Kinnect names Gaurav Dudeja CBO, elevates Ankit Banga to COO

MUMBAI: Kinnect, one of Omnicom Advertising India’s youngest agencies, has unveiled a refreshed growth strategy centred on stronger leadership, tighter integration and deeper client partnerships. The integrated marketing agency, which began as a digital-first player before evolving into a full-service communications partner, is sharpening its focus at a time when brands increasingly prefer unified solutions across creative, media, influencer marketing, technology and strategy rather than juggling multiple specialist agencies.

At the heart of the new strategy is a leadership reshuffle designed to support the agency’s next phase of expansion.

As part of the changes, Ankit Banga has been elevated to chief operating officer. In his expanded role, he will oversee operational excellence, delivery frameworks and organisational scalability.

“As we scale, the focus is on building systems that can handle complexity without slowing us down. It’s about creating a structure where teams can collaborate seamlessly across capabilities, and where we can deliver consistent, high-quality work at speed,” said Ankit Banga.

The agency is also reinforcing its creative ambitions under the leadership of Neville Shah, who continues as chief creative officer. His focus remains on developing culturally relevant campaigns that resonate with audiences while delivering tangible business results.

“The most interesting thing about advertising today is that audiences can spot performative marketing instantly. You can’t force relevance anymore; you have to earn it. People don’t engage with brands because they’re loud, they engage because something feels useful, culturally true, or genuinely relevant to them,” said Neville Shah.

He added that integration has become increasingly important in ensuring ideas remain consistent and meaningful across every consumer touchpoint.

Further strengthening its growth agenda, Kinnect has appointed Gaurav Dudeja as chief business officer. Dudeja joins from FCB Interface, where he served as chief executive officer. At Kinnect, he will lead business development, client partnerships and cross-functional collaboration across the agency’s offerings.

“Kinnect has built strong momentum over the past few years, not just in business growth but also in its creative reputation. What stands out is how deeply the agency cares about its clients’ businesses and brings together a full-funnel stack of capabilities to drive real impact,” said Gaurav Dudeja.

The leadership changes come as Kinnect seeks to strengthen its position within the wider Omnicom Advertising India ecosystem while maintaining its entrepreneurial culture and integrated approach.

“The industry is moving away from siloed capabilities to connected systems, and that’s exactly where we see our role,” said Kinnect chief executive officer Chandni Shah. She added that the agency’s next stage of growth will focus not just on scale, but on building collaborative solutions that deliver meaningful business outcomes.

As marketers continue to navigate an increasingly crowded media landscape, Kinnect is betting that integration, rather than fragmentation, will be the key to staying relevant. With a refreshed leadership team and growth strategy in place, the agency is positioning itself to turn that belief into its next growth story.