Ashish Chakravarty, executive CD, Euro RSCG, Delhi, quits

Ashish Chakravarty, executive creative director at the Delhi branch of Euro RSCG India, has put in his papers. Confirming the news, he says, "While I will not tell you much, yes, I have put in my papers a couple of days ago." He adds with resolve, "Though I have been asked to reconsider my decision, my mind is made up." On being asked where he was heading next, Chakravarty refused to reveal anything, other than clarifying that he was not returning to McCann-Erickson India, agency where his career flourished. He added that he would continue to be in Delhi.

With so little to go on, it's difficult hazarding a guess about Chakravarty's future plans. However, one little fact must be brought to light. Chakravarty once enjoyed a great partnership with Sujit Das, currently creative director at Publicis India's Gurgaon office. It was a seven-year association that culminated at Publicis, when Chakravarty went back to Euro, Delhi (we'll plot Chakravarty's career path in greater detail in just a while), while Das chose to stay on with Publicis. Their parting, however, was not on a sour note, and the manner in which Chakravarty recalls their partnership at McCann suggests the possibility of a reunion. Whether it will be at Publicis or elsewhere, only the coming weeks will tell.

Chakravarty describes his stint at Euro as eventful. At the agency, some of his better-known work includes the Voltas Vertis campaign currently on air and some work on Mortein. For the record, Mortein's radio campaign won a bronze at the recently held Radio Mirchi Kaan Awards. In fact, Euro RSCG bagged a silver and four bronze trophies at the Mirchi Kaan Awards, and lost the coveted Agency of the Year title to McCann by just one point. "We could have done better, creatively," says Chakravarty, alluding to the work on some brands that did not get published.

Chakravarty started his advertising career at JWT (then HTA) in 1993. A short while later, he headed for TBWAIndia (then Anthem), where he teamed up with Das to lay the foundations for their enduring partnership. Within nine months, both Chakravarty and Das left TBWA in favour of McCann, where their partnership - and respective careers - blossomed, working on accounts such as Reckitt Benckiser and Coke. "We just worked as a great team and won most of the awards… whatever there was to win," he smiles, adding, "I had joined as a copywriter and left the agency as a creative director."

After McCann, the priorities of the duo changed. "We wanted to head a place on our own," informs Chakravarty. Euro, Bangalore, gave them that opportunity in November 2000. They subsequently moved to Euro's Delhi office, before Das decided to move to Publicis. For a very brief period - November 2002 to March 2003 - Chakravarty joined Das at Publics, but then returned to Euro Delhi. Whether the Chakravarty-Das partnership gets renewed or not is something that's worth watching out for… © 2004 agencyfaqs!