on the Pepsi floor was special. Surjo’s omnivorous talent comes with an infectious energy and passion that not just creates great creative work but also strong creative teams. I am absolutely excited to have him partner me in building a bright creative future for FCB India.”
Commenting on Surjo’s appointment, FCB Ulka CEO Nitin Karkare said, “Surjo is a powerhouse of talent. The sheer energy that he brings to every assignment makes him a delight to work with. He is a great people’s person and his teams are always ready to give their best for him. He is a fantastic addition to our creative leadership team and I am sure our clients will benefit from his work”.
Speaking on his new role at FCB Ulka, Dutt said, “FCB Ulka is an agency I have always admired for not just its work but also its core values and culture. And now with true game changers like Rohit and Swati coming in, it’s a wonderful time to be in this agency. I am thrilled to be a part of the team and will do everything I can to write my bit of the success story that is sure to be written.
AD Agencies
ABBY Awards 2026 names 3 jury chairs across digital, PR and publisher
Aditiya, Dharmaraj and Puri to lead key categories at Goafest 2026
MUMBAI: The Ad Club has announced the appointment of PG Aditiya, Deepshikha Dharmaraj and Pavita Puri as jury chairs for the Digital, PR and Publisher categories respectively at the ABBY Awards 2026, powered by The One Club and The One Show.
The awards are set to take place during Goafest 2026 from May 20 to 22 at Taj Cidade de Goa Horizon, bringing together some of the biggest names in advertising and marketing.
PG Aditiya, founder and CCO at Talented, will chair the Digital jury. A former chief creative officer at Dentsu Webchutney, he now leads Talented, an employee-owned independent agency known for its unconventional structure and award-winning work for brands such as Meta, Google, Britannia and Tanishq. The agency has also been recognised as a global ‘Best Place to Work’ by Campaign magazine for two consecutive years.
In the PR category, Deepshikha Dharmaraj, CEO at Burson Group India, brings over three decades of experience in public relations and integrated communications. She oversees multiple entities including Burson Genesis, GCI Health India and Hill & Knowlton India. Known for her strategic counsel and leadership, Dharmaraj has also served as president of industry bodies such as PRCAI and PAFI, and has been a jury member at global platforms including Cannes PR Lions and D&AD Awards.
Pavita Puri, chief brand and marketing officer at The Indian Express Group, will chair the Publisher category. With over 15 years of leadership experience, she has been instrumental in driving the group’s transition into a digital-first media powerhouse, overseeing brands such as The Indian Express, Financial Express, Loksatta and Jansatta. Her earlier stints in advertising include roles at Rediffusion and Lowe India, where she handled marquee clients across sectors.
The appointments reflect a strong mix of creative, communications and media expertise, underscoring the awards’ focus on recognising excellence across evolving industry segments.
As the industry gears up for Goafest, the ABBY Awards 2026 promise to spotlight standout work, with seasoned leaders at the helm of jury deliberations shaping the benchmark for creative excellence.
