We opened Delhi office when we thought it was time: Subhash Kamath, CEO and Managing Partner, BBH India

The agency plans to start with a core team of 7-8 people and later expand to 20 people by next year

BestMediaInfo Bureau | Mumbai | October 13, 2016

Subhash Kamath

After entering India in 2008 with its first office in Mumbai, BBH India has expanded its footprint in India with another office in Delhi. The thought of opening an office in Delhi first struck around two years back.

Subhash Kamath, CEO and Managing Partner, BBH India, said, “Delhi is becoming a very important market for us. We are growing very well. A lot of clients from Delhi are talking to us. Every business has certain priorities for investments. I would have loved to invest in Delhi two years ago itself, but it had to be planned and done in a manner. I think this is the right time. For us, this is all about finding the right people first. The day you find the right people, the rest will follow.”

He further said, “Many clients in Delhi require a local team for engagement. We see a great business scope in Delhi. Therefore, we decided to geographically expand our influence.”

Asked why they launched another office in India after a long period of almost eight years, Kamath said, “The BBH strategy globally is not to open too many offices. In all these years, we have seven offices in total in the world. BBH opened up Delhi office when we saw a good strategic fit into our priority and I think this year is a good time to do and we could invest.”

The agency has brought in Shreekant Srinivasan as General Manager, Vasudha Misra as Executive Creative Director and Ankit Singh as Strategy Director to lead the Delhi office.

Commenting on the first few appointments in the Delhi office, Kamath said, “My search for the right people started about six to eight months ago. We met a lot of people in Delhi. Some were very good. In some places, we couldn't afford them as they were too senior for us. We wanted a right mix of talent and cultural fit. Finally, we have managed the right balance in the three people that we have hired. They are intellectually honest and talented people and that's what I like about them. They are lovely human beings and understand the Delhi market well.”

The agency plans to start with a core team of seven to eight people and will expand to 20 people by the next year going forward.

Kamath doesn't want the Delhi office to be called a branch. He said, “I would call it a team and the team would grow. We are looking for an office space. We don't want to see it as BBH Mumbai or BBH Delhi and today with flights and technology, we can fly to Delhi, work there and come back. We have worked on the temporary office space now. We will move into our own office soon. Even BBH Mumbai started the same way.”

Business seems good for the agency in Delhi as Kamath said they are talking to four to five clients but did not reveal details as the conversation is in its initial stage. The agency already has Makaan.com and Philips as its Delhi clients.

Just like the Mumbai office, the Delhi team will also work on production of videos, designing, brand consulting, content and entertainment.

Srinivasan has worked with agencies like Leo Burnett, Contract, W+K and SapientNitro and a number of brands such as Dominos, Royal Enfield, Chevrolet, Uninor, GSK, Abbott.

Misra has worked at JWT and FCB and has helped build brands like Tata Docomo, Snapdeal, Naukri.com, Jeevansathi.com, 99acres, KFC, John Players, Hero Pleasure, Bausch & Lomb, Obi mobiles, Cargill foods.

Singh is an expert in consumer behaviour, cultural discourse and technology. Previously at Grey and Leo Burnett, he has worked across brands like Indian Army, Kinder Joy, Blackberry, Cinthol, Colors, Lacto Calamine, HDFC Life and Birla Sun Life.

As the part of the Publicis Groupe, BBH India has a team of almost 72 people. Young, nimble and black sheep to the core, the team is adept at providing effective business and marketing solutions.

The agency works with a diverse portfolio of brands like Johnnie Walker, Axe, Vaseline, Marico, Uber, Channel V, CRY, Coverfox, Makaan, Goodyear and Philips among many others.

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