MAM
Rajat Sethi appointed Wunderman India CEO
NEW DELHI: Wunderman, the world’s leading direct marketing agency, has appointed Rajat Sethi as CEO of its Indian operations.
Wunderman is one of the largest integrated marketing solutions companies in the world, delivering customer relationship management services to clients through more than 70 offices in over 33 countries. With more than 3,400 employees worldwide, Wunderman combines strategic consulting, data-driven and creative marketing services, the Internet and the latest information technologies to propel and measure business results for its clients, according to an official statement.
In India, Wunderman began its operations from Chennai in May1998. Today it has branches in Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi and its clients include United Breweries, Kitchens of India, Ford, Citibank, DHL, ICICI Prudential, Taj Group, Airtel, Canon, Agrani Switch and Total Presentation Devices.
Rajat Sethi, who has 23 years of experience in marketing, advertising and relationship marketing, began his career as a management trainee with Jenson & Nicholson in 1979. Thereafter, he joined Lintas India in 1983 and then Clarion in 1988. He then went on to join McCann Erickson in 1990 thus developing a broad base of experience in all aspects of advertising and integrated marketing.
Prior to his current appointment, Rajat was president and COO of Result: McCann, a part of the McCann relationship marketing network, handling CRM communications for clients including ABN-Amro Credit Cards, Hero Honda, General Motors, Gillette, Nestle, Hindustan Times, Lufthansa, Usha International, ICI Paints, Cabletron and Johnson & Johnson. In 2001, Rajat was appointed sub-regional director for Asia-Pacific for MRM Partners Worldwide.
Wunderman is a partner company of Young & Rubicam Inc., a world leader in commercial communications – a network of pre-eminent companies in advertising, perception management and public relations, brand identity and design consultancy, database marketing and customer relationship management and health care communications. With headquarters in New York, Young & Rubicam ranks among the world’s leading consolidated marketing communications companies and is a member of the WPP Group.
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What is a Critical Illness Rider?
It is an add-on benefit attached to your existing health insurance policy. It provides a fixed lump sum amount if you are diagnosed with any illness listed under the rider. You become eligible for a payout solely on the basis of diagnosis, not by hospitalisation or treatment expenses.
Unlike regular coverage, you are not required to submit medical bills to claim this benefit. Once the diagnosed illness meets the policy definition and criteria, the insurer releases the amount. This makes it different from standard critical health insurance plans, which are standalone policies rather than add-ons.
How a Critical Illness Rider Works
When you opt for this rider, you choose a predefined sum assured. If you are diagnosed with a covered illness, the insurer pays the full amount in one lump sum. The payout can be used for treatment, recovery, income replacement, debt repayment, or even lifestyle adjustments.
Most riders specify a waiting period and a survival period. The waiting period means the illness must be diagnosed after a certain number of days from the policy start date. The survival period requires you to survive for a specific number of days after diagnosis for the claim to be valid.
Key Features of a Critical Illness Rider
Here are some of the key features of a critical illness rider:
Lump Sum Benefit
The most important feature is the lump sum payout. You are not restricted to medical usage. This flexibility allows you to handle non-medical costs that often arise during long-term illness.
Coverage for Major Illnesses
Critical Illness Riders usually cover life-altering conditions such as cancer, heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and major organ transplants. The exact list varies across insurers, so reviewing covered conditions is essential.
One-Time Claim Structure
In most cases, once a claim is paid, the rider terminates. This is because it is designed to address high-impact illnesses rather than recurring medical needs.
Affordable Premium
Since it is an add-on, the premium is lower than that of standalone critical health insurance plans. This makes it a cost-effective way to enhance your existing health insurance policy.
No Hospitalisation Requirement
You don’t need to be hospitalised to receive the benefit. Diagnosis alone is enough to avail the benefits. But ensure that all the policy conditions are met.
Income Protection Support
During critical illness, loss of income can be more damaging than medical bills. The rider helps bridge this gap by offering financial stability when you need it most.
Who Should Consider a Critical Illness Rider
If you have dependents, loans or limited savings, this rider adds meaningful protection. It is also relevant if your employer-provided health insurance policy focuses mainly on hospitalisation and lacks income replacement support.
Conclusion
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