Cheil gets Avinash Joshi as media director and social media head

Joshi is a digital marketing expert with over 15 years of experience in leveraging social insights, trends in emerging technology and human interaction to understand, explain, predict and influence consumer behaviour in digital, social and emerging channels.

Speaking on the appointment, Hari Krishnan, COO, Cheil Worldwide SW Asia, says, "Avinash's multi-faceted experience across project management, creative, technology and media will be immensely valuable for our clients at Cheil India."

"While most of the digital verticals are headed by seasoned skill leaders at Cheil India, social media leadership had remained a gap area for us. With Avinash coming on board we will be able to strengthen our overall digital offering to clients," states Rajesh Bhatia, senior VP and head, Digital, Cheil Worldwide SW Asia.

In his career spanning more than a decade, Joshi has managed brands including Coca-Cola - Burn, Sprite and Thums Up; Citibank India; Citibank US; Unilever - Lifebuoy and Lipton; Pernod Ricard - Chivas Regal and Blenders Pride; Yum - Taco Bell India; Fiat Chrysler - Fiat and Jeep India, among others.

At SapientNitro, Joshi was working as digital account director and social media lead, India. Earlier, he has worked with GutsGo, Avalon Information Systems/UNICEF DevInfo Support Group, Wisitech (formerly, Orient InfoSolutions) and Sunstar Communication Systems.

Cheil India has been on an aggressive growth plan over the last two years, almost doubling its size in its employee strength and billings. Significant expansion and growth has been seen particularly in BTL and digital areas. In March this year, the agency hired Vivek Ballabh as associate vice-president, digital media. He is leading the agency's efforts in digital media planning and strategy for all clients. Last year, the agency appointed Ranjan Nautiyal as group creative director and P Murali Gopal as senior creative director for its digital team.