MAM
Sonal Dabral starts second innings at Ogilvy India
MUMBAI: Ogilvy India has announced apointment of Sonal Dabral as the group chief creative officer and vice-chairman.
Ogilvy south Asia executive chairman and creative director Piyush Pandey said, “This is a first-time designation at Ogilvy & Mather in keeping with Sonal’s stature. Sonal was my first partner in building the creative reputation of Ogilvy India as it stands today. I am sure we will have a great partnership again to take Ogilvy to even greater heights.”
Dabral worked at Ogilvy India from 1991 to 1999. He then took over as the Creative Head of Ogilvy Malaysia and within three years made it the No. 1 Creative Agency in that country. Thereafter he took on the reins of creativity in Ogilvy Singapore as its leader and raised the flag even higher, after which Ogilvy India wooed him back to India as the chairman India and regional creative director for Bates Asia-Pacific. He then took on the responsibility at DDB Mudra as Chairman and Chief Creative Officer.
Pandey added, “As my partner in the 90s, he hired more creative talent than I have done in my life. He not only hired them, but inspired them and gave them wings to fly on their own. Sonal is a popular speaker around the world and a favourite jury member on every international award show. There is so much to Sonal’s achievements, that if I write them all, his joining us will get delayed.”
This appointment is welcomed and celebrated by John Seifert, Chairman & CEO of Ogilvy Worldwide, ThamKhai Meng, Worldwide Chief Creative Officer and Co-Chairman of Ogilvy Worldwide, Kent Wertime, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Ogilvy Asia-Pacific and Eugene Cheong, Chief Creative Officer of Ogilvy Asia-Pacific. The Ogilvy leadership looks forward to Sonal injecting additional energy to the creative powerhouse for which Ogilvy India is well known around the world.
Brands
Emami names Dhruv Aggarwal as chief growth officer
Former Bain partner steps in as FMCG firm sharpens growth playbook
MUMBAI: Emami Limited has appointed Dhruv Aggarwal as its chief growth officer, effective 25 March 2026, following the resignation of Giriraj Bagri.
Aggarwal joins the FMCG major from Bain & Company, where he most recently served as partner. With over two decades of experience across consulting and strategy, he brings a global perspective shaped by work across India, the US, the UK and Germany.
During his tenure at Bain, Aggarwal advised consumer, retail and media companies on large-scale transformations, business turnarounds and growth strategies. He was also closely involved with India’s startup ecosystem, guiding early-stage ventures on scaling and digital expansion, while supporting private equity and venture capital firms on investment decisions.
His earlier stints include a brief role at Barclays Capital and operational experience at Jindal Power, giving him a mix of financial and industry exposure.
Academically, Aggarwal holds an MBA from Indian Institute of Management Bangalore and has also been associated with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as a PhD candidate and teaching assistant.
The appointment comes at a time when Emami Limited is looking to sharpen its growth strategy in a competitive consumer market. With a seasoned strategist now at the helm of growth, the company appears set to double down on transformation and expansion in the months ahead.
