Mindshare elevates R Gowthaman to international role; Ravi Rao to head India business

Gowthaman, in his new role as chief client officer, will move to Singapore, while Rao will handle the Indian operations as leader, South Asia. Prior to the elevation, Gowthaman was leader, Mindshare South Asia.

Mindshare has promoted R Gowthaman in an international role as chief client officer. With this, he will move to Singapore and will report to Ashutosh Srivastava, CEO, Mindshare Asia-Pacific. Prior to the promotion, Gowthaman was leader, Mindshare South Asia.

In an official communiqué, Srivastava, says that with the fusion of technology with media and the accompanying deluge of data, marketers are seeing more specialist talent and agencies involved in their business than ever before. They have to manage a far more complex ecosystem to get value from all their partners. "So they see huge value in strong agency client leaders � people with sound understanding of their brands and of media and technology, who can help them, facilitate more impactful and integrated marketing solutions working with various specialists. Gowthaman's appointment is a reflection of the importance Mindshare has placed on this breed of talent," he states.

In his new role, Gowthaman will lead a team of regional client leaders who provide strategic direction and coordination for Mindshare's work on key regional and global accounts across all Asia Pacific countries.

Meanwhile, Ravi Rao has been elevated as leader, South Asia, to handle the Indian operations. His appointment will be effective from January, 2012. In his previous role, Rao was leading the South Asian operation for Team Unilever since 2009.

Vikram Sakhuja, CEO, GroupM South Asia, says, "In the last two years, Rao has run the Team Unilever operation successfully on the back of securing the business in 2010 across South Asia. In his new role, Rao will bring in his wealth of experience in strategic planning, research, content, digital and forming strategic alliances to position Mindshare as their clients' lead business partner in South Asia."