MUMBAI: After spending more than 23 years at the agency, Leo Burnett national planning director Rajeev Sharma has decided to move on to explore newer avenues.

Sharma joined Leo Burnett in 1994 as vice president based out of the agency’s Delhi office and after three years he moved to Mumbai to lead planning as national planning director.

Rajeev spearheaded strategy for many brands and partnered them in their success for years together. Some of the brands he has worked on include McDonald’s, Godrej Consumer Products, Bajaj Auto, Heinz, Complan, Glucon D, Thums Up, Maaza, Minute Maid, Limca, Reebok, Ariel, Ezee, Cinthol, Bajaj Electricals, HDFC Life, HDFC Bank, Anchor, Sony Entertainment Television, Tata Capital, Dabur, Pillsbury, Iodex, etc.

Rajeev has played a significant role in building Leo Burnett’s reputation as India’s most trusted integrated communications company that has a sharp focus on strategy. He is also instrumental in bringing Leo Burnett’s best global practices to India.

Commenting on this development Sharma said, “After 23 years, it is time for me to bid a fond farewell to a fabulous organisation, amazing colleagues and equally amazing clients. I am proud of what the agency stands for, for what it has achieved and what it is in the process of becoming. The momentum we have gained recently will give us the scale and the capability to play a big role in the transformation the industry is going through. As I prepare for the next chapter of my life, I shall watch with great satisfaction the success Leo Burnett is sure to notch up in the future.”

Leo Bunett CEO for South Asia Saurabh Varma added, “Rajeev set up Leo Burnett’s planning function from scratch and since then has led a robust team that has grown many brands in complex market scenarios, in the process winning many awards. Under his leadership, we produced some of the most iconic and culturally rooted campaigns by approaching consumers through a human lens. I thank Rajeev wholeheartedly and wish him the very best for his future endeavours.”