Ram Sehgal: Retired from Rediffusion DY&R, but not from advertising

BC Forbes, founder and editor of Forbes magazine, wrote in 1916, “I have known not a few men who, after reaching the summits of business success, found themselves miserable on attaining retirement age.” However, for Indian advertising veteran Ram Sehgal, life has just begun after retirement.

Sehgal recently launched his first book, ‘Mixed Feelings’. He says, “Since the age of 14, I have had the habit of penning down the things that happened to me every day before I went to sleep. I have been doing this for the last 40 years. One day, my wife suggested that I put together all my jottings. That’s when I conceptualised the idea of this book. It took me six months to put it all together.”

He adds, “The book talks about my personal experiences in the advertising world. It talks about campaigns and my interactions with clients. There are separate chapters that deal with different things. For example, one of the chapters talks about my international experiences – I have tried to explain that clients around the world behave in exactly the same manner. Another chapter talks about industry stalwarts and what makes them special.”

But one book has not quelled Sehgal’s writing ambitions. He is all set to launch two more titles in 2006. The first of these, titled ‘Seven Secrets of Advertising’, is slated to be launched in May-June 2006. The second book, titled ‘Around the World in 40 Years’, will be launched towards the end of 2006. Sehgal says, “As the titles suggest, the first book talks about how to manage oneself in the world of advertising. The second book is not a travelogue, it is a collection of my experiences around the world in the last 40 years.”

In four weeks from now, Sehgal will also launch his advertising institute, the Srimaa Advertising Institute, in Pondicherry. He says, “The institute will bridge the gap between fresh graduates and the advertising industry. The look and feel of the institute will help students experience a typical advertising agency. Moreover, in this one-year course in advertising, there will be overnight assignments, which will help the students realise the kind of pressure an advertising job can generate.”

For the record, Sehgal began his advertising career in 1967 with Ogilvy and Mather. He then moved to JWT in 1971. He was made the president of Contract in 1986, and he served the agency for 18 years. His last stint was with Rediffusion, where he served as president for two years and then group advisor for five years.

© 2005 agencyfaqs!