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What was your breakthrough moment in the
advertising industry? |
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Getting into the industry was a big breakthrough! I was really
keen on media and advertising and chased Ambika Srivastava for
around two months before she agreed to hire me in JWT Delhi.
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What has kept you going in this industry for so many
years after that? |
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This job has given me the opportunity to work with so many
different marketers, categories and brands. It has been incredible
learning all along and never a dull moment. |
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Where do you see yourself five years hence? |
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The change that we will see in the next five years will probably
be far greater in magnitude than what we have seen in the last
decade. I hope to be in a place where I can influence and use
the opportunities that this will throw up. |
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Who are some of the people from the industry that
you think have played a role in shaping your experience here?
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The list is far too long. I’ve had the privilege of
working with some really fantastic clients and colleagues, all
of whom have inspired me and aided my learning. |
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What would you say was the most proud movement for
you at work? |
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When my team at MindShare won the first Purplehead Award in
India and then some Emvie Awards in the same year; last year,
when MediaCom won some really big business - P&G, Dell,
Skoda, Aegon Religare… |
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Any experience that you really would want to go back
in time, and change? |
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Not really. Every experience, good or bad, has added to my
learning and development. |
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What are some of the biggest changes that you have
seen in the advertising and media industry in your time spent
here? |
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The biggest change has been the full-service agency getting
replaced by media specialist agencies and now making some sort
of a comeback as a hybrid model. The media explosion in India
has also been most interesting – from only print, to print+AIR;
then DD. A few satellite channels. And to the media proliferation
of today - 400+ channels,
DTH, online, mobile, IPL… The next few years promise to
be even more interesting.
The changing demographics of the country have also been interesting
from an advertising and media standpoint. The consumer of
today is so different from what he was 10-15 years ago. A
sad change has been the steadily declining talent coming into
media and advertising. |
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You are amongst the industry professionals who have
seen the industry in absolute boom to this present slowdown.
What were the first signs of slowdown that you noticed? |
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IPOs and NFOs getting postponed was really the first sign.
Having said that, I think in India, it is largely about a cautious
sentiment and not so much about a slump. |
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What are some of the steps that you are taking now
to help your agency brave this slump? |
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MediaCom is committed towards delivering greater value to
our clients and staff. A lot of our clients have aggressive
plans for this year. As an agency we will ensure that we have
the best resources on hand to help them realise their growth
targets. We will also continue to invest in our people and new
verticals like digital, analytics & insights. |
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What is the motto or the guiding principle with which
you lead your team? |
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Make a difference, not a nest. |
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The GenNext Media magnate is chosen by a
committee comprising the exchange4media editorial team in consultation
with Raj Nayak. |
