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Tarun Rai gets ready to move to the other side

Rai has put in his papers at JWT after 17 years of working there. He might be considering moving to the client’s side now

JWT’s managing partner and national business development head, Tarun Rai, who was recently assigned a larger corporate role at the agency, is moving out. Earlier this year, shortly after the exit of its co-national creative director, Josy Paul, JWT India had made some management changes, which included assigning Rai a new role.

Colvyn J Harris, chief executive officer, JWT India, confirmed the development to agencyfaqs!, but he refused to say anything about further restructuring at the agency.

Tarun Rai gets ready to move to the other side
Tarun Rai
According to sources, Rai is considering crossing over to the other side of the fence to join the client fraternity, which means he might leave advertising. When agencyfaqs tried to probe him further, he said, “My next move will certainly push me to take up something very challenging and attractive. For sure, I won’t be setting up my own firm, instead I will be working on the corporate side.” Rai declined to reveal where he was going.

Just before he was offered a national role at JWT, Rai had been heading the Mumbai office for six years. Prior to that, he was at JWT Kolkata as senior vice-president and general manager.

Rai started his career with Asian Paints in 1986 before joining JWT Delhi (then HTA Delhi) in 1989, where he worked for a variety of clients, including SmithKline Beecham and Nestle. He moved to Kolkata in December 1999.

Earlier this year, Dhunji Wadia took over from Rai as Mumbai head. Wadia used to manage the Bangalore branch as managing partner and senior vice-president. He will hold the same designation in Mumbai and look after growing existing businesses in the city as well as providing focus on new ones.

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