Mumbai: Rohit Ohri has quit Dentsu Asia Pacific as its chief executive and is all set to join Interpublic Group’s creative agency FCB Ulka India as group chairman and CEO. Ohri will take up the new assignment in January 2016 even as Nagesh Alai, FCB Ulka’s current CEO and group chairman, will assume the role of global vice-chairman at FCB.
Confirming the development, Carter Murray, worldwide CEO of FCB said, “Rohit is someone whom I think will lead FCB Ulka forward with his vision and energy, and keep the flame strong.” He said he was in discussion with Ohri for this position for past six months.
As for Alai, who has been with the agency for 25 years, Murray said, “I look forward to working with him (Alai) on special global initiatives.”
Alai will continue to be based in Mumbai. Ohri, who put in his paper in Dentsu on July 25, said that his priority will be to build FCB Delhi as the group’s largest client relations are all in Mumbai at present.
Besides heading FCB Ulka in India, Ohri will also serve as a member of the global operating committee of the agency and report directly to Murray in New York. On Monday, Dentsu Aegis Network announced Ohri’s exit in an official statement.
“Rohit Ohri CEO Dentsu Asia Pacific (ex Japan) has resigned after four years at the company. He has made a great contribution and we thank him for that. New leadership of Dentsu brands in Asia Pacific will be announced in due course,” it said.
Ohri joined Dentsu India as executive chairman in 2011 after spending 21 years in JWT. He was elevated as chairman, Dentsu India and CEO, Dentsu Asia Pacific (South), last year. Last month, he was again promoted as CEO Dentsu Asia Pacific excluding Japan and relocated to Singapore.
FCB Ulka group — including FCB Ulka, Interface Communications, Lodestar, FCBi, Cogito Consulting, Asteril Analytics, Neon Brand PR and Aquila Experience— currently has annual revenues of around .`200 crore. Besides overseeing these firms, Ohri will also chair the FCB India board.
