Rakesh comes with 19 years of experience, most of it shaped in a single agency. He began as a creative trainee at FCB Interface and rose within the agency to leadership as Chief Creative Officer. Within just two years at the helm, he helped make FCB the No.1 creative network in India, and brought home India’s first-ever Cannes Lions PR Grand Prix. Over the years, he has created impactful campaigns for some of the country’s biggest brands, including Mahindra, Unilever, Mondelez, and Beiersdorf, and has been featured in Campaign Asia’s Top 40 under 40 marketing and media professionals for the Asia-Pacific region.

He now leads Ulka as Chief Creative Experience Officer, building on the agency’s strong creative legacy.

Rakesh loves advertising because he loves stories. He believes every brand has a story worth telling and that powerful storytelling is the best way to hold an audience. When he’s not helping brands find their voice, you’ll find him cooking seafood or strumming his ukulele (badly, but enthusiastically) for his daughter, who thinks he’s great at both.