‘Consumers’ love and respect must prevail over numbers’

livemint.com:

You are the Bhishma Pitamaah of Indian advertising. So, how do you see this change of guard panning out at Ogilvy? That’s a very big thing to say. All I can tell you is that I believed in advertising when I joined in the 80s.

My motive was to do justice to my clients’ communication needs. I was not trying to prove a point, or changing the industry. That work gelled with the people of India, gelled with clients, and opened up the doors for those who believed in the Indian culture, society, languages and in touching hearts.

That invited a many to the business and, certainly, the face of Indian advertising took shape. In hindsight, it was not Piyush Pandey, who changed the face of it. My work started getting noticed by the international community also, leading to the Lion of St.

Mark lifetime achievement award. About the new role, I can tell you I am going to be involved. The new leadership that I have named along with Devika (Bulchandani, global chief executive), are all those who have been a part of Ogilvy and have been with me for many, many years.

You can look at it like this: There’s a new captain, equivalent to say, Virat Kohli, and I am an experienced hand, still playing the game, like M.S. Dhoni. I am a part of the team but stepped back so that a new captain could take us to newer heights.

The fact is I will continue to be a playing member. My experience can be tapped into the work, relationships as well as the general soul of the company. Of course, one has to understand that one shouldn’t treat such roles as positions of authority.

My father never had to remind me that he was my father, but he was around. This is the way it is going to be. New leaders have to be treated and respected like leaders.