Tarun Rai appointed Co-Chairman of Start Design Group, UK

Delhi: London-based branding and design consultancy, Start Design Group,  has announced the appointment of advertising and media stalwart, Tarun Rai, as its Co Chairman. 

Announcing the appointment, Start Design Group said, “We couldn’t have found  a better person to join our board and help introduce Start Design Group to the Indian and  South Asian markets. Rai has over three decades of experience in advertising and media and  has worked with a host of world-class companies, both Indian and international. He has strong  relationships with his clients, is a proven leader, and has an excellent understanding of  branding and design.” 

According to David Blair, CEO and Co-Chairman of Start Design Group, “Rai and I first started working together in 2006 when I moved to India with my family to set up WPP  Group company Fitch’s offices in Mumbai and Delhi. I have always admired his insight,  tenacity, and innate ability to build lasting relationships based on trust and understanding. It  is great to be working in India again alongside someone as experienced and well-regarded as  Tarun”. 

Commenting on his appointment, Rai added, “I am very impressed by the work Start  Design Group has done for so many iconic brands, like Virgin, Barclays, P&G, and Adidas,  over its 28 years history. I am also impressed by the breadth of their capabilities which range  from branding and digital to experiential design. They have already been operating  successfully in the GCC region for many years, for clients like Hamad International Airport,  du and Yas Island, and moving further eastwards makes a lot of sense. Especially, since David  knows this market so well, having launched and built Fitch’s India operations. David was  based in Mumbai for six years and we worked together on many assignments. He then moved  to London and went on to become Fitch’s Global CEO. It’s great to partner with him again.” 

After serving as the CEO of Worldwide Media, a joint venture of BBC Worldwide and The  Times of India, Rai re-joined JWT in 2015 as its CEO for South Asia. 

He was made  Chairman and Group CEO when JWT merged with Wunderman to form Wunderman  Thompson (now VML). After a successful stint in South Asia, he was tasked with the  responsibility for the APAC region, covering seventeen countries, as Executive Director.  

Rai further stated, “Design language is increasingly international. Besides, many Indian  companies and brands are no longer limited to the local market but have a footprint across the  world. Start Design Group, who have extensive global experience and understand the Indian  market well, make ideal partners for ambitious companies.”