Creative agency VML India has appointed Kunal Roy as Managing Partner – West & Growth Lead – India, and Shekhar Khanna as Chief Strategy Officer as part of its national leadership team.
Roy brings over two decades of experience in building businesses, brands, and agencies across Asia. Prior to joining VML, as CEO of Dentsu Creative in Malaysia, he led the transformation and integration of six companies into a unified entity. Earlier, as Group Chief Strategy Officer of Publicis Groupe Malaysia, he led the organisation to three consecutive Effie Agency of the Year wins. At VML India, he will lead the Mumbai office and drive growth in partnership with CEO Babita Baruah.
Shekhar Khanna has 20 years of experience across the APAC region. His career spans research, digital, creative, activation and media roles across Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur, Beijing and Shanghai. His appointment establishes a strategic planning unit with Shubhrojyoti Roy serving as National Planning Director and BX Lead.
Babita Baruah, CEO, VML India, said, “Kunal and Shekhar join us at an exciting moment for VML India as we expand our capabilities and sharpen our focus on growth-led solutions.
“Their leadership will play a key role in shaping the next chapter of our journey and delivering even greater value for our clients.”
“VML India is at an exciting point of inflection and I am thrilled to come on board at this time,” said Kunal Roy, Managing Partner – West & Growth Lead, VML India.
“Growth today is about creating value in a way that has real business impact. By bringing together creativity, commerce and customer experience I’m eager to create lasting & meaningful value with our teams, for our clients.”
“In a world where brands are navigating constant change, strategy has to do more than simplify — it has to connect,” said Shekhar Khanna, Chief Strategy Officer, VML India.
“The real opportunity is to integrate creativity, media, data and culture into unified thinking system that drives real impact. I’m excited to build that with teams and clients in India.”
