Benny Thomas

Experience

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  TBWA\Anthem

  Oct 1988 - Jan 1998

  Senior Creative Director

   Helped build startup advertising agency from US$100,000 into India’s Top 20, with turnover of US$10 million Managed national creative teams, approx.30 people Led initiative for merger with Omnicom Group’s TBWA Brands handled: Sony Electronics, Gulf Oil, Oriflame skincare, Electrolux-Kelvinator, American Express Bank, Unicef, Pearl oral contraceptives, Limca (Coca Cola Company)

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  MullenLowe Lintas Group

  Feb 1998 - Jan 2001

  Creative Director

   Relaunched Rexona, Liril: launched Savlon soap for Hindustan Lever Repositioned Nestle Polo, Bar-One - developed Frutips portfolio concept Led the government’s ‘Y2K’ communication drive for the Department of Electronics. Other brands handled: Maruti Suzuki-Omni, Zen, LG Electronics, HFCL(basic telephony), Parker pens

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  Measat Broadcast Network Systems Sdn Bhd

  Feb 2001 - May 2002

  Marketing Advisor

  AS STATION MANAGER :Adapted international format radio concepts and software design. Led largest –ever media research in Eastern India, developed station brands and consumer segmentation and prepared launch plans for the market. One of those stations is still a leader in Kolkata. AS HEAD OF MARKETING AT ASTRO: Headed a 15-member department – brand marketing, relationship marketing, research and communications teams Oversaw growth of subscriber base from 500,000 to 650,000 households Led project to restructure programming bouquets Developed one of the world’s largest digital ‘on-TV-magazines’, Easymag: immediate savings of approx. US$1 million – worked with Canal Plus France Business plans for TV interactive services Alternative loyalty club concept – low-investment, high- involvement, extension of the core brand values Initiated cross-functional and cross-media partnerships – radio, TV, internet, mobile Show less

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  TBWA\India

  Oct 2002 - Dec 2005

  Vice President

  • Heading the national strategic planning and new business function for TBWA\India-responsible for strategic directions, creative development and presentations• Lead Disruption workshops on brand management and business strategy with clients• Responsible for evangelizing global TBWA Disruption philosophy• Led the team to bring in business worth Rs. 50 million• Global coordination on brand strategy, and new business activity• Work with key national clients: Pedigree, BPL Mobile, adidas, Henkel/Schwarzkopf, Standard Chartered Bank, Panasonic, Twinings,ShangriLa• Managed Delhi headquarters-team of 60• Turned branch around, growing revenues more than 100% from Rs.12 million to Rs.30 million• Key clients: adidas, Doordarshan, Hughes DirecWay, Swatch, Absolut, BILT, Pedigree, Panasonic,Max Healthcare,Xansa, Unicef• Training and strategic development activities for all agency branches Show less

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  TBWA\Chiat\Day

  Jan 2006 - Jul 2008

  I head strategic planning on the Infiniti marque worldwide, including strategic analysis and positioning of all models and the brand, competitive reviews, consumer research and integration across all marketing partners. I headed strategic development on the flagship Mars petfood brands - Pedigree, Whiskas, The Goodlife Recipe - as well as food brands - Uncle Ben's and 7Paths. I was also responsible for strategic development globally, with specific focus on developed markets.

  • Group Strategic Planning Director

    Apr 2007 - Jul 2008

  • Strategic Planning Director

    Jan 2006 - Mar 2007
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  Young & Rubicam

  Aug 2008 - Jul 2011

  SVP/Global Planning Director

  Worked with teams at Y&R New York, San Francisco and LA, and across the world, leading strategic development on three brands: LG Electronics ( including appliances, TVs and phones, for the Americas as well as global projects), Bacardi (Superior, Flavoured and Gold) and Chevron.

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  Crispin

  Jul 2011 - Jan 2014

  VP/Executive Planning Director

  Part of the agency's leadership team, with oversight of the strategy department, including brand strategy, talent development and thought leadership.

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  Ignition Creative

  Jan 2014 - Oct 2014

  President, Brand

  Ignition is the leading entertainment agency in the world's leading entertainment market, working with studios and networks on the world's biggest and most important properties, as well as top consumer brands. Built on that entertainment DNA to develop a unique offering for brands, based on the art and science of storytelling: finding the story essence of a brand and weaving it across multiple platforms, even inviting people to add their own chapters. Ignition is an alchemy of opposites: box office+art. Artistry+discipline. Visionaries+detail devils. We are The Story Agency. Show less

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  Crispin

  Dec 2014 - Apr 2017

  Global Executive Strategy Director

  Lead the Los Angeles strategy team, working with an amazing team of creative minds on Infiniti, Paypal, Jose Cuervo, Charles Schwab, Braintree and NBA2K as well as driving new business, thought leadership, training and tools.

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  Barrie D'Rozario DiLorenzo

  May 2017 - May 2018

  Managing Partner, Chief Strategy Officer

  BD'D is an independent, full-service agency with a record of deep engagement with some of the world's biggest clients, to effect transformational business results through creativity. As Chief Strategy Officer, I lead the agency's brand and business efforts, including brand identity, portfolio architecture , market research and analytics.

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  Rise & Shine & Partners

  Jun 2018 - Aug 2019

  Managing Partner, Chief Strategy Officer

  We reinvented BD'D as a boutique strategic and creative consultancy, a ninja team operating at C-Suite level on big, thorny problems for Fortune 500 companies.

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  Meta

  Sept 2019 - now

  Global Planning Lead - Creative & Experiential