AD Agencies
McCann Worldgroup India announces key creative leadership
MUMBAI: McCann Worldgroup has announced key senior creative leadership changes: promotions, and inclusion of senior level talent, for its India operations.
Pradyumna Chauhan and Prateek Bhardwaj have been assigned the position of joint National Creative Directors. Both will report to McCann Worldgroup executive chairman and CEO and south Asia president Prasoon Joshi.
Announcing the changes, Joshi said, “As an agency we are committed to our clients’ business and do everything possible to bring the best and most cutting-edge talent onboard. These are carefully selected professionals in whom I have great faithand high expectations. I am positive that they will further enhance our creative product and add yet another dimension to the McCann offering.”
Chauhan has been with McCann for a year, and comes with over a decade and a half of experience across brands such as MP Tourism, Star Network, Airtel, ICICI Bank, Birla Sun life, Asian Paints and others.
This is Bhardwaj’s second stint with McCann. He has extensive experience in the industry across agencies and brands such as Sprite, Kinley, Chlormint, MasterCard, HP and Reebok. Bhardwaj co-founded and ran an independent agency, Eleven Brandworks, and brings along this entrepreneurial mindset, together with the exposure to big brands.
These two talents shall further bolster McCann’s creative prowess. “McCann has a stellar creative reputation, and I am excited with the new role. I look forward to taking the agency to greater heights,” said Chauhan. Bhardwaj added here, “Having worked here earlier and having seen the world I am certain that I can tangibly add value to our clients with the new responsibility entrusted to us.”
Other senior creative leadership announcements include:
Mumbai:
Akshay Kapnadak and Abhinav Tripathi have been elevated to the role of Creative Heads of McCann’s advertising operations in Mumbai. Denzil Machado will now head McCann’s Craft Excellence for Mumbai. This trio will be responsible for the Creative Department in McCann, Mumbai.
South region:
McCann’s Creative Head for South, Anil Thomas, will now have extended responsibilities as his role expands across South Asia, where he shall provide creative inputs and vision on a need basis.
New Delhi:
ECDs Ravinder Siwach and Kapil Batra will continue to lead their respective responsibilities.
AD Agencies
Tawana Burnett to lead social and influencer jury at Abby Awards 2026
Meta’s Apac leader takes the reins for Abby Awards, adding flair to social content
MUMBAI: Tawana Burnett, Meta’s Head of Top Accounts and Agencies for Apac, has been named jury chair for the new social content and influencer ,arketing category at the Abby Awards 2026, powered by The One Club | The One Show.
With a 25-year career spanning the US, EMEA, Latam, and Apac, Tawana has worked on campaigns for some of the world’s biggest brands and leading advertising agencies. At Meta, she guides CMOs, business leaders, and agencies on harnessing digital and emerging advertising solutions to accelerate brand growth.
Before joining Meta, Tawana led award-winning product teams at Intuit, LeapFrog, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer, helping launch iconic products including QuickBooks, Listerine, Advil, and ChapStick.
A champion of diversity, she was featured in Adweek’s Women Trailblazers in 2019 for mentoring more than 15 women-led startups and for her work on the #biascorrect campaign that promotes women in leadership. She was also recognised in Ad Age’s Global Leading Women Class of 2023, The List in 2024, and served as juror for Spikes Asia and Mad Stars 2024.
Tawana has held leadership roles in the Singapore Inclusion Council at Meta, the IAB SouthEast Asia & India Board, and currently serves on the boards of IAA SEA and the Ronald McDonald House in New York City. Originally from New York, she now lives in Singapore with her husband and daughter.
The Abby Awards 2026, presented by The One Club | The One Show, will be held during Goafest 2026 from 20 to 22 May in Goa, celebrating creativity across the region.
