AD Agencies
M&C Saatchi and Delhi-based February join forces
MUMBAI: M&C Saatchi Worldwide is strengthening its presence in India through a tie- up with Delhi-based independent creative agency, February. The tie-up sees the launch of a new Indian agency christened M&C Saatchi February with immediate effect.
Offering advertising, design, digital, social, mobile, events and activation, M&C Saatchi February’s founding portfolio of blue-chip clients will include Nando’s, Typhoo, Avis, Blossom Kochhar Aroma Magic, DLF retail, Ananda in the Himalayas, SBI Cards and Panasonic Mobility.
M&C Saatchi Worldwide CEO Moray MacLennan said, “India is a fundamental part of our global strategy, and we’re delighted to join forces with a brilliant team to help us create a global hub in this critical market.”
The deal follows a strategic review of the agency’s Indian operations and will see M&C Saatchi’s new Indian agency – M&C Saatchi February – headquartered in February’s offices in Delhi’s Shahpur Jat.
February’s founders Gopal Krishnan and Nirmal Pulickal will take over the leadership of the combined operation. They will be supported by M&C Saatchi Delhi CEO Anjali Nayar, who has been appointed as the president of the new venture.
MacLennan added, “In Gopal, Nirmal and the team at February, we have found our perfect partners. They’ve built an agency producing world-class work for both local and international clients. They share our obsession with ‘Brutal Simplicity of Thought’, and our laser-like focus on building business results for our clients.”
Initially, the partners of February will have a majority stake in the venture, with M&C Saatchi Worldwide taking over the majority stake over an agreed timescale.
Krishnan said, “We’re delighted to be joining forces with M&C Saatchi as we embark on the next phase of February’s exciting journey. We’ve been doing some great work for some wonderful clients over the last couple of years, and this new partnership will help us play on an even bigger stage going forward.”
Pulickal added, “When we launched February two years ago we had a simple goal – to create great work that works for our clients’ business. It’s great to find a partner in M&C Saatchi who shares our vision entirely. We’re very excited about the future of M&C Saatchi February.”
AD Agencies
WPP appoints Hephzibah Pathak CEO of WPP Creative India
Ogilvy India chair takes charge of unified creative model in key market
NEW DELHI: WPP has appointed Hephzibah Pathak as chief executive officer of WPP Creative India, putting a local leader at the helm of its newly created creative operating model in one of its most important growth markets.
The move brings clarity to how WPP’s global restructuring will play out in India, weeks after the group unveiled WPP Creative as part of its Elevate28 strategy. The unit sits alongside WPP Media, WPP Production and WPP Enterprise Solutions, and is designed to simplify what the company previously described as an overly complex structure.
Pathak, who continues as executive chairperson of Ogilvy India, will represent all agencies under the WPP Creative umbrella in India. Her role centres on driving integration across brands, expanding capabilities and ensuring clients can tap into the network’s full talent pool without friction.
WPP said Pathak will work closely with agency brand CEOs to “enhance integration, expand capabilities, and ensure seamless client access”, while maintaining the distinct identities of its agencies.
The portfolio under WPP Creative includes leading networks such as VML, Landor, AKQA and Grey, along with Burson and its affiliated firms. Leaders across these agencies will now report into Pathak, even as each brand continues to operate independently within a unified system.
The appointment also formalises a dual-track strategy in India, preserving agency identities while accelerating collaboration. Pathak is expected to work closely with media leadership to align creative and media capabilities, reflecting growing client demand for integrated, multi-market solutions.
WPP Creative global CEO Jon Cook has described the unit as “not an agency” but an operating system that helps creative, design and PR brands work together more effectively. The group has been clear that it is not merging or phasing out legacy agency brands, instead aiming to reduce complexity on the client side.
Pathak brings nearly three decades of experience within the network, having joined in 1997 and held roles ranging from Mumbai office head to chief client officer. She made history in 2024 as the first woman to lead Ogilvy India in its 95-year presence in the country.
Her expanded mandate positions India at the centre of WPP’s Asia-Pacific strategy, with a focus on strengthening brand presence, deepening client relationships and unlocking growth in a fast-evolving market.
The appointment signals WPP’s intent to move beyond the traditional holding company model towards a more integrated, AI-enabled structure. With Pathak now steering WPP Creative India, the group appears set to test whether simpler structures can indeed deliver sharper creative outcomes.
