Leo Burnett, one of the world's leading creative advertising networks, recently announced the departure of KV Sridhar, the chief creative officer for India and the subcontinent. Affectionately known as 'Pops' amongst co-workers and friends, Sridhar will leave the agency he has been with for 17 years (throughout over 3 decades in the ad game) on the 4th of May and plans to pursue other interests. It is thought that Sridhar may focus his energies on political pursuits, as he recently joined the left leaning Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Sridhar's departure comes as little surprise, after his close partner and friend Arvind Sharma, the agency's CEO announced his decision to leave the agency last October, after 30 years of service.
Sridhar will leave the agency he has been with for 17 years on the 4th of May, and plans to “Reinvent, rediscover and rededicate” himself
Sridhar started out as a billboard painter in Bollywood and worked his way up through the ranks to eventually become one of the industry's most beloved CCO's. During his career, Sridhar has gained international recognition from the New York Festival and Cannes Lions awards shows, as well as countless local awards in India. He has also represented the agency on numerous award juries, both at home and internationally and was inducted into the Campaign Asia Pacific Hall of Fame last year, on the occasion of the publication's 40 anniversary. Under his creative guidance, Leo Burnett India won agency of the year twice, and was also ranked by Creativity magazine to be one of the top 20 creative agencies in the world.
KV 'Pops' Sridhar
Saurabh Varma, chief creative officer for Leo Burnett India, and Sharma's replacement as agency head, says that "Pops has always been a young man at heart, and once again his nomadic spirit has led him to look at things afresh and follow his heart to pursue new adventures.” He thanks Sridhar for his “Tremendous contribution over the years, building Leo Burnett India into a creative powerhouse,” and says that both himself and the agency as a whole, will “Continue to build on the creative trajectory Pops has set." Sridhar himself says his time at Leo Burnett has been a “Purposeful journey,” and that he has relished the chance to play a key role in “Shaping the agency's creative prowess.”
“Pops has made a tremendous contribution over the years, building Leo Burnett India into the creative powerhouse it is today,” Saurabh Varma, Leo Burnett India CCO
Befitting his friendly nature, he is honoured to have had “The opportunity to work with and get to be friends with some of the brightest creative minds in the world.” He is also pleased that he has been able to work on “some of the most exciting campaigns with some of the most amazing clients,” but feels he need to take a break now, to “Reinvent, rediscover and rededicate” himself. On leaving, he wished both Varma and Leo Burnett the greatest of successes. Leo Burnett India has yet to name a replacement for 'Pops', but has said that they will do shortly.
Official Leo Burnett India Website
Benjamin Hiorns is a freelance writer and musician from the UK, who used to refer to his own father as 'Pops' as a young child. He can only assume Mr Sridhar was quite the fatherly figure amongst the employees of Leo Burnett India.
