MAM
Kiran Anthony, Mahesh Gharat step down as Ogilvy South CCOs
Mumbai: Ogilvy India (South) has announced changes in its creative leadership with chief creative officers (CCOs) Kiran Anthony and Mahesh Gharat having put in their papers and deciding to move on from the agency. Gharat will be moving into a full-time direction and Anthony will continue to lead Vi in a consultant’s role while he also pursues directing, said the agency in a statement.
The agency also announced its new creative leadership in Bengaluru, and across the South markets. Puneet Kapoor will join Ogilvy in March 2022 as Ogilvy India (South) chief creative officer, and will work with Ogilvy India’s chief creative officers and the president of Ogilvy India (South). Prior to this, Kapoor was with Lowe Bengaluru, where he was regional creative officer.
“Kiran Anthony and Mahesh Gharat have led some of the most memorable campaigns this industry has seen. They have won critical pitches, built terrific teams, and put Ogilvy on the world stage more than once,” said Ogilvy India chief creative officers Kainaz Karmakar, Harshad Rajadhyaksha and Sukesh Nayak about the creative duo. “Having contributed a great deal to Ogilvy, they now want to go after their dream of becoming film directors. This means we still get to keep them close, just in a different role.”
Kapoor’s advertising career spans 24 years across Lowe, Ogilvy, McCann, BBH and as a founder of Eleven Brandworks. His most celebrated recent work includes campaigns for Unacademy, Swiggy, Fastrack, Titan, Myntra, Udaan, Xiaomi, Redbus, Flipkart, Cleartrip, Britannia, ITC Foods and TVS.
“I salute and thank Mahesh Gharat and Kiran Anthony for their stellar contribution to Ogilvy for a very long time,” commented Ogilvy chairman global creative and executive chairman India Piyush Pandey. “It’s never easy to see your bright stars leave. However, when they step out to actualise their dreams, you can only cheerlead and wish them fulfilment in what they have chosen as their next journey and destination.”
Brands
Akamai appoints Fiona Zhang as regional VP, channel sales and programs for Asia Pacific and Japan
New regional VP to scale partner ecosystem amid cloud and AI demand
BENGALURU: Akamai Technologies has appointed Fiona Zhang as regional vice president for channel sales and programmes in Asia Pacific and Japan, doubling down on its partner-led growth strategy in one of its fastest-evolving markets.
In her new role, Zhang will oversee the company’s channel strategy and partner ecosystem across the region, with a focus on helping partners deliver more value to customers navigating increasingly complex cloud and security needs.
The move signals Akamai’s continued bet on its partner network to drive adoption, expand market reach and fuel revenue growth. A key pillar of this strategy is Akamai Partner Connect, the company’s unified global programme designed to simplify engagement and accelerate partner-led business.
Across Asia Pacific and Japan, demand for cloud, cybersecurity and AI-led solutions is rising sharply. Akamai is responding by expanding its network of service providers, distributors, system integrators and technology partners, aiming to bring more localised expertise and scalable solutions to enterprise customers.
Zhang brings over 15 years of experience in channel sales and programme leadership across cybersecurity, cloud and networking. Since joining Akamai in 2019, she has led channel strategy and operations in Greater China, where she drove partner-led growth across delivery, security and compute offerings.
Before Akamai, she was head of channels at Palo Alto Networks in China, where she oversaw rapid expansion and revenue growth. She began her career at Cisco, holding roles across sales, business development and channel management.
“Asia Pacific is one of the most diverse and fast-moving technology markets in the world, and that makes a channel-first strategy essential,” said Zhang. “Across APJ, our partners are doing far more than reselling. They are building capabilities, advancing AI adoption and helping enterprises navigate a complex digital landscape. My focus is on making Akamai the platform our partners want to build their business around.”
Echoing the sentiment, Akamai Technologies vice president and managing director greater China Sean Li said, “Our channel ecosystem is fundamental to Akamai’s growth strategy. Fiona’s leadership will be instrumental in strengthening our partner network and enabling partners to capture new opportunities across the region.”
With enterprises accelerating digital transformation and AI adoption, Akamai’s latest leadership move underscores a clear message. In a market driven by partnerships, the company is placing its bets firmly on the channel to lead the next phase of growth.
