The Hindu Business Line : Everest looks to scale new heights

CHANGE is evident at Everest Integrated Communications. In recent weeks, several senior level appointments have been made by the 58-year-old agency across the country in an effort to strengthen its network, and in the process, create a new-age advertising powerhouse.

According to Mr Mahesh Chauhan, President, Everest, himself a recent entrant, "My mandate at Everest is very clear - make Everest an agency to reckon with. My single point programme to fulfil that mandate was to embark on a process of creating a team at Everest, which would offer the widest possible range of expertise in order to add value to existing businesses and acquire new businesses. We are looking at several new appointments in the near future; I believe we have today the nucleus of an agency which will be able to compete and win against all opposition."

Amongst the significant additions to Team Everest is Mr Sourabh Mishra who joins as National Planning Director. With over 12 years of experience, Mr Mishra moved from O&M where he was one of the key planning resources. Mr Mishra has worked on businesses such as Coca Cola, Cadbury's, HLL, ITC Foods, Himalaya, Dabur, Parle, NIIT and Titan.

Strengthening the Planning team further is Mr Amit Kekre who joins as Planning Director, Mumbai. Mr Kekre has worked with leading agencies including O&M, Lowe and JWT and on leading brands such as HLL, Marico, Standard Chartered, Tata Motors and BP-Castrol.

Everest's Mumbai office has also seen the entry of Mr Vijay Lalwani as Associate Creative Director. Joining from O&M, Mr Lalwani's work was amongst the finalists at Cannes this year. His recent work includes Hutch, Sprite, Cadbury and Parle. Mr Anant Pal Singh has moved in as Account Director from Rediffusion DYR. Mr Singh has extensive experience on brands like BP-Castrol and Airtel.

Team Everest's Delhi office has been strengthened with the appointment of Mr Rajeev Rakshit as Vice-President and Head of Office. Mr Rakshit joins Everest from Publicis. Prior to Publicis, Mr Rakshit was a key member of the team leading Euro RSCG in Bangalore during the agency's turnaround and heydays in the late '90s. Joining Mr Rakshit at Everest Delhi is Ms Manisha Sethi as Associate Creative Director. Ms Sethi moves from Cheil where she was working on Samsung.

According to Mr Chauhan, "The reality is that Everest had good people on board but the addition of certain key ingredients was essential for the complete product to be a synergistic whole. The track records of the new appointments speak for themselves and provide completeness to the Everest offering."