Rana Barua joins Creativeland Asia as CEO

In a recent announcement, Creativeland Asia has appointed Rana Barua as chief executive officer. Barua will drive business for the group across its verticals of Creativeland advertising, Baaash Digital, Creativeland Pictures (films and content), Creativeland Hospitainments (experiential, events and entertainment). His mandate will also include setting up and driving new strategic tie ups across media, creative technology, design, PR, experiential, events and shopper marketing functions.

Barua will work closely with Sajan Raj Kurup, founder and creative chairman, Creativeland Asia.

Commenting on the new appointment, Kurup, says in a press release, “Very few CEOs in our market have the capabilities of transforming business and scaling up rapidly. There were three things that made me bring on Rana at Creativeland. His ability to be a lethal competitor in the market, his diverse industry experience and strong track record of scaling up.”

He adds, “My team and I spent the last decade building Creativeland Asia brick by brick on strong cultural values and business principles. We always kept the long-term in mind. Not a short-term valuation-seeking sell-out model. This organic and careful growth has laid a strong foundation that becomes a fertile platform for a strong business leader like Rana to build on it further exponentially.”

Adding further, Kurup says, “Rana’s significant experience across media and marketing will also help us drive strategic alliances and partnerships and further boost the Groups presence across Digital Media, Creative technology, Design and shopper marketing functions. He will take on the responsibilities of everyday business and operations. Which I am hoping will also give me more time at Creativeland to be a full time thinker, investor and creator of new.”

With an experience of over 22 years in the industry, Barua has worked with some of the most credible media outfits in the country. Prior to joining Creativeland Asia, Barua was the chief executive officer of WPP Group’s Contract Advertising where he led them to several new business wins because of his strong client relationships, effective marketing solutions, creative excellence and innovations.

As part of his long and illustrious career, Barua was also responsible for repositioning and innovating in the radio sector where he worked as COO RED FM (SUN Group) and earlier as head of marketing for Radio City. He started his career in advertising having led and worked on leading brands at JWT, Ogilvy, McCann & Rediffusion | Y&R. He is also an executive committee member and honorary secretary of the Advertising Agencies Association of India – AAAI.

On his new role, Barua says in a press release, “Over the last 10 years, Raj has built a fabulous organisation, team and culture. Which is evident in great client partnerships and work that is disruptive in the market. While Creativeland has always stood out for me as it has to most in the advertising industry, what got me revved up about this opportunity is Raj’s clear vision to build a creative ecosystem beyond the traditional marketing communication gamut.”

He adds, “The ambitions and expansion plans we discussed has made me believe that there can’t be a better place to realise them than Creativeland today. Both, in India and overseas. Partnering Raj and leading a super bright team at Creativeland Asia Group, launching new verticals, treading newer geographies and taking on the challenges of building the creative ecosystem of the future makes for my next level of excitement. Keeping our client partners and results first approach at the centre, Creativeland’s plan for the next decade will unfold gradually and thoughtfully. We are invested in creating a group that will have a formidable presence across all key strategic verticals.”