BBDO enters Sri Lanka, aligns with Thompson’s Swara

BBDO has made its entry in Sri Lanka through an alliance with Thompson Associates’ Swara, a local agency which has been in the market for three years. The new agency will be called BBDO Swara.

In fact, Swara has been partnering already with BBDO in handling regional accounts such as ICI Dulux and Visa International in Sri Lanka. Although ICI Dulux has now moved out from BBDO’s stable, Visa International will be a key client for BBDO Swara.

At the Asia Pacific level, BBDO has recently won the business for Fonterra, for which Sri Lanka is a key market. In fact, Swara had a played a key role while pitching for this business as it provided a deep insight and understanding of the Sri Lankan market and consumer behaviour therein.

The other key members in the team are Upali Herath, executive creative director, and Kunal Roy, strategic planning and creative director.

Herath has spent around 25 years in various agencies in Sri Lanka, such as JWT, Grant McCann, Leo Burnett, Bates and Phoenix Ogilvy.

Roy moved to Thompson, Sri Lanka, in 2004. In India, he has worked with agencies such as MAA Bozell and Grey Worldwide in Bangalore.

Wijesuriya says, “Our aim is to create work that is rich in local insight, strategically strong and highly contemporary.”

In addition to local training, BBDO Swara has plans to develop talent through BBDO’s regionally and globally organised workshops and conferences and, of course, BBDO’s knowledge, expertise and resources.

© 2006 agencyfaqs!