Monks India, the Indian arm of S4 Capital, has appointed industry veteran Ketan Desai to lead the brand into a new era. With the marketing industry undergoing significant technological disruptions, Desai’s leadership will help Monks simplify processes and integrate marketing with technology.
Desai, brings over 20 years of agency experience, most recently served as the COO of WPP Grey. His expertise in delivering scaled marketing solutions for top Indian clients will strengthen Monks’ AI-powered service model and skilled talent, enabling marketers to seize new growth opportunities.
Desai will assume his role on February 3, 2025, and report to Kenny Griffiths, Managing Director, APAC at Monks.
Kenny Griffiths, managing director, APAC at Monks said,
“We are excited to have Ketan Desai join us at a pivotal time for Monks in India. His extensive strategic experience in connecting India’s local strengths with global scale, will accelerate plans to grow our India business and deliver on our model that helps clients navigate complexity and transforms the economics of marketing,”
“Ketan Desai’s addition to the Monk’s leadership team marks a defining moment for our India operations,” said Bruno Lambertini, CEO of marketing services at Monks. “India is an important market for us, not only driving local growth but also serving as a hub for the region. The growth we’ve been able to achieve has set the stage for this next chapter. As we move from initiation to scaling, Ketan’s expertise in delivering scaled marketing solutions for India’s top clients will be instrumental in seamlessly integrating our vision for marketing and technology, helping marketers simplify complexity, innovate, and overcome their business challenges.”
This marks the continuation of Monks India’s mission, which began with the 2019 merger with WhiteBalance. Robert Godinho, founder of WhiteBalance, has successfully led Monks India’s studio for over five years, most recently serving as Managing Director.
Robert Godinho, outgoing Monks India managing director said,
“As an original founder whose company merged with S4’s Monks, I will always be invested in its growth and success. This journey has been exhilarating and enlightening, building the India hub with artists collaborating on global work. My proudest achievement has been building the domestic business over the past year. I’m proud to say that in 2024, we’ve successfully integrated and aligned the organization with our global vision,”
After 15 years of an entrepreneurial journey, Godinho will take on a new challenge. He will remain with Monks India for a transitional period to onboard Desai and ensure a seamless handover.
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