Saumya Chattopadhyay joins Ogilvy Africa

Saumya Chattopadhyay, who was head, planning for Rediffusion-Y&R India, at the Mumbai and Kolkata branches, has recently joined Ogilvy Africa, as director, strategic planning. He will be based in Kenya, and will report to Sandeep Madan, managing director, Ogilvy Africa.

Chattopadhyay's responsibilities include handling the pan-African business of Airtel, across the 16 countries the telecommunications company currently operates in.

Chattopadhyay, who has over 15 years of experience in advertising and marketing, on completing his graduation from St Xavier's College, Kolkata, dabbled in servicing early in his career for about four years. He then went ahead to do his further studies from the Watford School of Business in the UK. This was followed by an internship at Saatchi & Saatchi, London, as a trainee planner.

He came back to India in 2000, to join Ogilvy India, and eventually shifted to Euro RSCG. After spending some time in the advertising industry, Chattopadhyay moved to New Zealand to work with Southseas Film and Television School and Productions as international marketing manager for Asia, but quit two years later, to return to India as director, strategic planning, for Vyas Giannetti Creative.

He later moved to JWT, then Milk+Co, Malaysia, which until last year, was called DDB International. This was followed by his most recent stint at Rediffusion-Y&R, before he joined Ogilvy Africa.

Interestingly, Chattopadhyay has also cut an album with Times Music, for his band Yagna, which no longer exists now.