Cheil X names Ritesh Rao as Mumbai lead and Kanika to head Delhi office

Cheil X, part of the Cheil SWA Group, has named Ritesh Rao as Head of Operations for its Mumbai office and promoted Kanika to Head of the Delhi office, a role in which she earlier served as Vice President.

In his new position, Ritesh Rao will focus on accelerating business growth and strengthening operational performance for Cheil X in Mumbai. Bringing more than 20 years of experience, he has built expertise across integrated marketing, growth strategy, brand transformation, and client leadership.

Most recently, he served as CEO of 26FIVE Global Lab and earlier held senior leadership roles at Creativeland Asia. His career also includes tenures at Isobar and Lowe Lintas.

Commenting on his appointment, Ritesh said, "Creativity sits at the core of advertising, and creative transformation means making that core stronger across every function, platform, format, and consumer touchpoint. I’m thrilled to join Cheil X at a time when creativity, technology, and culture are intersecting more rapidly than ever. The agency’s ambition and integrated approach offer a powerful platform to create work that is both effective and meaningful for the brands we collaborate with."

Kanika, Head of the Delhi office at Cheil X, added: "As one of India’s leading integrated marketing agencies, Cheil’s key strength is our capability to deliver tech-driven solutions across the full marketing funnel under one roof. From brand strategy and creative to commerce, experience, and performance, our integrated structure allows for smooth collaboration and comprehensive problem-solving. This has become even more important for brands tackling complex business challenges in today’s rapidly changing market."