TBWA loses out on top brass

As a double blow to TBWA India, the agency has lost two of its key people in separate developments. Gopinath Menon, senior vice-president and national head of media and Probir Dutt, senior vice-president, creative, and creative head, have put in their papers. Both are Delhi-based. They are yet to announce their next moves.

Menon, with an experience close to that of two decades in media planning and buying, was overseeing six offices of TBWA. He has had stints with Mudra, Lintas and Leo Burnett before moving to TBWA. He has worked across different categories and brands for launches and various brand promotions including Coca-Cola, Marlboro, IFB Bosch, Reebok, United Airlines, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Dettol liquid soap, Nestle, Standard Chartered, Woodland Shoes and Sony among others. He has been playing the role of a syndicated columnist too, with trade magazines and business newspapers as well as various talk shows and media conclaves.

He further adds, “I have always believed in synchronisation between the medium and message as well as media being part of the strategic process. This is one reason that I have never worked in any media independent organisation and have always been in advertising agencies where media is an integral part of brand building.”

Also on the exit mode is Probir Dutt, who started his career with Everest Advertising (now Everest Brand Solutions) and has had stints with Mudra DDB and Trikaya Grey before moving into TBWA. With an experience of over twenty years, Dutt has handled accounts such as Yamaha, Red &White, Dabur Hajmola, Nestle, IFB Bosch, Vimal, Sony, Bank of America, Bausch & Lomb and Adidas to name a few.

Speaking to afaqs! Dutt says, “One must try newer avenues and look for fresher challenges from time to time. I consider myself fortunate that I had the opportunity to work with some of the finest talent in the industry and an agency like TBWA. During my stint out here I have been greatly inspired by the presence of greats like Lee Clow.”

Dutt has been instrumental in certain brand campaigns such as Yamaha RX100, IFB Bosch, 150 years of The Times of India, the launch of HBO and Cartoon Network in India and Electrolux to name a few. He also has multiple creative onuses such as CAG, A&M, ABBYs, New York Adfest and Asia Pacific Adfest among others, to his name. Some of his work has been published in the Archives, The Work Book and Graphis Annuals to name a few.