MAM
TBU appoints Ashutosh Karkhanis as creative director
MUMBAI: Brand consultancy, The Brand Union (TBU), has appointed Ashutosh Karkhanis as creative director.
Karkhanis moves in from Rediffusion-Y&R’s digital and design arm Rediffusion WHO!, from where he resigned last month as national creative director, design and digital.
In 2006, WPP acquired a majority stake in Ray+Keshavan (R+K), India‘s first graphic design consultancy. Consequently, the Bangalore-based firm became a part of WPP’s design conglomerate and brand consulting firm, TBU.
In his new role at TBU, Karkhanis will report to MD and executive creative director Sujata Keshavan.
Karkhanis’ 18-year career began with Lintas Bangalore as trainee visualiser. After four years, he moved to Enterprise Mumbai and a year later joined Euro RCSG as senior art director. Two years later, Karkhanis joined JWT‘s Kenya outfit, Thompson Kenya.
After spending less than a year in Nairobi, Karkhanis moved back to Mumbai and started working with Ambience as associate creative director, before moving to Grey a year later and working there for two-and-a-half-years.
Karkhanis also worked at Quadrant Communications and Contract Advertising before joining Rediffusion as creative head in 2007.
MAM
Edelman elevates Siddharth Panicker to head of Mumbai office
Financial services veteran steps up after nearly 15 years at the firm
MUMBAI: Edelman has elevated Siddharth Panicker to head of its Mumbai office, promoting a long-serving leader who has spent nearly 15 years building the firm’s financial services franchise in India.
Panicker has held a series of senior roles at Edelman, including associate vice president, head – financial services, and VP & head – financial services. In these positions, he led the development of the firm’s financial services practice, advising C-suite clients across investment banking, private equity, NBFCs, fintech, disputes, litigation and life insurance.
The promotion reflects his track record in corporate and financial communications, strategic counsel and leadership, as Mumbai remains a central hub for India’s financial and professional services sectors.
Earlier in his career, Panicker gained industry exposure through internships at Nalco Water, part of Ecolab, and MSL India.
His elevation underlines Edelman’s focus on leadership continuity and deep sector expertise as clients navigate increasingly complex regulatory, reputational and market environments.
