Wieden+Kennedy (W+K) opens for business in India

Chennai: US-based ad-agency Wieden+Kennedy (W+K) is now open for business in India, having merged the operations of New Delhi-based creative agency ''A''.

Wieden+Kennedy, founded in Portland, Oregon, is one of the largest independently owned advertising agencies in the world.

According to a media communiqué, A''s founders V Sunil and Mohit Jayal will be part of W+K as profit-sharing partners. A''s clients and staff would follow suit in the transition, and the merged entity will be called W+K Delhi. For starters, it will commence servicing the recently bagged Nokia account, along with A''s other clients including Royal Enfield Motorcycles, HCL Technologies, A1 Grand Prix Team India and IndiGo airline. The merged entity ''A'' brand will dissolve as a consequence of the merger.

Globally, W+K has to its credit brands such as Nike, ESPN, Starbucks, Honda, P&G and Coca-Cola.

Sunil has held key positions with a number of advertising agencies in India, including Contract and McCann Erickson. Before founding ''A'', he was creative director at O&M Delhi, during which he created and launched major marketing initiatives including the ''Incredible India'' campaign for the ministry of tourism, and the hugely successful Hutch campaign. He has over 25 international awards at Cannes, One Show, Communication Arts, the New York and London festivals, Campaign Brief and Asia Ad Fest to his credit.

Jayal has manned key positions at agencies both in India and abroad, including Leo Burnett London and Euro RSCG India. Subsequently, he established his own brand development agency as part of a joint venture with the Madison Group. Over the course of his career, Jayal has created positioning strategies and sub-brands for corporations globally.

The addition of the New Delhi office expands the W+K network to eight office, including Portland, New York, London, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing.