Leo Group announces two-agency structure

Leo Burnett India and Leo Burnett Orchard will now clash at pitch level.

The Leo Group has announced a two-agency structure in India, in the form of Leo Burnett India and Leo Burnett Orchard (previously Orchard Advertising). Both agencies will serve as drivers for The Leo Group's growth, one of the fastest growing communication powerhouses in the country.

Commenting on the development, Saurabh Varma, chief executive officer, Publicis Communications, India, says, "Both the agencies will have the same DNA and will work to further the core philosophy of HumanKind that is so distinct to The Leo Group. In the last three years, the Group has invested in assets like Indigo Consulting, Indigo iStrat, Leo Burnett Experience, and Greenhouse. These core offerings will be deployed by both agencies to create integrated solutions for their clients. Leo Burnett Orchard will also access MSL Group, Publicis.Media and Sapient in India to offer transformative solutions to its clients."

Mahuya Chaturvedi has joined as Leo Burnett Orchard's chief operating officer. She is an advertising and marketing professional with 20 years of experience. Chaturvedi will be based in Mumbai and will report to Saurabh Varma.

On her new role, Mahuya comments, "I am extremely excited to be a part of Leo Burnett Orchard, especially to lead over a 100 people across Mumbai and Bangalore. I couldn't have come in at a more opportune moment, when the agency is seeing such dynamic momentum and is handling some of the most marquee brands in the country. My vision isn't to just make Leo Burnett Orchard the fastest growing agency, but to also create some incredible integrated work using the 'Power of One' and harnessing the Group's cutting-edge specialist functions."

Rohitash Srivastava has been appointed as national head of strategy at Leo Burnett Orchard. He comes in from Sapient.Nitro, where he was the strategy planning lead - North India. Srivastava will be based in Bangalore.

Amod Dani has joined the agency as the executive creative director, Mumbai. Dani has worked across agencies such as Sapient.Nitro and Publicis, and has spent over five years in Leo Burnett, during the course of his career.

Sharmine Panthaky will continue to be the branch head at Leo Burnett Orchard, Mumbai. Partnering her will be Amritraj Thakur, who has joined as the vice president - brand strategy, Mumbai. Dani will work closely with Panthaky and Thakur to further the creative product from the west region.

Ganga Ganapathi, branch head, Leo Burnett Orchard, Bangalore will continue to work closely with Neel Roy and Vinod Eshwer, executive creative directors, Bangalore.

Additionally, Rina Francis, finance director, and Reena Nair, the people and culture manager and head of HR at Leo Burnett Orchard, will oversee their respective functions across the Mumbai and Bangalore offices. With this, the key leadership structure at Leo Burnett Orchard is now in place.

The core management team of Saurabh Varma, Rajdeepak Das, chief creative officer, Leo Burnett, South Asia, and Dheeraj Sinha, chief strategy officer, Leo Burnett, South Asia, will oversee both the agencies in their respective capacities.

For Leo Burnett Orchard, the transformation comes at a time when the agency is working for some of India's biggest brands such as Amazon, Colors, Wipro, Emami, Essilor, Amante, ITC Foods, Jyothy Laboratories, Macho, Ruchi Soya, and Indiacast, among others.