Creativeland Asia ropes in Rana Barua as group CEO

Creativeland Asia has roped in Rana Barua as group CEO as it looks to evolve from a communications company into a group that will have presence across creative marketing verticals.

 

Barua will 'work closely' with Sajan Raj Kurup, founder and creative chairman, Creativeland Asia. He moves from Contract Advertising where he was CEO.

 

The new structure at Creativeland Asia will house verticals of Creativeland advertising, Baaash Digital, Creativeland Pictures (films and content), Creativeland Hospitainments (experiential, events and entertainment) with individual business leaders who will report into Barua.

 

The agency is also looking to set up and drive new strategic tie ups across media, creative technology, design, PR, experiential, events and shopper marketing functions.

 

Kurup said, “Very few CEOs in our market have the capabilities of transforming business and scaling up rapidly. There were three things that made me bring on Rana at Creativeland. His ability to be a lethal competitor in the market, his diverse industry experience and strong track record of scaling up. My team and I spent the last decade building Creativeland Asia brick by brick on strong cultural values and business principles. We always kept the long-term in mind. Not a short-term valuation-seeking sell-out model. This organic and careful growth has laid a strong foundation that becomes a fertile platform for a strong business leader like Rana to build on it further exponentially." 

 

He added, "Rana’s significant experience across media and marketing will also help us drive strategic alliances and partnerships and further boost the Groups presence across Digital Media, Creative technology, Design and shopper marketing functions.He will take on the responsibilities of everyday business and operations. Which I am hoping will also give me more time at Creativeland to be a full time thinker, investor and creator of new.”

 

Barua has also worked with Red FM, Radio City, JWT, Ogilvy, McCann and Rediffusion. 

 

He said, “Over the last 10 years, Raj has built a fabulous organisation, team and culture. Which is evident in great client partnerships and work that is disruptive in the market. While Creativeland has always stood out for me as it has to most in the advertising industry, what got me revved up about this opportunity is Raj’s clear vision to build a creative ecosystem beyond the traditional marketing communication gamut. The ambitions and expansion plans we discussed has made me believe that there can’t be a better place to realise them than Creativeland today. Both, in India and overseas. Partnering Raj and leading a super bright team at Creativeland Asia Group, launching new verticals, treading newer geographies and taking on the challenges of building the creative ecosystem of the future makes formy next level of excitement."

 

He added, "Keeping our client partners and results first approach at the centre, Creativeland’s plan for the next decade will unfold gradually and thoughtfully. We are invested in creating a group that will have a formidable presence across all key strategic verticals.”

 

Kurup added, “Cultural transitions are key when it comes to such crucial hires. We will be doing it the indomitable Creativeland way with a three-day ashram based leadership workshop which combines yoga, meditation and future search modules.”

 

Also read: