After months of speculation, JWT India has finally announced the exit of Rohit Ohri, Senior VP & Managing Partner of JWT Delhi. Ohri was with the agency for 21 years now, and his resignation is effective July 31, 2011.
Ohri is headed to Dentsu as Executive Chairman for the company’s India operations that includes agencies such as Dentsu Communication, Dentsu Marcom, Dentsu Creative Impact and Dentsu MediaTech, in addition to its media service brand and a digital agency, Clickstreamers.
Meanwhile, in a prepared statement, Colvyn Harris, CEO, JWT India, said, “Rohit has had a long and successful innings with us, and he has decided to leave for personal reasons to pursue other opportunities.”
Harris and the senior account leadership team within the client and brand business units in JWT Delhi will ensure a smooth transition in the next few months while they appoint a successor. The creative team structure of five Executive Creative Directors and Executive Planning Directors structure remains unchanged.
Since his joining in April 1990, in JWT Kolkata, Ohri has played an integral role in JWT Delhi to become one of the largest JWT offices in the network today. During his career with JWT, Ohri has stewarded many client relationships on some of the largest brands in India.
Ohri quoted in a press statement: “It has been a good 21-year journey with JWT, working with some of the best and brightest people in the industry and being part of the agency’s rise. It is time now for me to explore other opportunities. I have enjoyed my many years at JWT; the agency will always be special.”
Dentsu commenced its India operations in October 2003 in a joint venture with the Mogae Group. In 2011, the parent company acquired the India businesses and the new Dentsu India Group became a 100 per cent subsidiary of Dentsu Inc, Tokyo. Soon after, Dentsu faced its own share of senior management changes when the agency’s old hands, including the likes of Rajesh Aggarwal, Gullu Sen, Ruchira Raina, Nitin Suri, and Shivanand Mohanty quit the company in a span of a few months.
Ohri’s move is in line with the new appointments at Dentsu to bolster its product in India.
With the Ford business too moving to Delhi, JWT Delhi would be one of the largest agency offices in India. The agency is making changes in skills and capabilities to gear up for its next phase.