AD Agencies
Abhimanyu Khedkar appointed MD & head of office at Leo Burnett Mumbai
MUMBAI: Leo Burnett has handed the Mumbai reins to one of its own. Abhimanyu Khedkar has been elevated to managing director and head of office, Mumbai, capping a steady, decade-long rise within the agency and marking a new chapter for the creative powerhouse in India’s advertising capital.
Khedkar said he was happy to begin his new role at Leo Burnett. The promotion follows a rapid sequence of senior leadership positions, most recently as managing partner. Over the years, he has moved through the ranks from senior vice president to executive vice president, executive director and then managing partner, building a reputation for blending brand thinking with business results.
His career spans more than two decades across some of the country’s most influential agencies. Before Leo Burnett, Khedkar worked with BBH India as brand partner and spent over three years at O&M, where he handled the Marico business. Earlier stints include roles at Publicis Ambience and Percept H, where he began his journey in advertising.
With deep experience across FMCG brands, client leadership and agency management, Khedkar’s appointment signals continuity with momentum. For Leo Burnett Mumbai, it is a familiar face stepping into the corner office, and for the industry, another reminder that patience and persistence can still pay off in big ways.
AD Agencies
ABBY Awards 2026 names Rajdeepak Das, Khazanchi, Ramaswamy jury chairs
Top creative leaders to steer judging across film and direct categories
MUMBAI: The Ad Club has announced the appointment of three of India’s most prominent creative leaders as jury chairs for the ABBY Awards 2026, powered by The One Club.
Rajdeepak Das, chief creative officer, South Asia, Publicis Groupe and chairman, South Asia, Leo Burnett, will chair the AV Film (TV) category. Ashish Khazanchi, managing partner at Enormous, will lead the AV Film (Digital and OTT) jury, while Anupama Ramaswamy, managing director and chief creative officer at Havas Creative India, takes charge of the Direct category.
The trio brings a mix of creative firepower and industry experience to the judging table. Das is known for blending creativity with technology to solve real-world problems, with landmark campaigns such as Whisper’s “Touch the Pickle” and “Missing Chapter” helping reshape conversations around menstrual health. His work has earned top honours at global platforms including Cannes Lions and The One Show.
Khazanchi, meanwhile, has built Enormous into one of India’s leading independent agencies. Best known for creating Tata Sky’s “Jingalala” campaign, he has played a key role in shaping brand narratives for both legacy companies and startups, picking up hundreds of awards along the way.
Ramaswamy’s appointment rounds off the leadership trio with a strong focus on culturally resonant creativity. Her campaign “Ink of Democracy” became one of the most awarded works globally in 2025, earning multiple honours across Cannes Lions, Clio and Spikes Asia. Over the years, she has built a reputation for work that not only wins awards but also shapes public discourse.
The appointments come as the ABBY Awards continue to sharpen their global positioning, with backing from The One Club adding international heft to the platform.
The awards will be held during Goafest 2026 from May 20 to 22 at Taj Cidade de Goa Horizon, bringing together the industry’s top creative minds for what promises to be a closely watched showcase of ideas.
With heavyweight jury chairs in place, the stage is set for a high-stakes celebration of creativity where craft, culture and commerce collide.
