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Arvind Sharma steps down from Leo Burnett, Saurabh Varma to take charge

Published

12 years ago

October 28, 2013

MUMBAI: Tom Bernardin, Chairman and CEO, Leo Burnett Worldwide announced today the new leadership of the India operations. Chairman and CEO of Indian subcontinent Arvind Sharma will be leaving the agency to pursue other business interests outside the industry after a successful stint of 30 years.

The currently regional chief strategy officer of Leo Burnett Asia Pacific Saurabh Varma has now been appointed as the CEO Leo Burnett Group India.

I would like to start something totally new, says Sharma after his 30 years of successful stint with Leo Burnett

The appointment will be effective from 1November, 2013. In his new role as CEO for the India operations across Mumbai, New Delhi and Bangalore, Varma will report directly to Leo Burnett Asia Pacific President Jarek Ziebinski.

As chief strategy officer of Leo Burnett Asia Pacific, Varma oversees all heads of strategy and planning directors in the region. His role also sees him playing a key role in the management of regional and global accounts. A post graduate in Communications from Mudra Institute of Communications Ahmedabad (MICA), Varma has 16 years of experience in the business. He has spent seven years with Leo Burnett based at Singapore. Some of the brands he has worked on include Indian Oil, Lakme (Unilever), Vicks (P&G), NIVEA, Fosters, Philips, HP, Blackberry, Samsung, Friesland Campina Asia Pacific (Dutch Lady/ Foremost/ Frisian Flag), MCYS and UOB Bank.

Varma has spent the first nine years of his career in advertising in India. He began his career with DDB India and within four years of being in the business, he was made head of account management at TBWA India. In the last three years, Varma has won more than 50 awards including the Effie Gold, the Appies Gold, the Grand Prix for Direct Marketing, the most effective media campaign at Hall of Fame, 2 Gold Lions at Cannes, the Grand Prix at the ADFEST, the Viewers’ Choice Award (Mediacorp) and many more. In 2010, Varma was awarded the ‘Strategic Planner of the Year’ at the Hall of Fame Awards.

His strength lies in being able to bring life into a strategic process, unearthing societal contexts and creating out of the box briefs.

Commenting on his new role, Varma said, “India is home to me. This new role is coming full circle to where it all began. Over the years, I have always kept a keen eye on the developments in India and in some ways, I felt like I have never left. I look forward to coming back with a fresh perspective gained from my time away and bring the best learnings of Leo Burnett network to India. Being a part of the regional team for Asia Pacific has given me a unique perspective and experience of diverse markets across the region and I look forward to bringing this understanding to my new role. Together with the management team, most of whom I already know and have the privilege of working with, we will be focused on driving a positive change for the agency to take it to the next level.”

Varma’s strength lies in being able to bring life into a strategic process, unearthing societal contexts and creating out of the box briefs

Bernardin, who is in Mumbai today with the regional management team for the announcement said, “We would like to take this opportunity to express our deep gratitude and appreciation to Arvind Sharma. He has worked tirelessly over the past 30 years to build Leo Burnett into one of India’s leading creative agencies and laid down a solid foundation for the agency to progress to the next level. During his tenure, Arvind built a stellar client base that includes blue chip multinational and local clients and nurtured some of the brightest stars within the Indian advertising industry today. Though he remains available for his advice and counsel, we bid farewell to Arvind today, in his official capacity, with our very best wishes and as a dear friend.”

Ziebinski added, “I’d like to thank Arvind for his contribution to our success and close collaboration over the past four years since I arrived in the region. I wish Arvind nothing but the best for his new future.”

While bidding adieu, Sharma had some fond memories, as he said, “I had a very long and fruitful run as the leader of Leo Burnett in India Subcontinent. As I approached the company-defined age of 58, I would like to start something totally new. I look back at my 30 years at the agency and 21 years of leading it with a great deal of satisfaction.”

The agency was awarded Global Agency of the Year by Leo Burnett Worldwide for 2003 and 2008. In partnerships with its clients, the agency has been recognised creatively across leading award shows globally including Cannes, Clios, D&AD, One Show and London International Awards. Work produced by Leo Burnett India has also run in multiple countries worldwide. Last year, the agency successfully completed the acquisition of digital agency, Indigo Consulting and integrated it into the Leo Burnett Group.

Continued Bernardin, “We are fortunate to have a strong management team on ground in India and equally fortunate in having the bench strength in the region in naming Saurabh to this role. Saurabh’s talent and track record is well-recognised within the network. His combined experience and knowledge of having worked across creative, media and digital agencies is invaluable as we look to elevate the agency to its next stage of development in India, a key market for the network globally. He will have the full support of the global and regional management in his new role.”

Related Topics:Fosters HP Lakme (Unilever)Leo Burnett Nivea Oil Philips Saurabh Varma Tom Bernardin Vicks (P&G)

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BigTrunk Communications wins digital mandate for Soframycin

Published

7 months ago

July 31, 2025

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: BigTrunk Communications, an integrated digital marketing agency known for driving brand transformations across industries, has been awarded the digital marketing mandate for Soframycin, one of India’s most trusted antiseptic cream brands from the EncubeEthicals portfolio. With this collaboration, Soframycin makes its debut into the digital space, aiming to amplify its presence across India through compelling social media narratives and data-led campaigns. BigTrunk will lead the brand’s digital strategy and execution, with a focus on connecting Soframycin’s legacy of trust with today’s health-conscious and digitally engaged audience.

Soframycin has been a household name for generations, widely recognized for its efficacy in treating cuts, burns, and wounds. Backed by the scientific rigor and pharmaceutical expertise of EncubeEthicals, a pharmaceutical powerhouse since 1998, the brand benefits from the expertise of over 1,400 professionals, including more than 200 R&D specialists and a robust team of quality experts. With a presence in over 50 countries, Encube’s commitment to excellence in topical formulations adds deep credibility to Soframycin’s legacy. Now, as the brand enters the digital space, BigTrunk Communications will lead the charge in reimagining Soframycin’s story—creating modern, relatable digital experiences that stay true to its heritage.

“As we take Soframycin into its next chapter of growth, embracing digital media is not just a strategy but a necessity. We wanted a partner who could translate our scientific credibility into engaging, relatable content for today’s audience,” said Soframycin vice president – marketing, Ajay Rawal. “BigTrunk’s deep understanding of healthcare communications and digital behavior makes them the ideal partner to build meaningful narratives around wound care, trust, and wellbeing.”

“Soframycin is more than a product—it’s a legacy deeply rooted in care and science,” added BigTrunk Communications founder & managing director Bharat Subramaniam. “We’re excited to take on this responsibility of guiding a heritage brand into the digital world. Our focus will be on creating contextual storytelling and purpose-driven campaigns that bring Soframycin closer to Indian families, both old and new.”

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ting bags the digital and social media marketing mandate of Lapita

Published

8 months ago

July 10, 2025

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: ting, an India-based advertising agency, having presence in Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi along with Global regions of UAE and UK, has bagged the digital and social media marketing mandate of Lapita, Dubai Parks & Resorts, Autograph Collection Hotels.

As part of the mandate, the agency will handle the Social and Creative Mandate for the brand in UAE.

Speaking on the new account win, ting partner Manan Vora said, “We’re thrilled to partner with Lapita Dubai Parks & Resorts in Dubai, bringing Ting UAE’s creative and digital expertise to elevate their marketing efforts. Together, we’re crafting engaging brand experiences that reflect the spirit of adventure and family fun at Lapita.”

Lapita (Marriot) senior marketing manager, Nikhil Taneja said, “Working with ting has been a seamless and inspiring experience. Their creativity, professionalism, and deep understanding of our brand brought our vision to life in the most impactful way. We truly value their partnership and look forward to more exciting collaborations ahead.”

“Winning the Lapita, Dubai Parks and Resorts account is a proud milestone for us, not just because of the prestige of the brand, but because of the shared belief in storytelling that connects and converts. We’re excited to shape their digital presence and look forward to unlocking larger creative opportunities together,” said UAE business head, Dhawal Shah added.

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Social Panga brushes up Neo’s digital presence with Nippon Paint mandate

Published

8 months ago

July 10, 2025

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Social Panga has bagged the social media mandate for Neo by Nippon Paint, the services-led home painting vertical of Nippon Paint India, in a move that promises to coat the category with fresh thinking and digital-first storytelling.

Handled by the agency’s Bengaluru office, the mandate covers integrated content strategy, campaign ideation, and painter-facing brand building. The partnership has already rolled out a bold World Painter Appreciation Day campaign, rebranding painters as “Home Stylists” and unveiling India’s first painter anthem, a professional identity kit, and a premium onboarding experience.

Neo by Nippon Paint is currently active in Bengaluru and Tamil Nadu, offering dust-free, design-forward, and end-to-end painting services, including colour consultancy, waterproofing, and custom finishes. Positioned as a modern makeover solution for Indian homes, Neo aims to elevate painting from utility to aesthetic expression.

Social Panga co-founder Himanshu Arora said, “Neo by Nippon Paint isn’t just redefining home painting. It’s reimagining what a home makeover means for today’s generation. The brand has a bold vision and a deep respect for the people behind the process, and that’s what excited us. At Social Panga, we’re thrilled to partner with a team that sees painters as creators and homes as stories waiting to be told.”

“Bringing Social Panga on board to manage Neo by Nippon Paint’s social mandate has been one of the best strategic moves for our brand. The team understood the brief to a T, resulting in a continuous stream of highly engaging content. A key highlight is their incredible responsiveness, which enables us to develop better creatives with remarkable speed. We believe this partnership will significantly enhance our ability to tell compelling stories to our audience,” said Neo by Nippon Paint senior director – service marketing, Bharat Raja.

With Social Panga steering the digital canvas, the brand hopes to stroke a vibrant narrative that honours both beautiful homes and the skilled hands that bring them to life.