London-based creative agency BBH plans India operations by 2008-end

MUMBAI: London-based creative agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH), which has been planning its India foray for more than two years now, has finally got its plans in place. The Publicis Groupe-backed agency is learnt to have roped in Bates 141 Group CEO Subhash Kamath as managing partner. It has offered Mr Kamath close to 10% equity in the Indian operation.

As reported by ET earlier, former Grey Worldwide NCD Preeti Nair will also be designated managing partner, and is also being offered a 10% stake. As ET reported earlier, BBH had got Ms Nair on board to head its creative department.

BBH will start its Indian operations in the last quarter of this calendar year. When contacted, BBH spokesperson told ET: ���We don���t have any comment on potential candidates at this time. We hope to open our Indian operation in the last quarter of this year.���

Mr Kamath, when contacted, also refused to comment on the BBH deal. BBH is looking at three key positions to drive its Indian operations. The structure will essentially comprise a CEO, a national creative director and a strategic planning officer, and this trio would report directly to the BBH Worldwide CEO���s office.



The agency is looking at opening only one office in India, which will be located in Mumbai. BBH has a total of six offices worldwide. The motivation for the agency to start operations in India is due to the various BBH clients which are either already present in the country or in different stages of commencing operations here.

The Indian advertising industry is estimated to be worth Rs 20,000 crore and many larger agencies face the threat of losing business due to the entry of creative shops like BBH. For instance, in the recent past, the industry saw two new high-profile entrants in BBDO India and Wieden+Kennedy (W+K).