BBH India, part of Publicis Groupe India, has bolstered its Planning function with two new senior level appointments. These include the coming aboard of Ankit Sharma and Layla Khan as Senior Vice Presidents- Strategy.
As part of their new role at the agency, the two SVPs have been mandated to lead and drive the planning and strategy function.
In addition, Sharma and Khan will also spearhead the strategic direction on key client relationships and drive the ‘Zag’ quotient in the agency’s strategic endeavours across brands.
While Khan will be based out of Mumbai in her new role, Sharma will be a part of the agency’s Gurugram office and the two will report directly to Himanshu Saxena, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director, BBH India.
Before joining BBH India as SVP- Strategy, Khan was associated with Contract Advertising India for more than one-and-a-half years as VP- Strategic Planning, i.e.- from August 2022 to April 2024.
Prior to that, she served the role of VP and Group Strategy Officer at MullenLowe Lintas Group for a year, starting June 2021; Brand Planning Director at Wunderman Thompson South Asia for more than five years, starting October 2015; and Brand and Digital Strategist at VRAI from May 2014 to June 2015.
In the past, she was also associated with Manipal Academy of Higher Education and Thinkpot Films.
Expressing her excitement on the new role, Khan, SVP- Strategy, BBH India, said, “In an era where AI is increasingly shaping our world, BBH’s founder John Hegarty once said ‘Technology is not an idea. It’s the means to express an idea.’ and this resonates strongly with me. I see rapidly evolving technologies holding immense potential to aid evocative storytelling that inspire, drive engagement, and develop innovative ways for brands to be relevant to its customers. I’m thrilled to join BBH and excited to contribute to its legacy of ground-breaking work.”
Prior to joining BBH India as SVP- Strategy, Sharma was associated with McCann Worldgroup as VP- Strategic Planning for the past two-and-a-half years, starting September 2021.
Before that, he served as AVP- Strategic Planning at FCB Ulka from April 2019 to August 2021; Planning Director at McCann Worldgroup from February 2015 to March 2019; Account Planning Manager at JWT from October 2013 to January 2015.
In the past, he also worked with Analytics Quotient, DY Works, Samaya TV and TCS.
On joining his new role, Sharma, SVP- Strategy, BBH India, also said, “I am excited to join an agency that embraces a culture of defying the norms. In the fast-changing world of advertising, BBH’s ‘Zag’ philosophy offers a refreshing approach to brand building and I am excited to be a part of this transformative journey.”
Speaking about the two key appointments, Saxena, Chief Operating Officer and MD, BBH India, mentioned, “We are thrilled to welcome Ankit Sharma and Layla Khan to our leadership team. Both these leaders come with a stellar track record of delivering highly impactful and effective campaigns on a variety of global and local market leading brands. Their wealth of experience and passion for creating exceptional work across advertising, digital, design, experience, and analytics for our clients will reinforce our position as a leading force in India.”
