Everest hires Mudra's Samir Miglani & Anil Varma

Everest Integrated Communications' Delhi office has recently hired Mudra Delhi's Samir Miglani and Anil Varma. While Miglani joined as deputy general manager in the last week of September, Varma came on board as a creative director on October 1.

Rajeev Rakshit, branch head of Everest's Delhi office, told agencyfaqs! that the appointments are a part of the agency's strategy to scout for the best talent in the industry and turn Everest into an advertising powerhouse.

"While looking for a person to assist our senior creative person Devjyoti Barooah, we felt it would be great if we get to merge the twin aspects of 'strategy' and 'idea'. While both are absolutely critical in the works of an advertising agency, creating a combination between the two is actually rare," he said.

"Therefore, when we got the CV of Samir Miglani and then, Anil Varma, we immediately realised that it's one opportunity which cannot be floored. Miglani and Varma have worked closely at Mudra and were instrumental in bringing some great campaigns to life."

"They actually complement each other. While Samir (Miglani), who was formerly a client services director at Mudra, is a strategic thinker, Anil (Varma) is a great creative person. They bond so well. It's almost as if they share a telepathic sense. They have worked together in famous Mudra campaigns for the Samsung brand and the Samsung 'Nariel Phodo' campaign in particular. They also worked on brands such as Yamaha," Rakshit added.

Miglani has about 12 years of advertising industry experience. He is one of the rare breed of ad industry professionals, who have not hopped, skipped and jumped between agencies frequently. He started his career at FCB Ulka and spent about 6 years there. Thereafter, he had joined Mudra, where he spent 5 years.

"Actually, Samir and I compliment each other. While I have been a bit of a maverick, he has been rock-solid in his relationships with agencies," Rakshit adds.

Anil Varma, on the other hand, has been associated with a host of agencies. After debuting with O&M, where he spend some four-and-a-half years, he joined Rediffussion Y&R. After Rediffussion, he has been associated with TBWA and Mudra, where he spent about two years each.

Rakshit is ecstatic about Varma. "Anil's command over the Hindi language is fantastic. I am really looking forward to how he communicates in this medium and ensures a brand connect with the TG," he said.

According to Rakshit, Varma is more of an ideas guy. "He understands and wonderfully communicates in the language of the local consumer. That really sets his talent apart from the rest of the pack."

Varma has worked with stars like Prasoon Joshi and Piyush Pandey during his stint at O&M. "I have learnt so much from them. Speed is the essence in today's advertising and I learnt to be spontaneous from them. I have also learnt a lot from Prabir Dutt, the Creative Director at TBWA."

"I have seen various facets of life from close quarters. I guess that is what makes my writings come alive." Varma, who originally hails from Jhansi - a small town in Uttar Pradesh - writes poetry and lyrics in his spare time. He is also working on a film script.

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