Kavita Kailas, vice-president, planning, Saatchi & Saatchi, has put in her papers at the organisation with a known intent to start her own outfit.
Industry sources have confirmed the news to afaqs! on the condition of anonymity.
Saatchi & Saatchi Mumbai had appointed Kailas as vice-president, planning in June, 2011. Around the same time, Bhairavi Naik was appointed as associate vice-president, servicing. Both Kailas and Naik had moved in from Rediffusion.
At Saatchi & Saatchi, Kailas reported to Saurabh Mishra, chief strategy officer.
Kailas has more than 12 years of experience in advertising, having worked on brands belonging to diverse categories ranging from FMCG to financial services. She started her career at Advertising Avenues in 1999, and has since worked at Lowe Lintas, Leo Burnett, JWT, BBH and Rediffusion. She has handled brands such as Axe, Lifebuoy, Clinic All Clear, Tide and Whisper. Kailas has also dabbled with an entrepreneurial venture, wherein she consulted with clients (such as Vogue), which primarily target women.
Recently, Saatchi & Saatchi appointed Ashutosh Karkhanis as executive creative director at its Mumbai office. In his new mandate, Karkhanis heads the creative team in Mumbai. He moved in from Ray+Keshavan | The Brand Union, where he was creative director.