Hires & Promotions: FCB Kinnect, Affle, McCann Worldgroup

Yogesh Mani Pradhan joins FCB Kinnect as group executive creative director (West)

FCB Kinnect has named Yogesh Mani Pradhan as the group executive creative director (West). This appointment marks a strategic step for the agency to enhance its creative culture in the region, home to its largest brands.

Pradhan comes on board to lead creative excellence for the agency’s Mumbai office in establishing a legacy through its work. With over two decades at Ogilvy, he has worked with numerous brands, including Castrol, various Mondelez brands, Bajaj Chetak, Adidas, Amazon, ITC Vivel, the United Nations, Mumbai Indians, Citigroup, IDBI Federal, British Petroleum, Vogue, Bajaj Pulsar, and Fiat.

His portfolio comprises campaigns such as ‘Truckasana’ for Castrol, ‘Sit Together’ for Cadbury Dairy Milk, ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ for Vogue, ‘TheDateFillum’ for Cadbury 5 Star, ‘I Will Wear Out Plastic’ for UNEP, and ‘Ancient Beauty Secrets’ for ITC Vivel.

Speaking about the appointment, Rohan Mehta, CEO, FCB Kinnect & FCB/SIX India says, “I am thrilled to welcome Yogi to the Kinnect family. His extensive experience in advertising and creative work with a wide range of brands will undoubtedly elevate our creative capabilities. Fondly known as the work-dad, he is exactly what our talent needs – someone to mentor them and build them through the rigour of advertising. Together, Yogi and Neville form a dynamic duo - their complementary partnership promises to deliver exceptional work for our clients.”

Neville Shah, CCO, FCB Kinnect & FCB/SIX India, adds, “Yogesh brings with him great ideas, invaluable experience, and sage-like calm. Here to uplift the quality and the craft of the Mumbai office, I am super excited to be reunited and working with him.”

Pradhan mentions, "I look forward to working with the Mumbai team to cultivate a vibrant creative culture and camaraderie. I'm thrilled to be part of the FCB Kinnect family as it gathers momentum towards becoming a powerhouse integrated creative agency.”
 

Siddharth Barman resigns from Affle after 12 years

Siddharth Barman, associate marketing director at Affle, has resigned from the organisation after a 12-year tenure.

The same was confirmed by Barman in a LinkedIn post where he wrote, "After an incredible 12-year journey at Affle, I’m excited to embark on a new chapter. Affle has been instrumental in shaping my career, and I’m forever grateful for the opportunities, experiences, and lifelong friendships I’ve gained.  It has been an adventure so far and I am excited that everything I have learnt during this time will help to shape the rest of my career. From setting up a full team of growth marketers, growing from 1 member team to 20+ members, witnessing and contributing to Affle’s global expansion at an early stage, the India IPO to launching innovative products like Programmatic, CTV, Apple Search Ads, Ad Fraud, DMP, DSP, SSP, digital transformation etc., and powering platform growth across different geographies and regions, I’ve had the privilege of contributing to the company’s success. I’m especially proud of the incredible team I’ve had the honour of working with and representing Affle globally. Your dedication, talent, and camaraderie have made every day a rewarding experience.  Reflecting on what I was able to achieve and establish during my time here fills me with pride, but it's the colleagues I leave behind who've had the most profound impact on me. To my colleagues, mentors, and the Affle leadership team: Thank you for your unwavering support, your guidance, and for the countless memories we’ve created together. I’ll cherish the lessons learned and the bonds formed during my time here. As I move forward, I’m excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. I’m looking forward to sharing more details about my next adventure soon."

Barman joined Affle Enterprise as a social media analyst. Afterwards, he held numerous leadership positions in the organisation in various capacities. He was also the Jury, Member & Speaker at MMA Global Indonesia. He is an alumnus of the University of Delhi and has more than around 14 years of experience in B2C and B2B marketing.

McCann Worldgroup onboards Jeff Thomas as AVP – strategy, Bangalore

Jeff Thomas has joined McCann Bangalore as AVP – strategy and planning.

Thomas has over 15 years of experience in advertising, digital marketing and communication.

He has worked with digital-first companies like Digitally Inspired Media, Spinta, MeetMyCoach DSmart Technologies and Webdura.

Till recently, Thomas was the senior director of brand strategy at Dentsu.

Alok Lall, executive director of McCann Worldgroup India says, “We take pride in our ability to partner with clients in finding solutions that create impact. As the marketing landscape is changing, brand strategists need to leverage the power of platforms and audience understanding to craft impactful solutions. Jeff joins the McCann strategy team and brings an ideal mix of digital-first experience as well as big brand ecosystems. His joining the McCann fold will add a new dimension to our valued client relationships in our Bangalore operation.”

Thomas comments, "I'm excited to join McCann Worldgroup, whose core belief that a Truth Well Told has the power to move people resonates deeply with me. McCann’s reputation for using creativity to drive real-world impact, coupled with their unwavering commitment to effectiveness, makes it a perfect home for strategists. Having spent relatively equal amounts of time in my career across both mainline and digital mandates, I am eager to contribute to a media-agnostic planning practice dedicated to uncovering and leveraging data-driven insights, crafting brand narratives rooted in truth, and building strategies that drive growth for our client partners.