Renilson Joseph to head Aviva and Quaker accounts at BBDO

With an experience of 12 years, Joseph has worked in sales and marketing functions, apart from a predominant career in advertising

Renilson Joseph, director, strategic planning, Grey Bengaluru has joined BBDO as associate vice-president. In his new role, he will head two significant accounts for the agency – Aviva and Quaker Oats.

Joseph tells afaqs! that he has been looking at the way BBDO has been picking up in India. "I have chosen to be associated with the agency to be a party to what the agency creates and give an impetus to the agency in terms of the work that is produced."

Renilson Joseph to head Aviva and Quaker accounts at BBDO

With an experience spanning 12 years, Joseph began his career in mid 1996 as a sales officer for Westar Watches, looking after Goa, Belgaum and North Canara. After spending a year in sales, he realised he wanted to do advertising. "I have a family of advertising people – my brother and his wife. Hearing them speak about it, I stepped into advertising because it was about creation."

Trikaya Grey, Bengaluru was his introduction to the ad world. After spending a year there, he moved to Lowe.

Subsequently, he joined McCann Erickson, where he spent about two years and then moved to Ogilvy (then Ogilvy & Mather). He switched to the marketing side by joining Japan Tobacco International in early 2003 as brand manager – he was responsible for launching brands such as Gold Coast and More.

One wonders what made him switch to marketing. "It is always best to get a complete view – having been on the advertising side, it's always best to know the other side of the picture – about details such as distribution and pricing. Moreover, the cigarette industry is a highly penetrated category and it was a challenge to build both the brands."

He returned to advertising in 2005, re-locating to Muscat to join Ad Inc. He returned to India within a few months to join TBWA Chennai in mid 2005. After two years, he joined Bates 141 (then Bates Enterprise) Bengauluru. In mid 2008, he joined Grey, Bengaluru.

Some of the businesses that he has worked on in his career include Volvo, Amante, Allen Solly, Loop Mobile (BPL Mobile), Spencer's, Timex, Titan, Danone, Hindustan Unilever, MTV, Dockers and Weekender.

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