Webchutney appoints director - finance

Digital agency Webchutney has appointed Benny Augustine to head its finance team. The agency that was acquired by the Dentsu India Group earlier this year is scaling up and Augustine’s appointment is a step in that direction, informed an official statement.

Augustine who was previously working as VP, finance with Contract Advertising, has over 25 years of experience in commercial functions involving budgeting, profit and loss management, cash flow management, fee negotiations and management information systems (MIS).

On the appointment, Sidharth Rao, CEO and co-founder, Webchutney, said, “2013 has been a remarkable year for us, especially with the Dentsu partnership. We have been working with the team at Dentsu India to chart out an accelerated growth plan for the agency for the next few years. On the basis of my interactions with Benny prior to his appointment, I realised that we both shared a common vision for Webchutney. There is plenty of work that needs to be done and he is sure to play a pivotal role in achieving the high standards we have set for ourselves for the coming years.”

“I am really delighted that Benny has joined Webchutney.  His extensive experience will provide the right direction to the Webchutney finance team. He will closely work with me, Sidharth and other key management team members. I am looking forward to his partnership in this exciting new phase of growth at Webchutney,” said CP Arora, group CFO, Dentsu India Group.

A commerce graduate from the University of Kerala, Augustine joined Contract Advertising as manager (personnel and administration) and rose through the ranks to become accounts manager and thereafter VP - finance and commercial director in 2002. For over a decade, Augustine was responsible for the commercial operations of Contract’s Delhi office.

About his transition to Webchutney, he said, “Webchutney is a vibrant agency with a bunch of very young people. Apart from managing finance my task would be facilitate the synergies between Webchutney and Dentsu.”