MAM
Gaurav Dudeja promoted to executive VP and head of Leo Burnett Orchard
New Delhi: Leo Burnett Orchard on Tuesday promoted Gaurav Dudeja as executive vice president and head of Leo Burnett Orchard and appointed Pravin Sutar as head of creative.
Both Dudeja and Sutar will now lead the national mandate for Leo Burnett Orchard and will report to South Asia Leo Burnett, chief executive officer and chief strategy officer, Dheeraj Sinha, and South Asia Leo Burnett, chief executive officer, and chief creative officer –Rajdeepak Das.
“Gaurav has done a spectacular job of driving growth in the Bangalore office. Now the new-age mandate is to grow the agency at a national level. Pravin joins us with a rich expertise in digital and also holds the advantage of having been a part of the Leo Burnett family. And together we are confident that the duo will take Leo Burnett Orchard to one of India’s foremost new age agencies,” said Sinha.
Dudeja moved to Bangalore from Leo Burnett Delhi as branch head for Leo Burnett Orchard – Bangalore and has been instrumental in managing the large portfolio of businesses and winning several new businesses. “Now with the national mandate, I feel we are poised for bigger, better things. The canvas is now wide open for me & Pravin to take our belief system of building India’s strong new agency and make Leo Burnett Orchard the best version of Leo Burnett. I can’t wait to get going – and learn and have fun along the way,” said Dudeja.
Sutar will be responsible for shaping the creative culture of the agency building it on the tenets of creativity, technology, innovation and storytelling, said the agency.
“I am very excited to be back with the Leo Burnett family. The passion and power of creating great ideas brings me back to the family. Rajdeepak Das, who understands the power of ideas will always keep pushing you for great creative output. Leo Burnett Orchard has a great set of clients who reflect the same passion and drive for excellence as Leo Burnett India. I’m really excited to collaborate with like-minded clients and create some iconic work. Not only digital but more than that,” he said.
MAM
Ameya Velankar steps down as Uber’s head of marketing for India & South Asia
Veteran marketer exits after more than seven years with the ride-hailing giant.
MUMBAI: After more than seven years of steering Uber through the bumpy roads of India’s mobility market, Ameya Velankar has decided to change lanes. Ameya Velankar has stepped down as Head of Marketing for India and South Asia, marking the end of a significant chapter at the ride-hailing company. He had been with Uber since 2019, taking on multiple roles in product and category marketing before rising to lead the marketing function for the region in 2021.
During his tenure, Velankar played a key role in strengthening Uber’s positioning in one of its most competitive and dynamic markets. He helped drive localised marketing strategies and scale adoption across key offerings such as Auto, Moto, Rentals and Intercity, tailoring global platforms to Indian consumer needs.
Prior to joining Uber, Velankar built his marketing expertise at leading consumer companies including SC Johnson and Marico, where he handled category and product leadership roles. His career began at RPG Enterprises.
Details of his next professional move have not been disclosed.
In a fast-evolving mobility landscape where brands constantly battle for attention, Ameya Velankar helped Uber stay relevant and resonant with millions of Indian users. As he moves on from the driver’s seat of marketing, the company will now look for fresh ideas to keep its wheels turning smoothly.
