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Gautam Talwar quits Rediffusion; Kavita Kailas is the new Chief Strategy Officer
Meanwhile, Prithviraj Banerjee, head of strategic planning at Rediffusion Mumbai, has been given the additional responsibility of heading strategy at Everest Brand Solutions.
Rediffusion-Y&R has elevated Kavita Kailas to the position of chief strategy officer, which was previously occupied by Gautam Talwar, who has decided to take a year-long sabbatical.
Over the past few years Kailas has been heading the strategic planning function across Rediffusion's Delhi, Kolkata and Southern operations.
"She is meant for this role," says Dhunji S Wadia, president, Rediffusion-Y&R, "Kavita has a great love for our business, clients and people, a love that infuses all that she does. Unleashing her enthusiasm and expertise will make a real difference in how we serve our clients."
He adds about Talwar's exit, "For quite some time Gautam has been nurturing the idea of pursuing interests beyond advertising. The time has come to allow him to follow his passions... he is taking a well-deserved break before deciding what his next chapter will be. I thank him for all his help and support and wish him the very best..."
Meanwhile, Prithviraj Banerjee, strategy head of Rediffusion Mumbai, has been given an additional responsibility - he has been named strategy planning head, Everest Brand Solutions.
In the recent past Rediffusion-Y&R has seen some high profile exits.
Saumya Chattopadhyay, vice president and branch head of Rediffusion Delhi, has quit. "Yes I have moved on from Rediffusion. I haven't decided on my next move as yet - it could be a local or an international role," he says.
Recall that a few days back Rediffusion lost Amitava Sinha, its chief operating officer, who held this position since 2011. Sinha spent the past 12 years at Rediffusion; he joined the agency back in 2003 as branch head of the Kolkata office. Some of the businesses he has worked closely on during his stint at the agency include ITC, India Today, Nippon Oil and Videocon, among several others.
Sources tell us that Shuvadeep Nag, vice president, South, Rediffusion, is also on his way out. However, Nag could not be reached for an official confirmation at the time of filing this report.