Tarun Rai shares career advice, professional updates after 'retirement'

Tarun Rai, who announced his retirement after his exit from Wunderman Thompson in May 2023, shared some sage advice for people setting out on their professional journey through a series of career updates in a LinkedIn post.

He revealed that he joined as Co-Chairman, partner and India head of UK-based Start Design Group post-retirement from Wunderman Thompson. "The advice - do something different, work with people you like," he shared.

Rai also revealed that he accepted the invitation to be on the advisory board of HelpAge India. " The advice - try and give back to society," he noted.

He also shared that he joined as an independent director and advisor in a new company at the behest of Balakrishnan K, chairman at Kriscore Financial Advisors Private Ltd.

Rai revealed that he also turned down a very tempting full-time job, sharing another piece of advice: "Do more things, in new fields."

“It has been a busy and rewarding 2024. And I thank the people mentioned above and all those who gave me very sound advice in navigating my new journey,” he wrote.
In his long career in advertising, Tarun has performed many roles at Wunderman Thompson. Joining the company as a young Account Executive in 1988, Tarun rose quickly through the ranks to step into a Managing Partner position at JWT by 2002. After a stint in Media following this, Tarun returned to JWT as Group CEO, South Asia – growing the agency by diversifying the organization’s capabilities, resulting in stronger collaboration between agency and clients and the onboarding of great national and international brands. After leading the merger between Wunderman and JWT, Tarun was appointed Chairman and Group CEO for South Asia and began to help steer the organisation through the pandemic.