After 14 years Ovilvy's Sanjay Thapar moves to Bates as CEO!

bates India today announced the appointment of Sanjay Thapar as the company’s Chief Executive Officer - designate. Currently the Group President (heading North and East) at Ogilvy India, Sanjay will relocate to Mumbai and will assume his new role effective July 1, 2012.  In his new mandate, Sanjay will drive the ‘changengage’ philosophy and execute the company’s long-term strategy including growth, client satisfaction and profitability. Sanjay is an Ogilvy veteran with has more than 14 years of experience within the Ogilvy network.

 

Announcing his appointment, Ranjan Kapur – Chairman, bates India, said, “Sanjay comes with impeccable credentials and has proved his capabilities in every skill required of a leader. While at Ogilvy, he has substantially grown the Northern and Eastern operations and under his leadership, Ogilvy Delhi emerged as one of the fastest growing offices in India. I have personally known Sanjay since he joined Ogilvy during my tenure and I am confident that he will prove a tremendous asset to all of us. He will now spearhead bates India and under his tutelage, I am assured that the business will catapult to new heights.”

 

Sanjay started his innings with Ogilvy and Mather in Kolkata in 1998, growing the business five fold in a span of four years. He then went to head the Delhi business in 2002 and in duration of two years was promoted to President, North, being responsible for the total Northern operations of Ogilvy. In 2008, he was elevated to Group President, North and East, and was inducted into the India Board of Directors in July 2008. He started his career with Bata India Ltd and also had a stint with Mudra Communications heading their Kolkata office. Sanjay holds a PGDM from IIM Lucknow with a specialisation in marketing & finance.

 

Tim Isaac, Regional Head & Chairman of Bates Asia, further remarked, “We have been talking with Sanjay for many weeks and are delighted that he has now agreed to take up the leadership of the bates group in India. I have worked with Sanjay for many years and I know his character and capabilities first hand. His experience of activation and shopper marketing with OgilvyAction will be invaluable as bates develops its 'changengage' offer under his leadership.”

 

“Sanjay is so much more than an "ad" man.   A further reason why we wanted Sanjay to be our National CEO is that bates - as an independent and distinctive brand - will be in a more collaborative relationship with Ogilvy as is the case everywhere else in the world since Sanjay is so well known and respected within the wider Ogilvy group”, he added.

 

Sanjay Thapar said, “This is a very exciting time for bates as the agency has a powerful vision and philosophy in ‘changengage’, offering creative ideas and solutions to engage customers in meaningful conversations. I am delighted to shoulder this mandate and look forward to the exciting task that lies ahead of me.”