Russell Barrett quits Bates 141 to head to BBH India

BBH India is looking at expanding its creative team and has roped in Bates 141 executive creative director, Russell Barrett, to head the creative team as part of its expansion plans.

Barrett will join the agency's Mumbai office on April 22 and will report to Priti Nair, managing partner, BBH. He will head the eight brand partners at the agency.

"In India BBH is still new and it is a huge kick for me to help build something so young," he adds.

Barrett joined Bates 141 in January, 2009 and worked on brands such as Tata AIG, Radio City, Fiat, Pfizer and Virgin Mobile.

In a career spanning almost 14 years, Barrett also had a five year stint at Leo Burnett, working on brands such as Reliance Mobile, Reliance Mutual Funds, Bajaj Electricals and Servo Engine Oils.

Barrett began his career in 1996 at Rediffusion DY&R (now Rediffusion Y&R) and moved to Ogilvy India after three years. His stint at Ogilvy India lasted for four and a half years.

Subhash Kamath, managing director, BBH, says, "We have been consistently building our team over the last one year. With the exciting brands that are aligning with us, a senior level appointment was necessary. Russell (Barrett) fits the brief perfectly. He has had terrific experience across categories and his personality and thinking fits the agency culture."

Nair says, "He is just the right match. We have a principle of hiring 'nice' and 'talented' people. It is very, very important for a senior person to fit that bill. While there are no doubts that Barrett is talented, I have not heard anyone say anything against Barrett both professionally and personally."

Winner of more than 50 international awards including Cannes, The One Show and 80 local recognitions, Barrett fondly recalls the work he has done for Virgin Mobile, Tata AIG and Luxor, which were accepted well among marketers and in the creative industry.

Bates 141has witnessed recent restructuring exercises with Sagar Mahableshwarkar joining the agency as national creative director from Rediffusion Y&R; Sambit Mohanty being appointed executive creative director at its Delhi office; and Kaizad Pardiwala joining as executive vice-president, Mumbai.