Ulka, part of BBDO Group India, has appointed Sai Karthik as Senior Vice President and Head of Strategy, South. In his new role, Karthik will focus on driving creative effectiveness and business growth across the agency’s key regional accounts.
He will report to Saad Khan, Chief Strategy Officer, Ulka.
Karthik brings more than 15 years of experience spanning network and independent agencies, with expertise across brand strategy, creative effectiveness and new business development.
He joins Ulka from Talented, where he worked on award-winning campaigns including Urban Company’s Dignity of Labour, The Hindu’s Written by Journalists and Zee5’s Apni Bhasha, Apni Kahaniyan. Before Talented, Karthik served as Senior Strategy Planning Director at 82.5 Communications, working with brands such as Himalaya, Costa Coffee and Unibic. His earlier stints include McCann, Dentsu, M&C Saatchi and JWT.
Commenting on his appointment, Sai Karthik, SVP & Head of Strategy, South, Ulka, said the South is a key market for the agency and that its focus on strategic thinking and rebuilding presents an opportunity to push the boundaries of the work.
Jitender (Jeetu) Dabas, CEO, BBDO Group India, said Karthik’s appointment strengthens the agency’s strategy leadership in the South and will help Ulka make its global and national clients more culturally relevant across Southern markets.
He added that the region’s growing role as a hub for startups and new-economy businesses also creates opportunities for the agency to partner with a wider range of brands headquartered in Bengaluru and Chennai.
M Damodaran, President & Head of Office – Bengaluru, Ulka, welcomed Karthik, highlighting his experience across traditional and new-age agencies and his contemporary approach to strategy.
Karthik is also the founder of The Hidden Slide, an online community for strategists, researchers, thinkers and curious minds focused on ideas, culture, brands and the craft of strategy.
The appointment comes as Ulka continues to strengthen its strategy capabilities and expand its presence across the Southern market.
