Contract's Bakshi now JWT's Unilever lead

Global - JWT has appointed subsidiary Contract's CEO Jagdip Bakshi to take on the role as its global business director on Unilever to be based in London.

Starting in September, his responsibilities include client relationship management, and to ensure its advertising solutions excel across all product categories.

JWT has worked on the Unilever account for over 100 years while Bakshi has been with the agency over 28 years, mainly overseeing brands under the Unilever umbrella such as Brooke Bond, Lipton and Lux.

"This appointment is a significant example of the growing importance of Indian advertising talent on the global stage. Bakshi is respected as a stalwart, not just in JWT but among the Indian advertising fraternity. With this development, we are confident that he will bring his own brand of discipline, strategic thinking and creativity to the job," Michael Maedel, President, JWT said.

Contract's Ravi Deshpande, who has been promoted to chairman and chief creative officer, will partner Bakshi's replacement who has been found but yet to be announced by the agency.