Campaign India Agency Report Card 2011: Saatchi & Saatchi

Ownership: Publicis Groupe 

Key Personnel: Matt Seddon, CEO, Ramanuj Shastry, CCO, Sourabh Mishra, CSO, Anil Vora, CFO, Nisha Singhania, GM–Mumbai, Jaibeer  Ahmed, VP–Delhi 

Account won: Skoda, Carlsberg, OLX, CIBIL, Wave Infratech, Rebirth, Evolve Medspa and Birla Kerala Vaidyashala  

Account lost: Volini

Kamal Basu, chief executive officer of Saatchi & Saatchi, left the agency this year post which Matt Seddon was brought in from the agency’s Manila’s office to head the Indian operations. But he’s fairly new to the country and will take some time to adapt. Titus Upputuru (executive creative director) moved out of Saatchi & Saatchi in April this year to join Dentsu Marcom. Apart from the appointment of Kavita Kailas and Jaibeer Ahmed as vice presidents, and Nisha Singhania as general manager for Mumbai, there were no new hires to fill in Upputuru’s place in Saatchi & Saatchi’s Delhi office. One of the mojor developments for this year was winning Skoda’s account from Saints and Warriors. But they also lost Volini to Everest. Clearly, the agency at present is in a transition mode. Now, just like the agency, we are raring to see them get started in the new year. 
How Campaign India rates the agency: 5

How Saatchi & Saatchi rates itself: 6
“The old order changeth yielding place to the new...Lest one good custom should corrupt the world.”
Saatchi & Saatchi India was going through a much-needed change this year. There is a talented new, young and energetic team in place. But the change process meant there was some turmoil and that probably accounted for our low profile presence in the news. Having said that, we still did a commendable job of managing the many large businesses that we service; got some good work out and picked up a few large and prestigious new businesses. The building blocks to a great future are falling in place now and the only way to go in 2012 is upwards - ‘Nothing is impossible’. Saatchi & Saatchi India is poised to claim its rightful place and live up to the true heritage of the Saatchi brand mystique.

“And the new sun rose bringing the new year.”

We are raring to get started in that new year.