AD Agencies
Goafest 2024 announces maiden partnership with D&AD’s Masterclasses
Mumbai: Goafest, South Asia’s largest advertising and media festival enters into a strategic partnership with D&AD, the global arbiter of design and advertising excellence, to curate skill development masterclasses at the festival’s 17th edition, in Mumbai.
Ushering in a new era of creative mastery, Goafest 2024 solidifies its position as a beacon of innovation and excellence and continues to redefine industry standards year after year. With a focus on skill development, creative excellence, and industry knowledge enhancement, the inclusion of three Masterclasses by D&AD at Goafest 2024 is set to elevate the festival to unprecedented heights, bringing the two titans of the creative world on a single stage. The three skill development Masterclasses curated for Goafest 2024 will offer attendees a unique opportunity to delve into the realm of creativity, inspiration, and strategic insight. Crafted around the central theme of ‘The Age of Adaptability’, each of the Masterclasses are designed to equip participants with actionable strategies and transformative ideas that are poised to redefine the industry’s landscape.
The first Masterclass, ‘Trend Immersion Workshop’ will help attendees identify emerging trends and differentiate them from fads. A creative boost, it will inspire fresh thinking and encourage the application of past learnings. The workshop will drive innovation, ideation and fresh thinking. Titled ‘Unlock Award Winning Ideas’, the second workshop unpacks insights on the making of inspiring and impactful award-winning work and campaigns including wins from D&AD Pencil. The third Masterclass, ‘Unpacking Brand Iconicity’ is an interactive session that explores ways brands are using the iconic elements of their identity and provides tips for getting to the heart of a brand. The workshop will explore recent trends in brand identity, understand the making of ownable iconicity and develop an identity into a brand story. Each Masterclass is carefully curated and aims to educate through real-world insights.
Speaking on the collaboration, Jaideep Gandhi, Chairperson of Goafest 2024 said “At Goafest, our vision has always been to push boundaries and redefine the standards of creativity. This partnership with D&AD is a testament to our dedication to providing unparalleled learning opportunities and empowering attendees with skills and ideas that will shape the future of the creative industry.”
“We are thrilled to bring our D&AD Masterclasses to Goafest 2024 to celebrate and advance creative excellence. We have shared goals to foster diverse talent, drive innovation, and propel the creative industry forward to shape the future leaders of our industry.” said Jo Jackson, CEO of D&AD.
Goafest 2024, in collaboration with D&AD Masterclasses, invites industry leaders, professionals, and enthusiasts alike to celebrate creativity, innovation, and excellence and chart a new course for the future of advertising and media, leaving an indelible mark on the global creative landscape
AD Agencies
WPP appoints Hephzibah Pathak CEO of WPP Creative India
Ogilvy India chair takes charge of unified creative model in key market
NEW DELHI: WPP has appointed Hephzibah Pathak as chief executive officer of WPP Creative India, putting a local leader at the helm of its newly created creative operating model in one of its most important growth markets.
The move brings clarity to how WPP’s global restructuring will play out in India, weeks after the group unveiled WPP Creative as part of its Elevate28 strategy. The unit sits alongside WPP Media, WPP Production and WPP Enterprise Solutions, and is designed to simplify what the company previously described as an overly complex structure.
Pathak, who continues as executive chairperson of Ogilvy India, will represent all agencies under the WPP Creative umbrella in India. Her role centres on driving integration across brands, expanding capabilities and ensuring clients can tap into the network’s full talent pool without friction.
WPP said Pathak will work closely with agency brand CEOs to “enhance integration, expand capabilities, and ensure seamless client access”, while maintaining the distinct identities of its agencies.
The portfolio under WPP Creative includes leading networks such as VML, Landor, AKQA and Grey, along with Burson and its affiliated firms. Leaders across these agencies will now report into Pathak, even as each brand continues to operate independently within a unified system.
The appointment also formalises a dual-track strategy in India, preserving agency identities while accelerating collaboration. Pathak is expected to work closely with media leadership to align creative and media capabilities, reflecting growing client demand for integrated, multi-market solutions.
WPP Creative global CEO Jon Cook has described the unit as “not an agency” but an operating system that helps creative, design and PR brands work together more effectively. The group has been clear that it is not merging or phasing out legacy agency brands, instead aiming to reduce complexity on the client side.
Pathak brings nearly three decades of experience within the network, having joined in 1997 and held roles ranging from Mumbai office head to chief client officer. She made history in 2024 as the first woman to lead Ogilvy India in its 95-year presence in the country.
Her expanded mandate positions India at the centre of WPP’s Asia-Pacific strategy, with a focus on strengthening brand presence, deepening client relationships and unlocking growth in a fast-evolving market.
The appointment signals WPP’s intent to move beyond the traditional holding company model towards a more integrated, AI-enabled structure. With Pathak now steering WPP Creative India, the group appears set to test whether simpler structures can indeed deliver sharper creative outcomes.
