Mumbai: Wunderman Thompson India has announced the appointment of two senior hires for its Mumbai office. Rakesh Varma has joined as vice president & executive business director, and Abhay Godbole as vice president & client service director.
Both Rakesh and Abhay will report to Wunderman Thompson Mumbai managing partner Anurag Tandon.
Rakesh has over 15 years of advertising experience, having worked on a wide range of brands, with a particular fondness for automobiles and auto accessories, with brands like Volkswagen, TVS Motorcycles, Ashok Leyland & Gulf Oil. He has been associated with leading brands like Hotstar, Radio City, FBB, Gelusil & Tata AIA, amongst others. He has in-depth understanding and experience in brand strategy, campaign planning, and leading integrated marketing efforts.
Having previously worked with Wunderman Thompson Mumbai, Abhay Godbole returns to the agency for a second innings. During his previous stint with the agency, Abhay was instrumental in leading the much lauded “Mutual Funds Sahi Hai” for AMFI. He has close to two decades of experience in marketing communications, working across categories like FMCG, automobiles, and BFSI. Passionate about advertising and creativity, Abhay believes any marketing challenge can be addressed through compelling creative solutions.
Commenting on the new appointments, Wunderman Thompson Mumbai managing partner Anurag Tandon said, “As we continue to diversify our client roster and grow our talent base, it is critical for us to have the right hands on deck. Rakesh and Abhay bring with them extensive experience and domain knowledge that will propel us to drive growth in key industry domains and deliver the best outcomes for our clients. Both our senior hires have an impressive track record of building strong consumer brands, and I am looking forward to scaling new heights with our client partners.”
On taking up his new role at Wunderman Thompson, India, Rakesh Varma, commented, “At Wunderman Thompson, we’re building a future that’s as exciting as its legacy. And I consider myself extremely fortunate to be a part of this transformation. With its diverse brand portfolio, integrated service approach, and promising growth vision, WT is all set to thrive. I’m looking forward to nurturing some of the long-standing client relationships and creating new ones.”
Abhay Godbole added, “I am delighted to be back at Wunderman Thompson, one of India’s finest agencies that has nurtured and built multiple brands in the country. Wunderman Thompson is in a unique position to create the agency of the future; an agency that is capable of delivering the best of both mainline and data-led digital communications. I look forward to being a part of this exciting and transformational journey.”
