Nikhil Nehru quits McCann-Erickson

In a surprise development, Nikhil Nehru, president, McCann-Erickson India, has put in his papers. Confirming the news, Sorab Mistry, chairman and CEO, McCann-Erickson India, told agencyfaqs!, "It wasn't as if it was a sudden development. This move has been planned by Nikhil for quite some time now. It is obvious after seven years at the agency Nikhil wants to relook at his career options." Nehru, in the meanwhile, wants to take three months off to weigh his options. "He has quite a few opportunities before him and he wants to assess them over the next three months," said Mistry.

With Nehru leaving McCann-Erickson, he would be the third such high-profile exit since HTA's Sunil Gupta, tipped to succeed the incumbent in the top job (Mike Khanna), quit the agency last December, followed by Preet Bedi of Lowe, widely speculated to take over the baton from Prem Mehta, left the agency after 15 years' service. While Gupta is yet to announce his plans after HTA, Bedi is now president and chief executive officer, TBWAAnthem. On his part, Nehru, an ex-JWT hand, was widely seen to be the successor to Mistry at McCann-Erickson.

Mistry, however, assures that the departure of Nehru should not be construed as a crisis situation. "Don't read much into this resignation. The organisation is run by able hands at various levels. Delhi, for example, is headed by Sanjay Nayak, who will continue to do so in his capacity of senior vice-president & general manager, Delhi. I have an entirely different portfolio to manage. But yes, over the next couple of days, we will have to figure out what the future course of action will be for us." © 2002 agencyfaqs!