NEW DELHI: L&K Saatchi & Saatchi India has strengthened its core planning team across its offices in India. To begin with, the agency has roped in Anuraag Shrivastav as vice president – planning, North. He will be based out of New Delhi and report to Snehasis Bose, Executive director, L&K Saatchi & Saatchi India. 

As VP, his mandate would be to contribute significantly to brand strategy, build strong relationships with clients, and also to manage and lead the internal strategy team while also playing an active role in the deployment of strategic plans. 

Apart from Shrivastav, the agency has also appointed Shalaka Pradhan as brand strategy director. She will be based out of Bangalore and will also report to Snehasis Bose.   

Anuraag joins L&K Saatchi & Saatchi from FCB Ulka where he was senior brand planning director. He has also been with Enormous Brands and J Walter Thompson in the past and has worked on brands like Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Horlicks, Domino’s, Vistara, National Geographic, OLX, Motorola, Dish TV, Quaker, Aquafina, Hero, among others.

Pradhan joins L&K Saatchi & Saatchi from Publicis India where she was brand director - strategy. Prior to Publicis, she has also had enriching stints at Creativeland Asia, FCB Ulka, Cogito Consulting and Grey India. Some of the brands that she has been actively involved in include Nivea, Zee Café, Zee Marathi, Lakmé, Havmor, etc.     

Snehasis Bose said: “Truth is I have been trying to work with Anuraag since 2015! His experience and freshness + understanding of culture and brands + can-do attitude = the strategic-superpowers our clients need and want!! Am really happy that our stars finally aligned!!!”

As for Pradhan joining in, he added, “Shalaka with her consistent curiosity, her asking of ‘what if?’ is a great fit with the spirit that drives the L&K Saatchi & Saatchi strategic approach. Combined with her solid experience, I believe she will bring the just-right fillip to the Planning team and our clients.”

Shrivastav said: “L&K Saatchi & Saatchi offers an interesting and wide range of brands that push you to adapt and think in different ways. It also supports a culture that encourages breaking norms and questioning the limits of possibility… where you are not constrained by the conventions of what has worked in the past.” 

On his plans for the agency, Srivastav added: “The energy of the place is amazing and there’s a constant push to break out and do new things. The culture is collaborative and I look forward to partnering the teams in creating good work.”

Adding her views, Pradhan said: “Having been a part of the Publicis Groupe in the past, I am excited to come back as a part of the L&K Saatchi & Saatchi team. Over here, there’s a pulsating drive to put out the best work every day. The vibe here is upbeat and I’m looking forward to creating good work and working with some great clients here.”

Both the appointments play a crucial role in L&K Saatchi & Saatchi stepping up its offerings to its clients and also beefing up its leadership teams in key markets like the North & East, which contribute significantly to the agency’s overall growth. Srivastav joins in the North alongside Atin Wahal, who recently was appointed as EVP & head of north and east markets for L&K Saatchi & Saatchi India.