Ogilvy India NCD Rajiv Rao quits; to turn film-maker

Rajiv Rao, National Creative Director, Ogilvy & Mather, has decided to bid adieu to the agency. It is learnt that he will now pursue a career in film making. Rao had joined Ogilvy & Mather in 1999. 

The development comes close on the heels of the appointment of Sonal Dabral as Vice Chairman and Group Chief Creative Officer. Rao will remain with the agency till Dabral takes charge of the new role. 

Rao had joined with his partner V Mahesh with whom he led Ogilvy Bangalore from 2003 to 2006. Rao was made National Creative Director in 2009, along with Abhijit Avasthi. During his stint with the agency, Rao had conceptualised the well-known Pug and Zoozoo ads for Vodafone, along with the Cannes Lions winning ‘Second hand smoke kills’ campaign for Cancer Patients Aid Association. 

In recent times, Lowe Lintas’ R Balki is another senior advertising personnel to turn full-time film-maker.