National: DDB Mudra Group welcomes Shashank Lanjekar as the National Strategy Head with over 25 years of experience in advertising, brand management, and strategic planning. He will operate from the Group’s Mumbai office.
Shashank collaborates closely with leadership teams to enhance products, add value, and drive long-term brand growth. He partners with Rahul Mathew, Group’s CCO, to advance agency’s strategic offerings and strengthen creative foundations. Shashank’s strategic skills fuel DDB’s growth with expanding client base.
Shashank, a seasoned strategist, has worked with top Indian brands in various industries, driving business growth through impactful campaigns. Prior to DDB Mudra Group, he was the Chief Strategy Officer at VML India, overseeing strategies for key clients like IDFC First Bank, Titan Skinn, Hindustan Unilever, and Reckitt Benckiser. He also served in the same capacity at Dentsu, leading planning for prominent brands including Facebook, WhatsApp, Nykaa, Uber, and Star Sports.
His previous assignments include strategy and account management roles at Soho Square (now 82.5 Communications) within the Ogilvy India group and McCann Erickson.
Rahul Mathew, Chief Creative Officer, DDB Mudra Group said, “We believe in strategy that has the power to move the work and the consumer. Not a strategy that merely sits pretty on PowerPoint slides. Shashank embodies the same belief. He will also help us strengthen many of the rigours needed to have a strong strategic backbone. Really excited to work with him again.”
Shashank added,“The hunger of this team to keep pushing for better work year on year is what stood out for me to begin with. Add to that the width of the clientele and the depth of talent across the group, and you have the textbook definition of ‘opportunity’.
What’s more, I have known Rahul since 2005 and am glad to see the hungry, front-foot player in him intact. I am itching to partner him at the other end of the crease.”
Shashank’s interest in poetry, humour, and percussion reflects his dynamic personality and creative spark, which he brings to his strategic thinking.
