Cannes: In a move that blends nostalgia with fresh ambition, advertising industry veteran PK Anil Kumar has rejoined McCann Worldgroup for his fourth stint, this time as Director – Creative Excellence. The announcement was made from the prestigious Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2025, where Kumar has previously celebrated numerous wins — having “tamed many Lions and brought them home,” as he put it.
This appointment marks a significant milestone in Kumar’s long-standing relationship with McCann, a place he credits as the foundation of his professional and creative journey. Having risen through the ranks — from a junior to a mid-level, and then senior creative — Kumar now returns in a new avatar, one focused on mentorship, creative leadership, and elevating the agency’s creative standards across the board.
“McCann is where I’ve studied, understood, learned, and graduated in advertising,” said Kumar in a heartfelt message. “It’s absolutely an honour to be chosen for a role that helps build the basic foundation of advertising — the Creative Excellence.”
Kumar will report to Prasoon Joshi, Chairman of McCann Asia Pacific and CEO & CCO of McCann Worldgroup India, under whose leadership Kumar has earlier created award-winning work. He expressed gratitude for Joshi’s continued trust and the opportunity to now give back to an organization that has shaped his creative ethos.
In his new role, Kumar will be responsible for nurturing creative talent, setting quality benchmarks, and steering the agency’s output towards stronger, more effective, and inspiring campaigns. He also emphasized the need to keep mediocrity at bay and reiterated the industry mantra: “We are only as good as our last campaign.”
“We are in the business of providing creative solutions to our clients. And here, creativity leads to productivity. So we’ve got to try to be the best in the game — because there’s no other option,” he stated.
Kumar’s return to McCann Worldgroup as Director – Creative Excellence signals the agency’s ongoing commitment to fostering a culture of creativity, learning, and excellence. With his rich experience and deep understanding of the craft, Kumar is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future creative trajectory of the agency.
With over 27 years of experience in the advertising industry, PK Anil Kumar has led creative work across a diverse range of media — including print, television, digital platforms, and out-of-home (OOH) advertising. Kumar began his journey in advertising at Chiranjan Advertising, where he took his first steps into the world of creative communications.
Throughout his career, he has been associated with several notable agencies such as BBDO, Bates, and Minority Brand Creation and Management, among others, contributing to brand-building efforts across sectors.
