MAM
WATConsult elevates Heeru Dingra as CEO
MUMBAI: WATConsult, the globally awarded hybrid digital agency from the house of Dentsu Aegis Network, has announced leadership changes. Effective from 01 February 2020 Heeru Dingra will be the chief executive officer (CEO) of the agency and Rajiv Dingra, the current CEO will move on to the role of chief mentor and advisor for WATConsult.
Dingra, who is currently the CHRO & CFO, will now have a new role and an expanded set of responsibilities, overlooking the entire executive duties of the agency. In last 9 years of her journey at WATConsult, Dingra has played a vital role in building a team of more than 400 people and managing the day to day activities. She will continue to report to Dentsu Aegis Network India CEO Anand Bhadkamkar.
The newly created roles will play an essential part in the agency’s vision towards growth and expansion in the coming years.
Dingra said, “I am truly honoured to lead WATConsult which is full of talented people and brilliant brands. I am looking forward to work closely with our exceptional senior leadership team, along with Rajiv. Together, we will capture the next waves of growth for WATConsult by remaining laser-focused to serve our clients, deliver long term growth and value creation and provide the best career experiences for our people.”
Anand Bhadkamkar said, “Heeru has been an integral part of WATConsult's growth story. She has led the agency alongside Rajiv in the capacity of CFO and CHRO and has an intimate understanding of this business. She works very closely with the leadership team at the agency and across DAN and is uniquely positioned to take on the role of chief executive officer at WATConsult. I am excited to have Heeru lead WATConsult on its next phase of growth alongside Rajiv, who now takes charge as the agency's chief mentor & advisor."
“After leading WATConsult for the last 13 years, it’s time I move on to a new phase in this journey,” Dingra said. “This new role would allow me to help guide the team in crafting an ambitious vision and would also allow the team at WATConsult to scale up in newer roles and achieve their personal growth.”
MAM
Raghu Rai passes away at 83, leaves behind iconic legacy
Padma Shri-winning photographer documented history across 5 decades.
MUMBAI: The lens may have stilled, but the stories it captured will never fade. Raghu Rai, one of India’s most celebrated photojournalists, passed away on April 26, 2026, at the age of 83. He breathed his last at a private hospital in New Delhi after battling cancer and age-related health issues.
His son, Nitin Rai, revealed that Rai had been diagnosed with prostate cancer two years ago, which later spread to the stomach and, more recently, the brain. Despite multiple rounds of treatment, his health had declined in recent months.
Born in 1942 in Jhang, Punjab (now in Pakistan), Rai entered photography in his early twenties, inspired by his elder brother, photographer S. Paul. Beginning his career in the mid-1960s, he went on to build a body of work that spanned more than five decades, contributing to global publications such as Time, Life, GEO, Le Figaro, The New York Times, Vogue, GQ and Marie Claire.
His global recognition took a decisive leap in 1977 when legendary French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson nominated him to join Magnum Photos, placing him among the world’s most respected visual storytellers.
Rai’s lens chronicled both power and poignancy. He photographed towering figures such as Indira Gandhi, Dalai Lama, Bal Thackeray, Satyajit Ray and Mother Teresa, while also documenting defining moments like the Bhopal gas tragedy later captured in his book Exposure: A Corporate Crime.
Over the years, he published more than 18 books, building an archive that blended journalism with artistry. His contributions were recognised early when he was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972 for his coverage of the Bangladesh War and refugee crisis. In 1992, he was named “Photographer of the Year” in the United States for his work in National Geographic, and in 2009, he was honoured with the Officier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government.
Rai is survived by his wife Gurmeet, son Nitin, and daughters Lagan, Avani and Purvai. His last rites will be held at Lodhi Cremation Ground in New Delhi at 4 pm on Sunday.
With his passing, Indian photojournalism loses not just a pioneer, but a patient observer of history, one frame at a time.
