Sonal Dabral quits Ogilvy to explore content space

Mumbai: Sonal Dabral, one of Indian advertising’s most famous names, has quit Ogilvy. Dabral has spent most of his years in advertising at the WPP-owned agency, most recently as chief creative officer for South East and South Asia. An NID-graduate who began his career in advertising with Lintas in 1985, Dabral also had a brief stint as a TV actor when he featured in the popular series ‘Fauji’ that starred Shah Rukh Khan.

Speaking exclusively to ET, Dabral said, “I’m exploring a variety of projects and options in the film and digital space.” Piyush Pandey, chief creative officer worldwide & executive chairman India, Ogilvy, said, “I am certain he will make the content world shine.”

Dabral's most recent stint at Ogilvy began in 2017 when he took over as chief creative officer for South East and South Asia and vice chairman India. Earlier last year, Dabral was also one of two regional-level leaders put in charge of the agency’s creative efforts throughout Asia Pacific (the other is Reed Collins who is chief creative officer, North Asia). Interestingly, Dabral is the only Indian president of a jury at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity this year. He is heading the ‘Direct Lions’ jury.


After graduating from National Institute of Design in 1985, Dabral joined Lintas. In 1991, he joined Ogilvy and went on to lead creative functions at its offices in Singapore and Malaysia. He returned to India in 2008 to head bates141, and did a stint at DDB Mudra Group till 2012.