Ad majors on a hiring spree despite slowdown

Lalitha Srinivasan

Mumbai, Dec 6: Even as many advertising agencies in India are downsizing in these recession-torn times, quite a few advertising agencies are on a recruiting spree. For instance, as part of its expansion plans, Everest Integrated Communications is currently scouting for talented professionals across all disciplines, informs its national creative director Milind Dhaimade.

Explains Mr Dhaimade: "As part of our expansion plans, we are now taking on people to handle our growing clientle list. We are not focusing on numbers but we are certainly looking for really talented professionals. In tune with our expansion plans we have shifted to a larger premises in Worli."

Ogilvy & Mather India talent director Kalpana Rao is currently very busy interviewing people across the country. Says Ms Rao: "Yes, we are truly on a recruiting spree as we need people in different slots in different parts of the country where Ogilvy & Mather India operates."
According to Ms Rao, the agency is mainly recruiting people in categories which include creative, client servicing and interactive communcations.

"Compared to previous year, there’s a lull in job markets due to economic downturn this year. In India, small agencies are mainly filling in gaps when people have left for better prospects. However, large agencies are inducting people to handle new accounts," comments Ms Rao.

Leading advertising major Leo Burnett is mainly recruiting professionals for its thrust areas for the year 2002, informs Leo Burnett managing director Arvind Sharma. "To counter the slowdown, we will be launching a slew of new services as part of our expansion plans. We stongly feel that clients will need these services during the economic downturn," adds Mr Sharma. However, Mr Sharma is reluctnat divulge details on the agency’s new initiatives.

Reeling under the economic recession, leading advertising agencies have recently resorted to downsizing in the last few months. However, experts point out that ad agencies mainly sacked people who did not perform well.

According to ad industry sources, leading agency Grey India has recently asked 15 people to leave the company. However, when contacted by The Financial Express, the agency MD Nirvik Singh denied by saying: "It’s false news. In fact, we are recruiting people to handle our expanding business."