Mumbai, India – Global data and measurement-driven media agency Essence has announced three new senior appointments in India, namely Bharati Joshi as vice president for product in India and will lead the agency’s product offering, Kunal Danda as vice president for client services in India and heading its Mumbai office, and Vinish Mathews as vice president for client services in India and Southeast Asia and will be leading the agency’s partnership with key client Google.
Joshi brings with her over 17 years of industry experience, joining from Initiative where she was previously the assistant vice president for strategy and insights. Previously, she held practice and client leadership positions at GroupM’s Wavemaker and Maxus.
Speaking on her appointment, Joshi said, “Essence is currently in a very interesting space with a client roster of established as well as new age brands. Leading their growth charter with our differentiated products, platforms and thinking, all rooted in data, technology, analytics and creativity, is what I am really looking forward to doing. I am excited to head the charge for our product offering in India, along with the most talented and energised bunch of people in the industry.”
Meanwhile, Danda comes with more than two decades of media and marketing experience in India and the Middle East, working at agencies such as OMD, Edelman and Digitas, and organisations such as DBS Bank, Energy Central and Arab Insurance Group. Most recently, he served as principal partner at Mindshare in Mumbai, heading digital media, integrated marketing and business development.
Regarding her new role, Danda said, “Essence’s industry-leading capabilities are rooted in data, analytics and technology. Here, we also have brilliant talent with a special culture of testing and learning, collaboration, as well as integrated media strategy and planning, with client centricity at the core of everything we do. I am incredibly excited to be part of the Essence family, and driving the next stage of growth for our Mumbai office.”
Lastly, with over 18 years of industry experience in China and India, Mathews joins from Mindshare, where he was most recently managing director, overseeing teams across Beijing and Shanghai.
Mathews said, “I am thrilled to return to India to work at Essence at such an exciting time, given the developments in the consumer landscape and acceleration in digital behaviour. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to lead Essence’s relationship with Google in India and Southeast Asia, and drive the agency’s integrated media offering for all of Google’s business and consumer products in these markets. I am looking forward to collaborating with some of the smartest people in the industry.”
All appointees will report directly to Sonali Malaviya, managing director for India at Essence, as part of Essence’s leadership team in the market.
“Bharati, Kunal and Vinish’s appointments are key in strengthening Essence’s India leadership team. I am delighted that we are able to attract exceptional talent who share and are excited about our vision to reimagine what is possible for India. I am looking forward to partnering with Bharati, Kunal and Vinish in their new roles, and driving continued growth for our people, capabilities, clients and business across India,” says Malaviya.
