<b><font color="#000000">Obituary:</font></b> Nandu Narasimhan passes away

Narasimhan, national creative director, Solutions Digitas succumbed to a heart attack early this morning.

Nandu Narasimhan, national creative director, Solutions Digitas passed away early morning on November 12. He succumbed to a heart attack and is survived by his wife and a daughter. Narasimhan was 46.

With over two decades of experience in advertising, Narasimhan worked with various agencies, handling many significant brands. He joined Solutions Digitas in January this year, a new area of work for him. Narasimhan had then said that he was keenly looking forward to explore the digital and integrated marketing arena, as he took charge at the digital marketing agency.

Narasimhan began his career with Tara Sinha Associates in 1989 as a copywriter. Thereafter, he moved to Everest Integrated Communications, Delhi, where he worked on brands such as Viva, Maltova and LML Vespa.

A four-year stint at Lowe (then Lintas) followed in 1993, where he handled brands such as Maruti, Xerox Casablanca and Steel Authority of India. His next move was to TBWA India, where he stayed for two years, before moving back to Lowe for two more years.

Narasimhan also worked with Contract Advertising and Grey Advertising as creative director and regional creative director, respectively. In June 2006, he moved to Saatchi & Saatchi for his first stint at the agency. Narasimhan then moved to Vyas Gianetti Creative for a short stint, before returning to Saatchi & Saatchi as executive creative director in 2008.

Narasimhan is very fondly remembered by colleagues and peers, as an ace at his work as well as a nice human being. afaqs! spoke to a few, who called his demise a terrible loss to the industry.

KV Sridhar (Pops), who worked with Narasimhan for three years in Lowe Lintas Delhi on the LG and Parker accounts, says, "He was a very, very good human being first. A fun-loving guy, committed and hardworking at the same time. That is why he is so universally liked. LG was a very demanding business to be on and Nandu would spend days in office and never shy away from responsibilities. He was also a great leader who cheerfully led by example."

Pops remembers that while working on Parker, Narasimhan came to his place and they stumbled upon a strong insight over a few drinks.

"Balki and I were very busy through the day, and he (Narasimhan) came home to discuss the Parker campaign. At one end, we are drinking and having fun; and there we stumbled upon one of the greatest insights -- that when you give someone a pen and paper, one keeps scribbling. That was the beginning of the Parker idea of 'Makes you want to write more'," he says.

Kamal Basu, chief executive officer, Saatchi & Saatchi calls Narasimhan an "idea-a-minute guy", as he says that the untimely demise will unsettle a lot of people.

"I got to know Nandu better during his second stint with us. He was overtly passionate about the work at hand, an idea-a-minute guy; his mind was always ticking. His leaving was a loss to Saatchi. However, with Solutions Digitas being a partner company, the proximity did not disappear. I wish strength to his wife and daughter to cope with the loss," says Basu.

According to Kanika Mathur, president and co-founder, Solutions Digitas, it is difficult to know people like Narasimhan in the industry, who are both good at their work and as people.

"Personally speaking, Nandu was an angel as a person; and when it came to creative and strategic thinking, he was phenomenal. It is very sad and a deep loss for us," Mathur says.

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