Menezes looks for larger canvas at McCann-Erickson

agencyfaqs! recently reported that Ryan Menezes was quitting Vyas Giannetti Creative, which he joined just 15 months ago. Menezes has now joined McCann-Erickson as executive creative director at the Mumbai office from next month. He held the same position at VGC.

Menezes has been a part of the industry for more than two decades. He spent these years at various agencies such as Lowe (Nairobi), SSC&B Lintas, Saatchi & Saatchi, O&M, Ambience Publicis, Grey Worldwide and Mudra. At Mudra, he was national creative director.

Winner of the first Cannes Gold Lion for India, Menezes has consistently won major international and national awards like the D&ADs, Lories and Clios for both art and copy. He has been instrumental in building major brands like Coca-Cola Africa, Hyundai, Cox & Kings, Kenya Airways, Philips, Zenith Computers, Esselworld, Travelocity and the Aditya Birla Group.

Prasoon Joshi, executive chairman, McCann-Erickson India, and creative director, Asia Pacific, says, “We have been looking for an opportunity to work together and I am extremely happy that this has finally happened. A new dimension will be added to McCann’s creative force with Ryan on board.”

“Working with McCann has been on the cards for a long time. And now, since I’m done with a year at VGC, it was a good time to make the move,” says Menezes.

He has been instrumental in the start-up operations of two agencies, Euro RSCG India and SSC&B Lintas India. Menezes ranked eighth in the Top Creative Directors’ List in the Brand Equity Survey 2006. He was a judge at the Abbys, the AAAI and the Outdoor Advertising Awards in 2005 and 2006.