Mumbai: With another weekend upon us, it is time to unwind with the latest Q&A edition of Indiantelevision.com’s Weekend Unwind-a series of informal chats that peek into the minds of business executives through a fun lens in an attempt to get to know the person behind the title a little better.
In this week’s session, we have Virtue Worldwide business director Kartick Krishnamurthy.
Krishnamurthy, a seasoned business director, has made a significant impact in the advertising industry throughout his career. With a passion for creativity and a drive to excel, Krishnamurthy has successfully worked with renowned agencies and brands, leaving an indelible mark on the field.
Krishnamurthy’s journey began at Ogilvy Mumbai, where he recognized his affinity for advertising. During his time there, he undertook exciting projects for Castrol India and contributed insightful campaigns for The Richard Gere Foundation for HIV/AIDS.
Seeking to broaden his perspectives and immerse himself in new cultures, Krishnamurthy ventured to DDB Dubai, where he dedicated a decade of his life. Within that span, he collaborated with prominent brands such as Dell, Cheetos, Lays (Tasali), Sunbites, and Quaker Oats, assisting them in strengthening their positions in the market. His exemplary work for Quaker and Sunbites earned him recognition at MENA Cristal, where he was awarded prestigious accolades.
Motivated by personal reasons, Krishnamurthy returned to India and embarked on a four-year tenure at JWT Bangalore. His primary objective was to forge unified efforts in building scalable partnerships with clients and delivering performance-driven communications for their brands. Notable achievements during this period include the remarkable campaigns for the Scotch portfolio at Diageo and PUMA India, which showcased Krishnamurthy’s ability to drive tangible results.
Displaying a daring entrepreneurial spirit, Krishnamurthy embraced a unique venture amidst the challenges posed by the covid-19 pandemic. This endeavour involved closely collaborating with clients to understand their marketing requirements, identifying and onboarding agency partners that were best suited to address those needs, and working alongside them to develop relevant communications. Noteworthy accomplishments under this model include the successful campaigns for Aster Healthcare, MPL Sports, and John Distilleries.
While the collaborative approach of partnering with agencies proved fruitful, Krishnamurthy yearned for the camaraderie and synergy of leading his own cohesive team. Presently, he holds a leadership position at Virtue Worldwide, spearheading the India business operations. Virtue Worldwide prides itself on building brands from within culture, aligning with Krishnamurthy’s belief in next-gen communications. He sees his role as an opportunity to inspire clients and unlock their bigger and bolder ambitions.
Outside of work, Krishnamurthy finds solace and rejuvenation in pursuing his personal interests. Playing the guitar, cooking, and immersing himself in the rhythmic beats of his drums serve as his stress busters, allowing him to find balance and creative expression beyond the realms of his professional endeavours.
So, without further ado, here it goes…
Your mantra for life
Take on Life – Don’t just exist.
A book you are currently reading or plan to read
Reading ‘Nudge – by Richard Thaler’, ‘trying to read consciously’ 😉
Your fitness mantra, especially during the pandemic
‘Keep Walking’ – pun intended 🙂
Your comfort food
Hmmm.. tough one… but I guess I’ll settle for ‘Coffee’
A quote or philosophy that keeps you going when the chips are down
‘You have to do what you have to do’. (Believe me, in practice that’s super tough)
Your guilty pleasure
Binge watching and how…
The last time you tried something new
Always ready to try anything new. Just 3 weeks back I attended a workshop on astronomy and stargazing. Was blown away!
A life lesson you learned the hard way
The hard lesson I learnt when I chose to do what I wanted to do over doing what I had to do.
What gets you excited about life?
There is loads & loads to explore…
What’s on top of your bucket list?
I genuinely don’t have a bucket list. Everything is top priority.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Try not to miss the forest for the trees and the trees for the forest.
One thing you would most like to change about the world
Most often conflicts are caused when we come to the party with our straws and view everything through that. We need to ditch our individual straws and collectively see the broader picture. Doing this itself will dial up the happiness quotient
An activity that keeps you motivated and charged during tough times
My long walks listening to podcasts
What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?
Saying to myself ‘This too shall pass’ has always helped me. But then one day it got clearer when one of my friends just tweaked it a little for me, i.e. ‘This too shall pass…but like kidney stones’. That acceptance ironically alleviates the pain. :))
Your go-to stress buster
Immersive cooking
Leave a Reply