Nitesh Tiwari is Chief Creative Officer at Leo Burnett as Pops becomes Creative head for India Subcontinent

Leo Burnett readies itself for transformation into new-age communication company with large-scale restructuring and beefs up creative team

BestMediaInfo Bureau | Delhi | October 19, 2102

(Left to Right) KV Sridhar aka Pops, Mark Tutssel and Nitesh Tiwari

Leo Burnett India has always been a forward looking agency. It has been among India's top two award winning agencies at Cannes in the last decade. It won 'Global Agency of the Year' within the Burnett network twice in the same period. It is the only agency in India to win a Cyber lion at Cannes. Recently, the agency acquired a large digital agency, Indigo, with over 170 people.

In the backdrop of swashbuckling growth of over 100 per cent in the last three years, the agency is seeking to transform itself once again – this time into a fast growing, new age communications company across the subcontinent.

“From TV advertising as the core of marketing plans and specialist services bought from smaller independent shops, Indian clients are demanding new ways of approaching advertising suited to the rapidly changing environment. They are demanding advertising platforms that truly integrate their brand communications across channels as diverse as traditional media, digital and modern retail. This transformation is extremely exciting. Changing our core while growing fast requires foresight, meticulous planning and its relentless execution,” said Arvind Sharma, Chairman & CEO of Leo Burnett, India Subcontinent.

KV Sridhar aka Pops has been made Chief Creative Officer, India Subcontinent. Pops has won more than a bounty of international metals including 22 Cannes Lions and a Grand Global at NYF, over 230 international recognitions and over 500 Indian awards. He is known for his vision and understanding of where brands and brand communications are going.  

Nitesh Tiwari has been promoted as Chief Creative Officer of Leo Burnett India. Tiwari has been a part of the Leo Burnett family for almost a decade and has produced extraordinary work for a wide range of clients, including Tide, Heinz, Sony Entertainment Television, Reliance Mobile, McDonald's, Perfetti Van Melle, and Bajaj Electricals. He had worked on Axe Deodorants, Castrol, Amul and Ceat Tyres before joining Leo Burnett.

Many of Burnett's star performers have also been promoted.

Vikram Pandey (aka Spiky) is now Executive Creative Director with focus on Tata Capital and HDFC Life.

Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari is elevated to Executive Creative Director and will continue with her stellar work on Sony Entertainment Television.

Vicky Bhambhani takes on the new role of Regional Creative Director on Tide.

Abhishek Sinha, Nikhil Mehrotra, Piyush Gupta and Shreyas Jain have made it to the Creative Director Circle. Sinha will be working on P&G Tide and Shiksha. Mehrotra who has won many accolades – Voice of the Year, Writer of the Year and Grand Crystal award this year at Mirchi Kaan – will work on brands like Bajaj Electricals and Complan. Gupta his work cut out as CD on Tata Capital. Jain who has been responsible for some of the outstanding work on Sony Entertainment television will now focus on HDFC Life and Limca.

Leo Burnett has also added more ammunition to its creative canon by roping in talent from across the industry. The new faces at the agency are Timsy Gupta, Rishi Agarwal, Sapna Aluwalia and Rajneesh Ramakrishnan

Timsy Gupta, who moves from DDB Mudra Mumbai, has worked across agencies like Grey Worldwide, McCann Mumbai, Contract Mumbai and DDB Mudra Mumbai and has won many awards. She will be helping chalk out a path for Uninor as Creative Director.

 Rishi Agarwal, previously with McCann Erickson Delhi, joins as Creative Director on Uninor. He has worked on campaigns like Coca-Cola 'Jashnmana le', Nescafe Sunrise, and Dulux 'Boxing gloves'. Some of the other prominent brands that he has contributed significantly towards include HBO, Jammu & Kashmir Tourism and Dainik Jagran.

Sapna Ahulwalia has received wide recognition for the work she has done on brands like Fiat, Tata AIG, Virgin Mobile, BBC World and Birla Sun Life Insurance. She will be a Creative Director on McDonald's.

Rajneesh Ramakrishnan has worked in various agencies including Ogilvy& Mather and CreativeLand Asia, and handled brands like Cadbury confectionaries, Bajaj Pulsar, Castrol, Odonil, Kotak Securities, Citigroup Global Services (eServe), Frooti, and Bloomberg UTV. He has joined as a Creative Director on McDonald's.

Sridhar, now designated Chief Creative Officer, India Subcontinent, said, “The core of our consumers across product categories is becoming younger and younger with every passing year. So it is only fair that we have young creative leaders who speak the language of youth and understand new-age challenges for brands and businesses. They have the talent and the mindset to address these challenges with fresh ideas and solutions across new media.”

Mark Tutssel, Chief Creative Officer, Leo Burnett Worldwide, said, “The infusion of fresh new blood into our industry is vital for its long-term health and prosperity. This new generation is tomorrows' world thinkers – bold, brave and curious. They naturally defy the status quo and open up infinite possibilities for modern day communication. Pops has been exceptional at spotting and nurturing young talent. Clients and their brands will benefit immensely from the new creative structure we're now putting in place.”

Jarek Ziebinski, Leo Burnett's President Asia Pacific, commented, “Business growth in India is coming from innovative thinking that keeps the youth at the centre and technology as the backdrop. Our creative restructuring in India is in step with that growth story and I am completely convinced that the youth will fuel growth of India as well as of Burnett in the near future.”

Arvind Sharma summed up, “The world is changing as we speak and status quo is to be questioned every moment. Fresh thinking is the life-blood of our business. And there is nothing better than our lineup of a seasoned visionary like Pops and young leaders to keep this life-blood pumping.”

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