The Hindu Business Line : Creative head's exit does not worry Mudra chief

CHIEF Creative Officers quitting ad agencies may have become a norm of late, but Mr Madhukar Kamath, Managing Director and CEO, Mudra Communications, is not perturbed by the departure of his recently appointed Creative Chief, Mr Ramesh Ramanathan.

"Ramesh and I have been discussing it for two months and it was already announced within our agency. There is no suddenness or surprise at his departure, and there is going to be no crisis within the agency," said Mr Kamath.

Mudra's creative team comprises 80 employees across its branches and Mr Ryan Menezes, National Creative Director, Mudra, along with the respective branch creative heads are expected to manage the show at Mudra.

"Don't forget Ryan is still here and there have been restructuring at the Mudra offices due to which, certain changes have already been effected. Life is carrying on and, as we are growing, we have been taking on people," said Mr Kamath. With four large branches in Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and in the South, Mudra has been strengthening its operations across the country especially in south India.

"Mudra has never been a single star operation and there is a collection of talent which has made us grow over the years,'' Mr Kamath said.

Meanwhile, Mr Ramanathan who was with the agency for the past five months will quit by the end of the month to start a school for creative people.

"We are still good friends and his leaving is not expected to change the momentum and equilibrium in Mudra," Mr Kamath said. Both Mr Ramanathan and Mr Menezes were taken from Saatchi & Saatchi after Mr Kaushik Roy, former creative head at Mudra, left to join Reliance Infocomm as its Chief Marketing Officer.

Meanwhile, Mudra plans to add a second agency brand to its roster but Mr Kamath continues to keep his plans close to his chest.