Nitin Karkare has taken over as Chairman of Ulka and Executive Director at Omnicom Advertising India, marking a pivotal leadership update as the Omnicom–IPG merger reshapes agency structures globally. With the retirement of the FCB network worldwide, Ulka now transitions under the BBDO umbrella as part of the newly integrated organisation’s repositioning.
A veteran of nearly four decades, Karkare is among the most respected figures in Indian advertising. He began his journey with FCB Ulka in 1986 as a management trainee and later spent time at Everest Advertising, where he worked on the Procter & Gamble portfolio. He returned to Ulka in 1993, steadily rising through key leadership roles before being appointed CEO in 2016.
Over the years, Karkare has contributed to notable campaigns for brands such as Amul, Tata Motors, Zee, ITC, Wipro and Zodiac, helping shape Ulka’s strategic and creative legacy.
The leadership shift is part of a larger integration strategy at Omnicom Advertising India, following the merger that unifies the creative networks BBDO, TBWA and McCann under one consolidated structure. As part of the same overhaul, Prasoon Joshi has stepped into the role of Chairman of Omnicom Advertising India, while Aditya Kanthy has been named President and Managing Director, overseeing the company’s India operations during this phase of consolidation.
The new appointments reflect the continued drive toward a unified leadership and streamlined operations as the organisation realigns its agency brands in India.
