Saatchi & Saatchi adopts new leadership structure; Priti Kapur roped in as ECD, Delhi

With this announcement, Saatchi Delhi will have an executive creative director for its Delhi branch for the first time. This will make the creative structure of the agency a two-ECD one, with Ashutosh Karkhanis in Mumbai and Kapur in Delhi.

After Ramanuj Shastry's (CCO) decision to exit from the agency, Saatchi & Saatchi has appointed Priti Kapur as executive creative director for its Delhi office. This is the first time that the agency's Delhi office will have an ECD.

Kapur joins from JWT Delhi, where she was ECD and has spent more than three years there. Earlier, she has worked for Leo Burnett and DDB in Singapore. In fact, when she joined JWT in 2009, the agency had brought her on-board as ECD on the Airtel business.

Excited about her new role, Kapur looks forward to embracing the Saatchi culture. "I am also keen on doing the kind of media-neutral ideas that are redefining advertising today," she adds.

With Shastry's exit from the agency, there will be a gap in the top creative post. The agency has no immediate plans to fill the position and is in fact keen to experiment with the two-ECD structure. Towards this end, Kapur (in Delhi) and Ashutosh Karkhanis, executive creative director, Saatchi Mumbai will look after the creative function of the agency.

Speaking about the new structure, Matt Seddon, CEO, Saatchi & Saatchi India, says, "Whilst periods of change are never easy, they can also provide massive opportunity. Priti and Ashutosh are close friends and have worked effectively together earlier. So I am confident that together, they can make a real impact."

Seddon says he looks forward to working with Kapur and Karkhanis, albeit saddened at the prospect of Shastry's decision to move on. It is learnt that Shastry will leave Saatchi India in February, 2013 with intent to set up his own outfit.

"I would like to publicly acknowledge Ramanuj for all that he has done for us over the years, the great work he has led, his indomitable spirit, wise counsel but perhaps most importantly, of all the fun and friendship he has brought to Saatchi," adds Seddon.