Sangeet Pillai to move back to BBDO New York

The director strategy planning at BBDO India, Sangeet Pillai, is moving back to the US after completing his two-year stint with Omnicom’s youngest agency.

Based in Mumbai, Pillai led the global planning for emerging markets on Procter & Gamble’s Gillette brand while managing the planning for other key BBDO projects such as Nimbooz, Quaker Oats and Aviva.

Speaking about his move back, Josy Paul said, “Sangeet joined us two years ago as part of the core start-up team. We gained immensely from his worldwide perspective and knowledge of brands in developing nations. Sangeet brought in disciplines and processes and pioneered the planning department that was central to the agencies output. We are fortunate to have had Sangeet with us at the formative stage of the agency. We wish him the very best for his next assignment on his return to BBDO New York.”

In a parallel development, BBDO India has brought Arindam Sarkar on board as vice president, strategic planning. Sarkar joins from O&M Delhi where he was the senior planning director. He will report to Ajai Jhala, CEO, BBDO India and work across projects in Delhi and Mumbai.

At O&M, Sarkar led the Coke portfolio and the Max Life business. He’s also had stints at Euro RSCG and was a founding member of Webchutney. He also headed the music business at Phat Phish.
 
Said Jhala, “We are really excited to have attracted a talent like Arindam who has an eclectic background in music, digital and advertising. Planning at BBDO is not a department, it is an integral part of our culture and at the heart of all our brand ideas such as Education is Insurance for Aviva or Front Foot Pe Chabao for Wrigley’s Doublemint or Ekdum Asli Indian for Nimbooz or Mood ko do Lemon ka Lift for 7 Up or The Mission to Make India Heart Healthy for Quaker. We believe that brands in the new decade will need an infusion of action oriented ideas- ideas that consumers can use in their lives. Arindam shares our vision of developing brand ideas that actively engage people.”