Sameer Aasht joins Percept/H as VP, strategy planning

Close on the heels of Ryan Menezes joining Percept/H as chief creative officer, the agency has made yet another significant appointment with Sameer Aasht joining as vice-president, strategic planning.

Aasht joins Percept from Rediffusion Y&R, where he was strategic design consultant. He is also the founder of Alma Mater Biz Solutions PLC, an interior consultancy firm and has been empanelled as design consultant for National Institute of Design's Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises initiatives.

Talking to afaqs!, Aasht says, "My initial understanding of Percept is that it is one of the few agencies which is future ready and truly understands the potential of young India. Unlike most agencies struggling to crack a conventional campaign in traditional media, Percept is ready to enable paradigm shifts through strategic action and brand innovations."

Aasht has worked across agencies during his career spanning a decade. He began his advertising career with TBWAIndia as account executive (planning). He has also worked with other agencies such as Publicis Ambience and Contract Advertising.

Aasht has also had a two-year stint with Jet Airways, managing international marketing.

"The last 10 years of driving synergies between brand and business performances for some of the best organisations in India and abroad has me believe that an idea is strategic only when it is executed profitably," he says.

On his appointment, Prabhakar Mundkur, chief executive officer, Percept/H, says, "Sameer (Aasht) brings a very varied and multi-faceted experience. Besides agencies, he has also been on the client side - which helps. His experience in design is also useful because I see sensibilities of good strategy in the design discipline."

Aasht will be working on the significant brands handled by the agency across its offices in the country. He has worked on various brands through his career, including Jet Airways, HSBC, Nivea, Cadbury, Asian Paints, Unilever's Elle18, Nerolac, Samsonite, Black & Decker, and The Times of India.