Mindshare India gets Malaysia MD to head PepsiCo biz

Mindshare India has named Chanchal Chakrabarti as the client leader for the PepsiCo business, which is the agency's largest engagement in the country. Chakrabarti (pictured) moves in from Malaysia where he last held the post of managing director.

Based in Delhi, Chakrabarti will report to Gowthaman Ragothaman, leader, South Asia, Mindshare. He will also be responsible for running the GroupM operation in Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh. "Chanchal's rich and varied experience across many categories and markets will be a shot in the arm for Mindshare in South Asia as well as to Team Pepsico," said Ragothaman.

Chakrabarti, a class of '93 MBA from Faculty of Management Studies of BHU, started his career in media with DY&R as a media planner He has also worked with Grey and JWT on key FMCG business accounts like GSK and Nestle. He was also responsible for JWT's social media division in India and Bangladesh.

He also had a three-year stint with Promoseven network, Jordan, in charge of the LEVANT market prior to joining MindShare Malaysia as general manager on Unilever Malaysia business. "He successfully led the Unilever Malaysia consolidation pitch and set up a highly motivated team, whose performance on the business was hailed as the best amongst all MindShare offices handling the Unilever business,' added Ragothaman.

A Media magazine Asia-Pacific 'Media Person of the Year', Chanchal, has led MindShare Malaysia to three consecutive wins in the Malaysian Media Awards winning Agency of the Year for 2006, 2007, 2008, and also the Grand Prix.