MUMBAI : Big man Bobby is back. Bobby Pawar that is. Publicis Worldwide today announced that Pawar has joined the agency as director, chief creative officer – south Asia.

Pawar as readers may recollect was the fall guy in the JWT-Ford Figo scam a couple of months ago.

He brings with him oodles of creative experience right from his days as a copywriter at Tara Sinha McCan Erickson, then on to Ogilvy in Mumbai and New York and then Mudra and finally his last stint at JWT where he was managing partner & CCO.

He is reportedly replacing vice-chairperson and national creative director Ashish Khazanchi, who is moving on.

Publicis also announced other hires: Partha Sinha – who is being pushed upstairs from his managing partner position at group agency BBH - as director, chief strategy officer South Asia; and media vet Ambika Srivastava as director, marketing and new business - India.

 The three will also be on the Publicis India management board and will report to CEO, south Asia Nakul Chopra. With Sinha moving on to Publicis from BBH India, his replacement at the agency is senior strategy director Sanjay Sharma who has been redesignated as planning head.

These announcements were made by Publicis Groupe chief operating officer & executive chairman Publicis Worldwide Jean-Yves Naouri . Both Naouri and Chopra said that they were glad to strengthen the leadership team at Publicis Group in India with these additions, and that clients will draw the benefits of the value they bring to the table.

Chopra was reportedly eyeing Pawar as a leadership hire much before the entire Ford Figo incident broke out.

Publicis global creative director Erik Vervroegen believes that both Partha and Bobby make for a very potent team and that Bobby can take the group’s creative product to the next level.

And what does the duo have to say? Quoting them from the press note issued by Publicis: “We have been wanting to work together as a team for some time now – Publicis has provided us the perfect platform to do so. Brand communication in today’s world has changed substantially – thinking and creativity need to be more concurrent and seamless – we want to approach it that way. Being involved from the root of the problem to the final delivery of the solution is the best way to add value to a brand.

And finally, Ambika Srivastava. Said she in the press note: “I am excited about my new role. For me it is literally ‘back to the future’ where in today’s environment paid, earned and owned media are bringing complete perspective to a client’s business. And this is a great way to Lead the Change."