VMLY&R India brings Kevin Lobo on board in the position of executive creative director

VMLY&R has appointed Kevin Lobo as Executive Creative Director, VMLY&R India, adding to the rapidly expanding creative team put together by Venkatgiri Rao, CCO, VMLY&R SEA and India.

Lobo (pictured) brings more than a decade of experience driving award-winning campaigns for marquee global and Indian brands such as Diageo, Unilever, Bajaj Motorcycles, Bajaj Allianz, Parle, Maybelline, Parachute, Cadbury’s and Adidas.

He joins VMLY&R from Leo Burnett, where he conceptualized and led Bajaj V, ‘The Nation’s Bike’ – one of the auto industry, and the country’s, most impactful campaigns in the last decade. The work on Bajaj V, the motorcycle made from the scrap of legendary warship INS Vikrant, went on to sweep the top international awards, including One Show, D&AD and the coveted Creative Effectiveness Lions at Cannes.

Lobo’s portfolio of work also includes the powerful #MoreToGive organ donation campaign for Fortis Hospitals. In addition, he directed the popular ‘Invincible Indians’ series of films for Bajaj V, following this directorial debut with several well-appreciated videos for McDonald’s and Bajaj Allianz.

In his new role, Lobo will be responsible for driving big and impactful campaigns for clients in India and the region, and for creating a strong, creative culture for the agency. He will also work to build and expand creative teams, as well as the agency’s in-house video production capabilities.

Venkatagiri Rao, CCO, VMLY&R SEA & India said, “Kevin is a delightful, creative thinker and a sharp strategic brain, with a focus on work that works – a rare and powerful combination. His experience on bold, new-age campaigns is why he is perfectly suited for an idea-first agency like VMLY&R, which leads with digital thinking while doing integrated work for brands. Also, the sheer energy and learning he brings to the game every day is inspiring. Making him a perfect mentor for our young talent looking to learn the business.”

Lobo said, “VMLY&R is consistently in the Top 10 on Adage’s Agency A-List, rubbing shoulders with the best of the best in the world, so it was a no-brainer for me to join. The lines between mainline and digital advertising are blurring fast, and at VMLY&R, I see that at work every day. Young creatives here are not just creating integrated campaigns for local brands but for top brands in Singapore and Indonesia as well. The energy is infectious! With solid tech and innovation capabilities and great ambition, I hope I can contribute to VMLY&R India joining the A-list soon.”

Tripti Lochan, co-CEO, VMLY&R Asia, said, “Kevin brings an inspired view to every piece of work, and with experience leading teams to success, I am confident that he is a great addition to VMLY&R. As we build our presence in India, we are excited to have his perspective and expertise driving success for our clients.”

Lobo joins the agency as the second big hire in recent months, following the appointment of Sujay Kar as Commerce Group Lead, VMLY&R SEA & India. VMLY&R continues to grow its reputation in the region by harnessing creativity, technology, and culture to create connected brands that drive value for their clients and impact the world.

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