Mumbai: Global brand and customer experience agency VMLY&R has brought Rajshekar Patil on board as executive creative director. He will report to VMLY&R India chief creative officer  Mukund Olety. 

In this role, Patil will oversee the creative capabilities of the agency, assist in campaign conceptualisation, and support the agency’s creative vision. As part of the leadership team, he will also champion a culture of creativity, inclusiveness, and innovation, said the agency.

Patil brings in 18 years of work experience with him as an award-winning integrated advertising professional working at the intersection of creativity and tech. His last assignment was with Publicis Worldwide India as ECD. At Publicis Mumbai, he was heading Skoda Motors, Citi, Zee5, and Times Group. 

“I am delighted that Rajshekar is joining us. He is a passionate, razor-sharp, creative thinker with a portfolio that speaks to his desire for genuine impact through his work," said VMLY&R India chief creative officer Mukund Olety. " I welcome him wholeheartedly to the VMLY&R family and look forward to growing our creative reputation across the country.”

Patil is the co-founder of a kid-tech startup, built at a tech incubator in London, and Snap Counsellors, an award-winning teen helpline on Snapchat. He also helped launch Apple in India, contributing several pieces to the Grand Prix-winning Shot on the iPhone campaign.

A computer science graduate who landed accidentally in the creative department of Ogilvy and Mather and never left, Patil has been recognised with D&AD Impact, One Show, Cannes, Effies APAC, Spikes Tangrams, etc. His previous stints were at BBDO India, Media Arts Lab (Apple’s agency), BBH India, and Ogilvy & Mather.

“VMLY&R brings together a blend of creativity, technology, data and culture to create truly unique solutions for clients. Creativity here seeps into every facet of the agency and I look forward to working closely with Anil and Mukund to create some fantastic work,” said Patil on his new role.