Swati Bhattacharya, a heart-core feminist, soldier of creativity, a popular name in India’s ad galore and more, is making headlines once again by switching tables and making the move to the brand side.
Starting September 1, this year, she who had said her goodbye to network agency life by calling it quits at FCB Group India in February 2024 only to have ‘romance’ with the love of her life- ‘advertising’ is now joining Godrej Consumer Product (GCPL)’s in-house advertising agency- LightBox Creative Lab as Global Head.
As part of her new role, she will be handling markets like Argentina, Africa, Chile, Indonesia and more in addition to India for all of GCPL brands as well as be inducted into the FMCG major’s Global Management Committee.
For the first time, Bhattacharya will also be moving cities as she’ll be based out of Mumbai and will directly report to sudhir Sitapati, Managing Director and CEO, GCPL.
Confirming the development to Marketing Mind, Bhattacharya said, “I am passionate about storytelling and story doing and was aching for more freedom to create.. to build.. to learn and unlearn.. to incubate to experiment. At Godrej Lightbox Creative Lab, this mindset is intentionally and proactively cultivated. And in Nisa and Sudhir I have found two of the greatest collaborators any creative could ask for.”
Furthermore she also emphasised, “This is the most important ‘yes’ I have said in a long long time!”
Known for birthing ad campaigns like ‘Epang Opang Jhopang’ and ‘Bottle Of Love’ for Horlicks, ‘Sindoor Khela’ and ‘Out and Proud’ for Times Of India, ‘Project Streedhan’ for DSM India, ‘Untangling The Politics Of Hair’ for STIR Magazine, ‘Chatpat’ for SOS Children’s Villages of India, ‘#DilDostiDominos’ for Domino’s Pizza India and many more, Bhattacharya has won more than 160 awards in the past eight years, including One Show Pencils, Glass Lion, Gold Lions, Silver Lions, Bronze Lions, Clio golds, D&AD Yellow Pencils/ Graphite Pencil/ Wood Pencils and 4 Spikes Grand Prix.
She had started her career with J Walter Thompson and spent 22 years in the creative agency, followed by a short stint at Dentsu Mamalabs.
That being said, what it took for her to join FCB India eight years back was a meeting with Susan Credle, the then Global Chief Creative Officer of FCB Global, who gave her the opportunity and confidence to step up and become India’s first Woman CCO in 2016, replacing, Satbir Singh.
