AD Agencies
Madison BMB promotes Raj Nair to CEO & Chief Creative Officer; Prabha Prabhu retires
MUMBAI: Prabha Prabhu, Founder Member, Madison, who moved with Sam Balsara when he started Madison way back in 1988 has decided to retire after 28 years at Madison. She was the CEO of Madison BMB for the last several years. Raj Nair, the current Chief Creative Officer will now also assume additional responsibility of CEO. Kim Solomon will be a new addition to the team, who joins as Chief Operating Officer. All these changes are effective April 1, 2016.
Describing Prabha Prabhu as the youngest and most energetic lady in advertising, Madison World chairman Sam Balsara said, “Whilst I am sorry that I will not have the benefit of Prabha’s wisdom and expertise, I would like to wish her a cheerful, relaxed and fulfilling retired life.” At the farewell function Sam thanked Prabha for her loyalty, commitment and dedication to Madison and its Clients over the last 28 years. Prabha played a critical role in the formative years of Madison working on successful brands like Cinthol, Vicks, Whisper, BlueStar and She Comfort and more recently with Asian Paints, VVF, Hyper City and Angel Broking among others.
Commenting on Raj Nair’s elevation to the position of CEO and Chief Creative Officer, Balsara said, “Raj has proved over the last few years that whilst maintaining his creative focus, he can look at the larger business picture from the client’s perspective and I am sure this move will help make Madison BMB a more result oriented agency.”
Said Balsara on appointment of Kim Solomon, “Kim is a true blue advertising professional with over 20 years experience at Ogilvy, Mudra, Dentsu, Triton and Everest Advertising and has handled many blue chip clients over the years. I am sure his experience and expertise will add tremendous value to our current and future clients.”
Prabha Prabhu further added, “Madison has been my home for the last 28 years and has been an intrinsic part of me. Whilst I was happy doing effective campaigns for our clients, I was very keen to also win awards. And in the last 4 years we have won several awards. After a rewarding and satisfying career, I now look forward to spending more time doing social work, giving back to society and spending time with my children who are both in advertising and settled in US.”
Madison BMB CCO and CEO Raj Nair, said, “I cannot imagine life at Madison without Prabha. These are extremely large shoes to fill and we will do our very best to keep the flag flying vigorously. And of course I am looking forward to this new role and partnering our clients to help them continue to achieve their business goals through insightful advertising.”
Kim Solomon, COO, Madison BMB COO Kim Solomon said, “Madison BMB has a great set of clients and Madison World is a wonderful and highly reputed organization that I look forward to contribute to in ample measure.”
Madison BMB has just won a couple of prestigious accounts like Angel Broking and Asian Paints’ Bath Business. In the last 3 years Madison BMB has won several awards at the Abbies, Foxglove and Ink for HyperCity, Kyoorius Advertising Award, INK Golds as well an Abby Gold all for the acclaimed Jiyo Parsi Print Campaign, to name a few.
AD Agencies
Prakash Nair reportedly quits Ogilvy after 23 years
One of the agency’s longest-serving leaders has moved on, with his next destination still unknown
MUMBAI: After more than two decades at one address, Prakash Nair has left the building. The president and head of office, north at Ogilvy has moved on from the agency, according to highly placed industry sources. His next move remains unknown. Ogilvy did not respond to requests for comment.
Nair spent over 23 years at the agency, making him one of its longest-serving senior figures. He was elevated to lead the Gurugram office in April 2022, a role that put him at the helm of Ogilvy’s northern operations at a time of considerable churn across the advertising industry.
Before taking charge in the capital, Nair served as associate president at Ogilvy Mumbai, where he worked on some of the agency’s most prized accounts, including Mondelez, Tata Motors, and BP Castrol. Over the years, he built a reputation for driving modern, integrated, and award-winning work, the kind that wins metals at Cannes and keeps clients from straying.
His departure was marked in style. A farewell gathering was held in Delhi, attended by senior figures from across the advertising fraternity, a signal of the regard in which Nair is held in an industry that does not always pause to say goodbye properly.
Where he goes next is the question the industry is now asking. After 23 years at one of the world’s most storied agencies, the answer, when it comes, will be worth watching.
