Summary of Experience
I had the opportunity to work in national and multinational advertising agencies as full time copywriter for fifteen years or so. Getting a break into a multinational agency in the mid nineteen eighties was in itself a feat. Despite holding post graduate BCJ and MCJ degrees, I had to take copy tests and do the the rounds of local ad agencies. I realised that my radio feature manuscripts would not be enough to land me a copywriter's job, I had to show them that I could write ads also. So I built up a portfolio and hand wrote some ads for social causes to prove to M A Waheed, the branch manager of Karishma in Hyderabad that I was interested, by volunteering to work on some side hustles of the Ad Club Hyderabad.
(Perseverant eh! I got that from my school days -St George's Girls Grammar School Hyderabad, the motto on the school badge: Perseverantia Omnia Vincit! You look at it every day and imbibe the message unknowingly and it becomes part of your personality).
At last I was granted an interview with Quentin Coelho, the Creative Director at Karishma Bombay. When he was convinced that I was desperate enough he agreed to take me under his wing for Rs 1000 a month for the Karishma Hyderabad office. My first appointment letter was so informal, my family was not sure if they would pay me at all!
Many years later I was once the 'Employee of the Month' at Tara Sinha McCann Erickson recognised for my 'Never Say Die' spirit. Once again Thank you Alma Mater.
Fifteen years later:
The dot com bust came in 2001 and many ad agencies were hit hard. Many shut shop and every one was on their own. That's how the freelance stint began.
- 2001- present Consultant copywriter: Arka Advertising, and other clients
- 1999-2000 Consultant Soubhagya Advertising Services
- 1986-2000 – Full time advertising copywriter with national and multinational advertising agencies
- 2000-1997 Head, Copy writing team, Saatchi and Saatchi, Hyderabad - Shanta John
- 1997-1995 Copy Consultant, Foundations Advertising Services, New Delhi - Sajal Ghosh
- 1995- 1993 Senior Copy Writer, Result Advertising Solutions, New Delhi - Srikant Sastri
- 1993- 1990 Senior Copywriter, McCann Erickson, New Delhi - Ajay Gupta, Rajat Sethi
- 1989-1990 Copywriter, Sista’s Advertising Services, New Delhi - Pravin Bhargava
- 1989-1986- Copywriter, Karishma Advertising, Hyderabad M A Waheed, Aurobindo Mohanty
Brochures, print campaigns, audiovisuals, sales promos presentations
Highlights of Advertising Career
- Pre-launch, launch and post launch print advertising campaigns for Tata Cellular, Hyderabad
- Some campaigns for Tata Cellular won the Hyderabad Ad Club Awards.
- Commercials for Commissioner of Small Savings, Hyderabad
- Print campaigns for Maggi soups, Milkmaid, Taj Palace and other high profile FMCG products
- Coffee Table Book – Wings of Glory on the Indian Air Force for Indian Oil Corporation 1990-91
- Press campaign for Giordiano - won the Delhi Ad Club Award.
Here's a peek into my Guard Book
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