Chuck Studios has appointed Ritu Nakra as its first Chief Client Officer, APAC, a newly created role in which she will lead the studio’s growth and client development across the Asia-Pacific region.
Nakra joins the global food and drink advertising and Culinary Identity specialist after 28 years across the WPP network, including 24 years at J. Walter Thompson and four years leading Landor in Delhi.
In her new role, Nakra will lead Chuck Studios’ expansion across Asia-Pacific, building on its existing work with brands including Lay’s and Doritos in the region. She will focus on relationships with regional marketers and brands and bring the studio’s food and beverage branding and production capabilities to more clients across the market.
Her career spans brand strategy, creative production and client leadership, and she has held senior leadership roles working with food and beverage clients.
“What excites me about Chuck Studios is the combination of visual storytelling craft and dynamic brand identity work,” said Ritu Nakra, Chief Client Officer, APAC, Chuck Studios.
“As Asians we recognise the cultural power of food. All our social engagements happen over a beverage or a meal. Our family dialogue is on the dining table or over the lunch box. The opportunity is to turn that into distinctive brand value. My goal is to enable world-class food storytelling that reflects the ambition, shifting taste and expanding culinary curiosity of this market.”
“With Ritu, we welcome decades of on-the-ground experience in India and the wider region, one of the fastest-growing markets in the world,” said Robert Volten, Managing Partner, Chuck Studios.
“Having worked across APAC myself, I know the importance of local and cultural understanding in Asia.We have every confidence that Ritu will bring that understanding to Chuck Studios, strengthening our ability to operate effectively in the region and build the right relationships, teams and opportunities for long-term growth.”
“When we first met Ritu on a project, we immediately thought: what if we could somehow get her to come and work with us?” said Olaf van Gerwen, Founder and Global Creative Director, Chuck Studios.
“It’s been a little while in the making, but now we’re ready to go. APAC is still largely uncharted territory for us, and that’s exactly what makes it so exciting. It’s one of the fastest-growing regions in the world, fits perfectly with our global ambitions, and marks a big step in our global expansion. We can’t wait to take on the creative challenges of the region with Ritu.”
