DDB India appoints Anurag Tandon as VP, account management

DDB India has roped in Anurag Tandon as vice-president, account management. He will be based in the Mumbai office of the agency. DDB India is one of DDB Mudra's four strategic business units; the other three are Tribal DDB India, RAPP India and DDB Health & Lifestyle.

At DDB India, Tandon's main responsibility entails handling the agency's two major accounts, Volkswagen and Hindustan Unilever's Lipton (Hot and Ice tea).

An MBA from SIES College of Management Studies, Tandon brings with him more than 12 years of experience in this field. He started his career with RK Swamy BBDO. After working there for two years, he moved on to Ogilvy India, where he worked for about a year and a half. Since then, he has worked with agencies such as TBWA and Leo Burnett, handling brands such as Fiat, Bajaj Auto, Indian Oil, Colgate Palmolive, Marico, Proctor & Gamble, Nivea, Bajaj Allianz, Samsonite and Platinum Guild, among others.

In a conversation with afaqs!, Tandon admits that the reasons for his move had a lot to do with his fascination with brand Volkswagen. On his specific plans for the brand, he says, "This was easily the 'buzziest' brand of 2010. It was acknowledged immensely for its innovation and effectiveness. My goal is to take the creative mandate forward and push the creative envelope even more."

His area of passion is the auto segment and he looks forward to working on brand Volkswagen.

Speaking on brand Lipton, he says, "The brand is still in its nascent stage. I'm yet to study it and get into the specifics."

Rajiv Sabnis, president, DDB India says in a press statement, "Tandon is an important addition to the senior talent of DDB India. He joins us on the back of the strong growth that the agency has witnessed in 2010. Volkswagen and Unilever (Lipton) are among the key clients of DDB, not just in India but globally, too."

He adds that Tandon will focus his efforts and attention to partner the brand building and communication efforts of these clients and that his experience across multinational clients, especially in the auto and FMCG sectors, should be of immense value to these clients.

Rajeev Raja, national creative director, DDB Mudra, says, "I am sure, with his extensive experience in the auto sector and otherwise, he will provide the necessary charge for Volkswagen and Lipton to reach the next level."