Gaurang Menon has stepped down as Managing Partner & Creative Head – West at Hashtag Orange, concluding a nearly three-year stint with the agency during which he built and scaled its Mumbai business from the ground up.
Menon joined Hashtag Orange with the mandate of establishing the agency’s presence in Mumbai. Under his leadership, the Mumbai operation grew into a business generating more than ₹2 crore in revenue within 18 months, recording 40% year-on-year growth. The office also built a diverse client portfolio and won more than 18 industry awards during his tenure.
The role marked a shift in Menon’s career from being primarily a creative professional and ad-film director to taking on broader business responsibilities, including driving growth, managing client relationships and mentoring teams while overseeing the agency’s creative output.
“Building the Mumbai business from zero has been one of the most challenging and fulfilling chapters of my career,” said Menon. “It pushed me beyond pure creative leadership and taught me what it takes to build a sustainable business, from winning the first pitch to nurturing talent and delivering work that stands out.”
During his tenure, Menon led creative strategy and output for brands including Dr Reddy’s Nestle Health Sciences, LPU Campus, Zuno General Insurance, Varroc, The Man Company, Swiss Beauty and Krazy Kebab Co, among others. He also directed several advertising film projects for the agency.
Reflecting on his decision to move on, Menon said that he intends to take some time to assess his next career move.
“I’ve spent most of my career moving continuously from one brief to the next. I want to take a brief moment to reflect on the next step. Whatever comes next, my focus will remain on doing something that truly excites me,” he added.
Menon will now evaluate opportunities before deciding on his next professional move.
