Devika Bulchandani has been appointed Global CEO of Ogilvy, a multinational advertising, marketing, and public relations giant. She is replacing Andy Main who has stepped down as the Senior Advisor and is eager for Bulchandani’s work.
“Devika is truly one of the giants in the industry. It has been an honor being a part of this company’s rich history and I know Devika will continue accelerating the momentum our team has built,” former CEO Main stated.
Bulchandani is well-equipped for the role, having 26 years of experience in multiple leadership roles such as the President of McCann North America, Mastercard’s ‘Priceless’ and ‘True Name’ campaign. This campaign aimed to empower transgender and non-binary people to have their chosen name on their Mastercard. Her work in the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity ‘Fearless Girl’ was one of the most awarded campaigns in the festival’s history.
Bulchandani stated that the communications agency, founded by David Ogilvy, not only changed the industry 74 years ago but will continue to do so.
“As we write the next chapter in the history books of Ogilvy, we will do it together with our clients, using creativity to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
“I am honored and humbled to take on this role, and to do it with all our incredibly talented people all over the world,” Bulchandani said.
As Bulchandani moves into her new role, she is joining a growing web of Indian-origin CEOs of multinational companies. Take Parag Agrawal (Twitter CEO), Arvind Krishna (IBM CEO), Raj Subramaniam (FedEx CEO), Leena Nair (Chanel CEO), just to name a few. Diversity in leading positions is essential in reflecting that people from minority groups, such as the Indian diaspora, are being heard and being given the same agency as their Anglo counterparts.
Mark Read, CEO of WPP, stated that Ogilvy has seen a development in its creativity and business performance, from the investment work and building an industry-wide portfolio of talent, which factors in diversity.
“Devika is a champion of creativity who brings passion, purpose, and an uncompromising focus on generating impact to everything she does. In partnership with Andy and Liz Taylor, she has been instrumental in Ogilvy’s recent growth and development.
“Her love for our industry, deep understanding of clients’ needs, and track record of delivering growth for agencies and brands, make her the perfect choice to lead Ogilvy to even greater success,” Read stated.