Rahul Jauhari is Rediffusion Y&R Group chief creative officer

KOLKATA: Rediffusion Y&R, the Arun Nanda- and WPP-owned creative agency, is going through a major restructuring in the group’s top deck. For the first time since its inception in 1973, it has created the role of a chief creative officer (CCO) for the group. Rahul Jauhari, national creative director at Rediffusion Y&R group agency Everest Brand Solutions, has been named to the new position.

He would oversee creative work across the group, which includes the two creative agencies — Rediffusion Y&R and Everest Brand Solutions — as well as Rediffusion Digital, direct marketing agency Wunderman, Sudler & Hennessey and public relation division Rediffusion Communications. Previously, each division had a separate creative head.

As a part of this restructuring, Komal Bedi Sohal, the current chief creative officer at Rediffusion Y&R, is relocating to Y&R Singapore where she would hold the same role.

“Rediffusion Y&R and Everest are two distinct brands with individual personalities. We want singularity of thought to continue the distinctive identities. That’s why we have created this new road for one CCO (chief creative officer),” said Dhunji Wadia, president of Rediffusion Y&R India.

While there are indications that Jauhari would further create a new structure, he said: “The first task would be to re-energise and if needed, re-organise our people. Next come our clients. Clients seek accountability and ownership from their agencies. Geography is irrelevant. If we do the first task right, our clients will be able to draw greater benefit from the true power of our group.” Jauhari started his career in advertising with McCann Erickson in 1996, following which he joined Rediffusion Y&R in 2000. After a stint of eight years, he quit and joined Pickle Lintas in 2008. In 2011, he joined Everest Brand Solutions. Jauhari was a member of the Radio Jury at the Cannes Lions.