Tag: Umesh Shrikhande

Eureka Forbes assigns creative mandate to Taproot Dentsu

MUMBAI: Eureka Forbes, which is responsible for creating iconic brands including Aquaguard and Euroclean, has roped in Taproot Dentsu to handle its creative duties.

The agency, from the house of Dentsu Aegis Network, won the account following a multi-agency pitch.

Under this new partnership, Taproot Dentsu will now be responsible for Eureka Forbes’ brands across the categories of water purifiers, air purifiers, vacuum cleaners and security and surveillance solutions. With Taproot Dentsu on board, Eureka Forbes plans to further fortify its position as category leader.

Eureka Forbes MD and CEO Marzin R Shroff says, “Taproot Dentsu’s creative ideas and holistic approach resonates with our ideology and strategy. We are confident that the agency’s understanding of our business and categories will help us in making our brands more engaging, intriguing and relevant to all our stakeholders. We wish the team success and look forward to an exciting journey together. I would also like to acknowledge the contribution of Triton Communications that has helped us create and build our iconic brands over the last three decades.”

Taproot Dentsu CEO Umesh Shrikhande adds, “Aquaguard from Eureka Forbes is a brand that has been a leader and pioneer in the water purification space. The work they have done spanning visionary R&D, specialist selling and social initiatives is staggering. It is our privilege to get this opportunity to help the brand strengthen its leadership position. Equally, we are excited to work on their other important brands like Euroclean Vacuum Cleaners, Aeroguard Air Purifiers and EuroVigil Security Solutions, which are leaders in their own right.”

Commenting on the campaign, Taproot Dentsu co-founder and CCO Santosh Padhi mentions, “It is always challenging to create sharp and memorable communication for a rational/scientific category. More so when you are dealing with a respected leader brand like Aquaguard. We will pull out all stops to make sure that we create winning communication that’s differentiated.”

August 7, 2018
Taproot Dentsu appoints Bashir as VP

MUMBAI: Taproot Dentsu, the creative and communication agency from Dentsu Aegis Network, has strengthened its planning prowess with the appointment of Farah Bashir as Vice President, Strategic Planning. She will be based out of Taproot Dentsu’s Gurgaon office, and will work closely with Anand Murty – head of planning at Taproot Dentsu, to ensure that stellar creative and deep insightful thinking go hand-in-hand to create the best work possible for all clients.

Prior to joining Taproot Dentsu, Farah was the general manager – planning at Cheil India, where she helped lead the Insights division.

Armed with more than 13 years of experience, Farah has worked as a journalist with Reuters, as a marketing professional with Unilever Asia (across India, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia and Brazil), as a research analyst with Quantum Market Research and as a strategic planner with DDB Mudra and Lowe Lintas. She has worked on various brands including Samsung, Wills Lifestyle, OLX, Hindustan Times, Volini, Revital, Reckitt Benckiser, NDTV, Hindustan Times, MTS, Microsoft, Singapore Health Promotion Board (HPB), Singtel, Zopper, Twinings, Cisco, GPI and Dabur.

Commenting on her appointment, Taproot Dentsu CEO Umesh Shrikhande said, “Farah brings with her wonderfully eclectic influences and perspective, thus adding more power to our ability to think different.”

“Strategic planning can help inform the creation of powerful, motivating work that Taproot is known for and also provide clear, incisive counsel to clients with respect to the brand and business challenges they face. Farah’s track record and skill set is an asset to our team and we look forward to an exciting year ahead,” said Murty.

Speaking on joining Taproot Dentsu, Farah said, “Taproot Dentsu, well-known as the creative powerhouse, is equally focused on the rigour and thinking on brands that it works on. Very rarely does the archetype of a planner and agency converge.”

February 3, 2017
Taproot Dentsu appoints Bashir as VP

MUMBAI: Taproot Dentsu, the creative and communication agency from Dentsu Aegis Network, has strengthened its planning prowess with the appointment of Farah Bashir as Vice President, Strategic Planning. She will be based out of Taproot Dentsu’s Gurgaon office, and will work closely with Anand Murty – head of planning at Taproot Dentsu, to ensure that stellar creative and deep insightful thinking go hand-in-hand to create the best work possible for all clients.

Prior to joining Taproot Dentsu, Farah was the general manager – planning at Cheil India, where she helped lead the Insights division.

Armed with more than 13 years of experience, Farah has worked as a journalist with Reuters, as a marketing professional with Unilever Asia (across India, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia and Brazil), as a research analyst with Quantum Market Research and as a strategic planner with DDB Mudra and Lowe Lintas. She has worked on various brands including Samsung, Wills Lifestyle, OLX, Hindustan Times, Volini, Revital, Reckitt Benckiser, NDTV, Hindustan Times, MTS, Microsoft, Singapore Health Promotion Board (HPB), Singtel, Zopper, Twinings, Cisco, GPI and Dabur.

Commenting on her appointment, Taproot Dentsu CEO Umesh Shrikhande said, “Farah brings with her wonderfully eclectic influences and perspective, thus adding more power to our ability to think different.”

“Strategic planning can help inform the creation of powerful, motivating work that Taproot is known for and also provide clear, incisive counsel to clients with respect to the brand and business challenges they face. Farah’s track record and skill set is an asset to our team and we look forward to an exciting year ahead,” said Murty.

Speaking on joining Taproot Dentsu, Farah said, “Taproot Dentsu, well-known as the creative powerhouse, is equally focused on the rigour and thinking on brands that it works on. Very rarely does the archetype of a planner and agency converge.”

February 3, 2017
Priyanka Rishi joins Taproot India as GM

MUMBAI: Taproot India has appointed Priyanka Rishi as its general manager. She will be reporting to CEO Umesh Shrikhande.

“To be a part of an agency that has set benchmarks for the industry is professionally stimulating and exciting. I look forward to building on Taproot’s strengths and work ethos to create an even stronger organisation,” said Rishi.

With more than 16 years in the business, Rishi in her earlier journey has had long stints with Ogilvy and JWT and brings with her solid cross category experience.

Shrikhande said: “With so many interesting opportunities for adding value to our clients’ businesses and brands, Priyanka is a welcome addition to our talented team. She is passionate about both strategy and creativity and comes with a deep and insightful understanding of brands. Infusing our team with such strong talent will further the process of adding depth and sparkle to brand Taproot.”

She will be based in Mumbai.

March 24, 2014
Umesh Shrikhande joins Taproot India as CEO

MUMBAI: Umesh Shrikhande has joined Taproot India as the new chief executive officer. The announcement was made by Dentsu India Group. Shrikhande, an advertising veteran with more than 20 years of rich experience, prior to this was the CEO of Contract India.

The advertising veteran has worked closely with various divisions at Contract in the areas of design, direct and digital to enhance traditional advertising. Having worked with a variety of clients and brands such as HSBC, Cadbury, Asian Paints, Shopper‘s Stop, Philips, VIP, Bajaj Auto, BBC World, Aegon-Religare, Tata Indicom, Disney, Zoom, DNA and Grasim, Shrikhande is poised to take one of the most exciting creative boutiques in India – Taproot India, to the next level of growth and expansion. Taproot India, which now has a solid team of talented and capable professionals, will ensure that the company‘s creative quality creates new industry benchmarks.

“I‘m delighted that Umesh has chosen to join us. Aggi, Paddy and I look forward to his partnership in this exciting new phase of growth at Taproot. Umesh is an industry professional I‘ve always had the highest regard for and now, I‘m happy to have this opportunity to work with him,” said Dentsu India Group executive chairman Rohit Ohri.

Taproot will tap on Shrikhande‘s vast experience. “I am glad to have Umesh‘s vast experience on our side, which will be a guiding light for us as we scramble around doing what we think is the right thing. He is sharp, insightful and most important possesses great clarity on the way mass communication in the contemporary world works,” reiterated Taproot India co-founder and chief creative officer Agnello Dias.

Speaking on his appointment as the new CEO of Taproot India, Shrikhande said, “Aggi and Paddy are not just immensely talented, they also happen to be wonderful people who have managed to build an attractive reputation for Taproot, despite of the huge competitive environment. I consider it a delightful privilege to get this opportunity to work with them and with their wonderful and energetic team.”

Shrikhande along with the team will collectively endeavour to build on Taproot‘s innate strengths and culture to create a stronger organisation. “I hope that my understanding of strategy, people and relationships, helps me to make a difference,” he added.

“With the kind of experience Umesh has and the number of youngsters Taproot has, it will be a wonderful blend,” said Taproot India co-founder and chief creative officer Santosh Padhi.

Shrikhande, a management graduate from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies had started his career with Lintas (now Lowe Lintas & Partners), where he spent six years. Thereafter he was a core member of Team Contract that led the agency to great success, after which in 2008 he took over as the CEO of Contract India. After a successful spell of nine years at Contract India, he then joined Euro RSCG.

July 3, 2013
Rana Barua joins Contract Advertising as COO

MUMBAI: Rana Barua, the former Chief operating officer (COO) of Law and Kenneth, has joined Contract Advertising India in the same position.

Barua succeeds Umesh Shrikhande, who recently left to pursue other opportunities. He will partner the senior leadership team at Contract to ensure the best value proposition for clients.

JWT South Asia CEO Colvyn Harris said, “Rana has diverse management experience with a proven track record that makes him an ideal choice for Contract, one of India‘s leading independent integrated advertising agencies. I am confident that Rana with his experience across advertising and integrated brand solutions will ensure that Contract continues to be a very successful agency.”

Barua said, “I am excited with the opportunity of being a part of the Contract story. It is a wonderful time for our industry as it continues to evolve so rapidly. Contract is uniquely positioned to take advantage of this and I am confident I will be able to facilitate this process by partnering with the senior management team.”

In his 19 years of experience Barua has served varied roles like COO of RED FM and the head of marketing for Radio City where he successfully repositioned the radio station to make it amongst the top two stations in the country.

He started his career in advertising having worked at HTA (JWT), Ogilvy, McCann and Y&R. His category experience includes working with brands like Renault, eBay, ING Life, Godrej, Reckitt Benckiser, J&J, Gillette Parker, Microsoft, HP, Tata Tea, Zydus Cadila, Levers, Tata AIG & AIA, Marico, Virgin Atlantic, and ITC.

February 4, 2013
Umesh Shrikhande quits Contract Advertising

MUMBAI: Contract Advertising CEO Umesh Shrikhande has put in his papers at the agency and is currently serving his notice period. His last day at Contract will be 31 January.

Confirming the news to indiantelevision.com, Shrikhande said, “It was a planned move, nothing out of the blue. I am still mulling over what my next move will be though.”

Shrikhande joined the agency seven years back.

November 30, 2012