In advertising, creative ideas often grab the headlines, but the agencies that create lasting impact understand that great creativity begins with strong strategic thinking. Reinforcing this philosophy, BBDO Group India has appointed Ankit Singh as its National Strategy Director, a move that highlights the network’s commitment to making strategy a key driver of its future growth.
Singh joins an experienced strategy leadership team that includes Saad Khan, Chief Strategy Officer at ULKA, and Shashank Lanjekar, Chief Strategy Officer at BBDO India. Together, they will help shape the group’s strategic vision, enabling clients to solve complex business challenges through ideas that are both culturally relevant and commercially effective.
Bringing nearly two decades of experience, Singh offers a unique blend of agency and client-side expertise. He joins from Cheil X, where he led integrated growth strategies across creative, commerce and customer experience. His contributions played a significant role in strengthening the agency’s effectiveness credentials and elevating its position in the Effie rankings.
Before Cheil X, Singh held leadership roles at Leo, BBH Group and GREY Worldwide. He also gained valuable brand-side experience while leading marketing for Hilton across South Asia. Over the years, he has worked with some of the world’s most recognised brands, including Apple, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Uber, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Airtel, Haleon, Tinder, Reckitt, Ferrero and Hilton.
His work has been recognised at major industry platforms such as the Effies, Cannes Lions and the WARC Awards for Asian Strategy, reflecting his ability to combine strategic insight with creative excellence.
Commenting on the appointment, Group CEO Jitender Dabas said the decision reflects BBDO Group India’s broader ambition to go beyond advertising and solve larger business problems. According to Dabas, Singh’s planning approach aligns closely with the agency’s philosophy of identifying the right business challenge, uncovering deep human insights and creating ideas that resonate within culture.
Dabas himself has a strong strategy background, having previously served as Chief Strategy Officer at McCann Worldgroup India. During his tenure, the agency was named India Effie Agency of the Year for five consecutive years and topped the 2017 WARC Effectiveness Index as the world’s most effective agency office. Singh’s appointment further strengthens BBDO Group India’s strategy-led approach to growth.
Sharing his thoughts on the new role, Singh described the opportunity as a chance to contribute to an organisation that is still evolving and building its future. He noted that BBDO’s legacy, combined with its ambition to shape what comes next, made the role particularly compelling.
With Ankit Singh taking on the role of National Strategy Director, BBDO Group India is doing more than expanding its leadership team. The appointment reinforces the agency’s belief that meaningful business growth and powerful creative ideas are built on a foundation of strong strategic thinking.