MAM
Jitender Dabas to exit Cheil X, join Omnicom as BBDO group CEO
Cheil X chief moves to Omnicom to steer BBDO’s creative and growth agenda
MUMBAI: Omnicom Advertising India is set to appoint industry veteran Jitender Dabas as chief executive officer of the BBDO Group, bringing one of the country’s most respected strategy minds into the global network’s top India role.
Dabas currently serves as chief executive officer at Cheil X, a position he took up in May 2025 after more than 14 years at McCann Worldgroup. His move to Omnicom signals another high-profile leadership shift across India’s advertising networks, as agencies sharpen their creative and data-led offerings.
At McCann, Dabas rose through the ranks to become chief operating officer and chief strategy officer for India, a role he held from 2020 to 2025. Before that, he served as chief strategy officer and earlier as executive vice president and head of strategy, shaping brand and business narratives for a wide roster of clients.
His career in planning spans more than two decades, with stints at JWT, Grey Worldwide and Draft FCB Ulka. Across these roles, he built a reputation for blending cultural insight with sharp brand thinking, earning industry recognition and awards along the way.
An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, where he completed a B.Tech, Dabas is known in the industry for his distinctive voice on creativity, effectiveness and the evolving role of advertising.
At Omnicom, he is expected to lead the BBDO Group’s next phase of growth, with a focus on creative strength, integrated capabilities and closer alignment with client business outcomes.
