BBDO India appoints Ajai Jhala as CEO

BBDO India has appointed Ajai Jhala as CEO. Jhala (pictured) assumes his new position from 15 September. He relocates from London and will be based in Delhi, to partner chairman and national creative director, Josy Paul. The duo will directly report to Chris Thomas chairman & chief executive officer, BBDO & Proximity Asia Pacific.

Commenting on Jhala's appointment, Chris Thomas said, "We are thrilled to be attracting such high profile talent to the network. Ajai's appointment is huge news for our BBDO India operations. He is a well-known brand builder with international experience and an unwavering commitment to 'the work’. Together, Josy and Ajai will be a formidable force. In R K SWAMY BBDO and BBDO India, we now have two very strong and rapidly developing businesses in India."

Speaking about the appointment, Josy Paul added, "Ajai's experience is wider, deeper and comes from a holistic worldwide perspective. We come from different backgrounds, but we connect at the same point. We believe in the same philosophy. We believe Indian advertising is ripe for a new perspective – one that is founded based on our intrinsic Indian heritage but influenced by worldwide forces and creative trends. This crossover is where BBDO India will find a new voice."

Over the last year, Jhala was involved with brand consultancy for various companies in the UK. Before this, he was at Lowe Worldwide for six years as Global Communications Director for Unilever and was based in London, Paris and New York. Prior to Lowe, he served as a planning director at Ogilvy & Mather, New York. Jhala's experience also includes a stint with Lintas in New York, India (Mumbai) and London.

About his new role, Jhala said, After two decades with Lowe/Lintas in Asia, Europe, the USA and a brief stint with Ogilvy in New York – I was made an offer I couldn't refuse." He further adds, "The union of the right creative partner, the right company and the right country made this the perfect opportunity. Josy is a man whose enthusiasm to create great work for brands in a collaborative manner is infectious and undiminished.  BBDO is the best agency network in the world, where the emphasis is on simply producing great work. And I get to return to one of the most exciting markets in the world – one that seems ripe for a new wave of ideas".