It’s official: Rohit Ohri to join FCB Ulka as Group Chairman and CEO

It’s now official. Former Dentsu India chief Rohit Ohri is joining FCB Ulka as Group Chairman and CEO.

This is effective January 2016. Ohri, who is currently in Singapore, told this correspondent that he will serving a cooling off period as per the Dentsu contract and is looking forward to the FCB Ulka stint.

Ohri said that he would be located essentially in Mumbai when he joins FCB Ulka. This will be the first time he will having Mumbai as his permanent base, having worked first in Kolkata and more recently in New Delhi NCR.

So did he decide on the FCB offer when he was accepting the new opportunity at Dentsu in June? Not at all, said Ohri. “I signed on the FCB papers only last week and moved to Singapore in June itself,” he said.

Meanwhile, Carter Murray, worldwide CEO of FCB, issued a confirmation on Ohri’s appointment. Ohri will succeed current CEO and Group Chairman Nagesh Alai who, after 25 years with FCB, is moving into the role of Global Vice-chairman at FCB, working on special initiatives for Murray.

“I want to thank Nagesh for dedicating his career to our FCB operations in India and for helping FCB Ulka become one of the strongest agencies in the country. I look forward to working with him on special global initiatives,” said Murray. 

On Ohri, Murray said the following in a communiqué: “When Nagesh and the Board introduced me to Rohit as someone they felt fitted the culture of the company, I was struck by his passion for what we do, his focus on great work and strong client relationships, and his natural gravitas. If you add his track record in the industry, Rohit is someone whom I think will lead FCB Ulka forward with vision and energy, and keep the flame strong.”

With FCB’s newly restructured global company, Ohri will serve as a member of the global operating committee and report directly to Murray in New York.

“FCB has gone back to its roots and is reigniting its brand essence under Carter’s leadership. The opportunity to partner with him, in what could be the most defining time in the history of FCB convinced me to quit my regional assignment and come back to India,” said Ohri in the statement.“FCB Ulka has a rich legacy of creating solid brand-building work. It’s a company that values partnerships, people and culture. The opportunity to build on this legacy and to take a great agency to greater heights is truly exciting. I’m delighted to be at the right place at the right time and with the right people.”

Ohri will be supported by FCB Ulka’s management board, which includes Shashi Sinha, Executive Director, Lodestar Media and CEO – IPG Mediabrands; Niteen Bhagwat, Executive Director, Interface Communications and Asterii Analytics; MG Parameswaran, Executive Director of FCB Ulka Mumbai and Bengaluru, FCBi, Cogito and Arvind Wable, Executive Director, FCB Ulka Delhi.

In Arrangement with MxMIndia.com