New entrant: Leo Burnett gets Kapil Sawant from Contract

Kapil Sawant, former senior vice-president and senior creative director at Contract Advertising Mumbai, has joined Leo Burnett's Mumbai office as executive creative director. In his new role, Sawant will handle the McDonald's account and will manage the creative teams of Mumbai and Delhi. He will also work closely with 'Pops' K V Sridhar, chief creative officer, Leo Burnett India subcontinent and Nitesh Tiwari, chief creative officer, Leo Burnett, India.

Earlier, he has worked for O&M, RSCG and other ad agencies and design firms. He joined Contract Advertising as creative director and was promoted as senior creative director and later, senior vice-president.

Sawant has also won national as well as international creative awards. The Cadbury Celebrations Diwali Campaign won many awards in the Integrated Campaign category at the ABBYs, Effies and Mirchi Kaan. Other award-winning work includes Shoppers Stop's 'Start something new' (brand campaign for 2008 and 2010), Morphy Richards' Juicer film (gold at Spikes), 'Ask me number' films which were awarded at ABBYs 2011 and Cadbury Eclairs' 'Meetha Bomb' campaign.

On joining Leo Burnett, he says, "Leo Burnett has always been known as the place of great opportunities, with a head start in terms of innovations and new age media. I am really looking forward to expanding my horizons working with Pops and Nitesh Tiwari. It's also really exciting that I will be a part of the McDonald's creative team."

Sridhar says, "Sawant is joining Leo Burnett at the right time, when the entire creative engine is re-energized to move forward. His experience and skill will inspire our young team of creative professionals at Leo Burnett Mumbai to achieve even bigger creative goals."