Celebrating Navroze Dhondy: A visionary in Indian advertising

Today, we celebrate the birthday of Navroze Dhondy, a name that has left a lasting imprint on the world of Indian advertising. As the Founder and Managing Director of Creatigies and multiple of his own ventures, and an alumnus of the University of Allahabad, Dhondy’s journey through the industry has been both dynamic and inspiring.

Navroze Dhondy is an advertising, marketing, media and communications maverick, who started his career more than four decades ago.

Navroze began his career at Lintas where he was for 9 years. He then moved to HTA/ JWT for four years.

Navroze became one of the youngest CEOs in the advertising business in 1995 when he took charge of ANTHEM and transformed it into TBWA ANTHEM. Navroze then ran the multifaceted business for the Percept Group as the CEO.

Navroze is currently an entrepreneur, for the last 22 years, and as the Managing Director of Creatigies Communications, which he founded 22 years ago, has pioneered sports marketing in India with unique innovations and media partnerships.

Navroze is a truly multifaceted professional, poet, photographer, writer, sports nut, traveller, foodie, who has contributed to many publications over the years. 

Over the past almost four decades, Dhondy has been a key figure in shaping and rejuvenating Indian advertising. His career began at Lintas (Lowe), where he spent eight formative years learning the nuances of the business. He then moved on to HTA (now JWT), one of the oldest and most respected agencies in the country, where he contributed significantly over nearly five years.

His leadership skills and creative insight saw him rise to the role of CEO at TBWA / Anthem and Percept, two agencies known for bold ideas and innovative campaigns. Under his direction, these agencies not only grew in stature but also pushed the envelope in terms of creativity and strategic thinking.

What sets Dhondy apart is his global perspective. He has worked on Indian brands not only in India but across the UK, South America, Sri Lanka, and more, helping them find a voice that resonates beyond borders. His ability to blend cultural insight with modern branding has made him a unique force in the field.

As he celebrates another year, we acknowledge Navroze Dhondy’s immense contributions to the industry and his unwavering passion for impactful storytelling through advertising. Here's wishing him a happy birthday and continued success in the years to come.

Navroze has a small family. Navroze's wife is a celebrated F&B entrepreneur, Ms Nilufer Dhondy. His daughter, Ms Anahita Dhondy, is a celebrated chef, whose birthday was yesterday, May 23. Anahita is married to a top-notch corporate lawyer Arush. The couple has a newborn son named Avram. Navroze Dhondy's son Kurush is a filmmaker and creative designer based in London.