The Hindu Business Line : Contract’s Bakshi moves as global biz director on Unilever account

Chennai, July 14 JWT announced today that it has appointed Mr Jagdip Bakshi, CEO of Contract Advertising, as Global Business Director on the Unilever account.

His responsibilities will include client relationship management as well as ensuring advertising solutions across all product categories. The job will be based out of London and begins September 2008.

“Unilever is one of our most important clients and has been with JWT for over a hundred years. With this appointment, we are confident that the relationship will see new highs,” said Mr Bob Jeffrey, CEO, JWT Worldwide. “Jagdip has been with JWT for 28 years and he has vast experience on Unilever brands across key markets,” Mr Jeffrey added in a press release.

“This appointment is a significant example of the growing importance of Indian advertising talent on the global stage. It is only fitting that top management at JWT emerge from a thriving growth market like India,” said Mr Michael Maedel, President, JWT.

Key assignments

Mr Bakshi has worked closely with Unilever over the years, handling key assignments in important markets. He was global business manager in London on Lipton, one of Unilever’s largest brands, as well as Lux. Speaking to Business Line, Mr Bakshi said that his agenda would be to try and consolidate the business and also get some of the accounts back such as Lipton and Persil which moved to other agencies.

Mr Ravi Deshpande, who returned to Contract in early 2005, is being elevated to Chairman and Chief Creative officer.

“A CEO, who will partner Ravi, has been identified, and this announcement will be made very shortly,” said Mr Maedel. Commenting on the appointment, he said “Ravi has Contract in his DNA, having spent many successful years at the agency. Under his creative leadership, I am convinced that Contract will surpass even its heyday reputation as an award winning creative power house. Contract featuring among the top Indian performers at Cannes 2008 is only the beginning.”

Mr Deshpande spent 13 years in Contract before leaving to start Lemon in alliance with Euro RSCG. “Contract was the most dominant creative agency in the ’90s. This edge was beginning to dull this decade so we need to bring back the creative edge,” he told Business Line.