Mindshare makes key changes in the leadership team

While M Parthasarathy will now head the client leadership team, Alok Sinha will oversee strategy enabling and Sandeep Pandey will spearhead consulting and intelligence.

With Ravi Rao taking charge as leader, South Asia, Mindshare, the GroupM-promoted media agency has made key changes in the leadership team to propel further growth. While M Parthasarathy (also known as Maps) will now head the client leadership team, Alok Sinha will oversee strategy, based on the thought process 'no-line' across India. And, Sandeep Pandey will spearhead consulting and intelligence, which involves analytics and modelling for better ROMI (return on marketing investment).

Prior to the promotion, Parthasarathy was leader, business planning and Sinha was partner, invention, South Asia.

In an official communiqué, Ravi Rao, leader, South Asia, Mindshare, says, "With this infusion of senior talent and expertise, I look forward to beginning the year with the Mindshare mantra, 'Original thinking that brings in thought leadership, innovation that aids in brand growth'. Fuelled by great ideas, intelligence and analytics, the focus will be on growing our existing clients, backed by a strong strategy and thrust on digital."

"The changes we announce today will ensure continuity in each role, while enabling us to broaden our team's experience and capabilities, something that will be important as we continue to drive new businesses and grow our market share," adds Rao.

Meanwhile, Anita Karnik will continue to handle branded entertainment and activation, along with Jai Lala and Ashok Lalla, who will also continue in their current roles of managing exchange and digital, respectively.

Furthermore, Mindshare has appointed Rahul Thappa as client leadership, South Asia. In his new role, Thappa will manage North and the rest of Mindshare South Asia, including business operations in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Prior to this, he was COO of Mail Today.

Thappa joined The Indian Express newspaper in Mumbai in 1998 as account planner. In 1999, he was promoted as group head, account planning. The same year, he shifted to Ogilvy India as media consultant. After a gap of a year, he moved to Euro RSCG/MPG India as group media manager. In 2002, he shifted to Mudra Communications as group media manager. He then moved to Mindshare Malaysia as planning and buying director, team Unilever. Subsequently, in 2006, he was promoted as business director. In the same year, he shifted to GroupM Malaysia as business director, entertainment sports and partnerships.

Thappa returns to Mindshare after a gap of two years. He had last held the position of managing director, Mindshare Malaysia in 2008.