MAM
L&K Saatchi & Saatchi appoints Balakrishna Gajelli as executive creative director
Mumbai: L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, part of Publicis Groupe India, has appointed Balakrishna Gajelli as its executive creative director. He will be based in the agency’s Mumbai office and report to L&K Saatchi & Saatchi’s CCO Kartik Smetacek.
With over 17 years of experience encompassing art, design, branding & creative direction in advertising, Gajelli has crafted creative communications for renowned brands such as P&G, VISA, Bumble, Johnson’s Baby, Pillsbury, Amul, Tata Salt, Tata Indicom, Idea Mobile, ITC Foods, Crompton, and many others.
His outstanding contributions and wide-ranging expertise in the advertising and marketing field earned him a place among top 5 creative directors globally in The Big Won report for 2016. Additionally, he has been recognized as the #1 Hottest Creative in India by the Campaign Brief Asia Creative Ranking. Previously, Bala has worked with FCB Ulka, BBDO India and Leo Burnett India.
Commenting on his appointment, Smetaceki said, “This will be the second time I’m working with Bala. He’s a solid thinker, a talented designer and a trustworthy individual. In recent years, he’s also gained a lot of experience with non-traditional work, working on some on India’s most awarded campaigns. It’s fantastic to have him be part of our team.”
Gajelli added, “I have great respect for L&K Saatchi & Saatchi’s creative, authentic, and brand centric approach so I am thrilled to be part of this organisation. It’s great to work with Kartik again, and the agency’s vibrant culture and uplifting environment are plus points. I’m enthusiastic about becoming a valued member of this team and family, contributing to an exhilarating new phase for L&K Saatchi & Saatchi, and nurturing my professional development. I eagerly anticipate leveraging the insights gained from my previous stints and experiences to craft meaningful and innovative advertising and marketing solutions for our clients.”
Bala’s work has won the highest honours at Cannes Lions, Cannes Lions, D&AD, One Show, LIA, WARC, New York Festival, AdFest, SpikesAsia, APAC Effies & Abbys.
MAM
Nikita Kandhari expands role at Prime Video India
Senior leader now heads content marketing for hindi slate while retaining principal position.
MUMBAI: Nikita Kandhari just levelled up her Prime Video game because when you’re already scripting hits, the next move is to own the whole Hindi storyline. Nikita Kandhari has taken on an expanded leadership role at Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, now heading content marketing for the Hindi slate covering original series, movies, and licensed titles while continuing as principal for content marketing.
Announcing the move on LinkedIn, Kandhari wrote, “I’m excited to share that I’m stepping into an expanded role, leading content marketing for the Hindi slate… The past year has been an intense period of learning across building new IPs, shaping campaigns, and working more closely than ever with cross-functional teams. I’m grateful for the trust, mentorship, and collaboration that made that growth possible.”
In her broader mandate, Kandhari will shape integrated, audience-first marketing strategies for Prime Video’s growing Hindi content portfolio, aiming to deepen engagement with India’s booming streaming viewers through thoughtful, culturally attuned campaigns.
Kandhari brings nearly two decades of experience across media, FMCG, and advertising. Before Amazon, she held key roles at Netflix, Hotstar, Unilever, Ogilvy & Mather, and began her career in 2008 as a Research Analyst at The Nielsen Company. She holds an MBA in Marketing and Strategy/Leadership from the Indian School of Business.
Her expanded remit arrives as Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios continue to scale their Hindi originals and licensed offerings in one of the world’s most competitive and fast-growing streaming markets. For a platform betting big on regional storytelling, placing someone with Kandhari’s blend of strategic depth, creative campaign experience, and cross-industry insight at the helm feels like the perfect plot twist to keep viewers hooked.
