Quick Facts
Biography
Ashish Bhasin, Chairman & CEO - South Asia, Dentsu Aegis Network Dentsu Aegis Network, is a globally recognised media veteran. He has been part of the Media, Advertising & Marketing community – especially representing India and the Asia Pacific market - for the past 27 years. He is frequently featured as a thought leader in the advertising industry on print and television platforms such as The Economic Times, Brand Equity, and DNA. He represented India as a member of the jury at the 63rd Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Bhasin has also served as India's cultural Ambassador to Pennsylvania, USA in 1992 under an exclusive Rotary programme.
Early career
He served as Managing Director of Lintas Initiative Outdoor Advertising Private Limited (also known as Aaren Initiative Outdoor Advertising Private Limited). He was the President and Director of Integrated Marketing Action Group at SSC&B Lintas Private Limited, as well as, the Asia Regional Director for Integral Marketing at Lowe & Partners Worldwide Limited. At Lintas IMAG, he oversaw eight specialised companies – Linterland for rural marketing, Lintas Personal for CRM and direct marketing, LINOpinion for public relations, Advent for events, Lintertainment for entertainment marketing, Lintas Healthcare for healthcare marketing, dCell for strategic design, and Aaren Initiative for out-of-home. His stints include handling the Hindustan Unilever account in seven Asian countries, managing operations in various Lintas India offices, and running the show as President at Initiative Media.
Career with Dentsu Aegis Network
Bhasin began his career with Dentsu in June 2008. In 2012, the Dentsu Aegis Network was formed after the Japanese advertising giant Dentsu bought over the UK based Aegis group for a reported $5 billion, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. By June 2015, the Dentsu Aegis Network consolidated its India operations under him. According to an article in the Economic Times, when he first joined, Aegis was represented by Carat and had a staff strength of 45 people. In seven years, it has amassed 1,700 staffers, and multiple creative shops like Taproot Dentsu, agencies under the Dentsu umbrella; media brands Carat and Vizeum and a battery of digital outfits including Webchutney, Isobar and WATconsult.
DAN India currently comprises companies such as Carat, Dentsu, Dentsu Media, Dentsu Impact, Dentsu India, Dentsu One, iProspect, Isobar, Posterscope,The StoryLab, Vizeum, Amnet, Milestone Brandcom, Dentsu Communications, Dentsu Marcom, Dentsu Creative Impact, Dentsu Taproot, Dentsu Web Chutney and Dentsu Media. In a short span of 2 years, under his leadership and guidance, the Dentsu Aegis Network has acquired a number of diverse media firms such as Perfect Relations, Fountainhead MKTGWATConsult, and Happy Creative, a boutique agency based out of Bangalore.
Recognition
Bhasin was awarded South Asia Agency Head of the Year consecutively for two years by the Campaign South Asia Agency of the Year Awards. He was also awarded the title of Media Agency Head of the Year at the 4th edition of the IAA Leadership Awards. Acknowledging his expertise in the advertising field as well his distinguished leadership skills, Bhasin has been honoured with the Best in Brand Communications – India in 2015 at the Business Excellence Awards along with being named Media CEO of the year – India in 2015 and 2014He also bagged the Radio City Hallmark Award of the Year at the Exchange4Media Group's Media ACE Awards 2015.
Other Interests
Bhasin was appointed as the Chairman of the Goafest Organising Committee 2017 by the Advertising Club and Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI).