Meet the top guns running India’s OOH show

The Out of Home (OOH) industry is taking on new dimensions as a dynamic and innovative space for brands to connect with audiences in the physical world.

And behind this evolution are visionary leaders who have redefined the game of OOH, leveraging technology, creativity and strategy to make the medium more impactful than ever.

As we explore this sector in detail over the next few weeks, we bring to you some stalwarts of the Indian OOH industry.

Vikram Sakhuja, Group CEO, Media and OOH at Madison World

Vikram Sakhuja has been associated with Madison for nearly a decade now. He has 28 years of experience in working across categories – advertisers (P&G, Coca-Cola), broadcasting (Star TV), agency (GroupM), and across media, brand marketing and marketing research verticals.

Sakhuja joined P&G in 1988 and for over 8 years he held leadership spots in Marketing Research and Media. He then joined Coca-Cola where for over 5 years he went on to manage the brand marketing portfolio. Post that, Sakhuja spent a year with Star TV Network (Newscorp) setting up their marketing department as EVP Marketing.

Since 2002, he has been with the WPP group. He was first Managing Director of Mindshare South Asia, and later CEO of GroupM South Asia for 6 years. He then took on the global role of WW CEO Maxus for two years.

Vinkoo Chakraborty, President, Rapport, IPG Media

Vinkoo Chakraborty has two decades of experience in media with the major focus being on new business development, management of large blue chip accounts, strategic planning, and creating a winning culture and passionate teams.

She has been associated with IPG media for more than 8 years,

Prior to this, she was with Madison and was responsible for integrated media planning and strategy for different verticals of Madison OOH (Retail, Activations, Outdoors & Rural).

Vinkoo Chakraborty has also held leadership roles at Kinetic Worldwide, JCDecaux, Hindustan Times among other places. Being passionate about technology, she has enabled several technology-led industry-first practices.

Ajay Mehta, MD, GroupM OOH solutions

Ajay Mehta founded Interactive Television in 1998 and was Managing Director of the entertainment marketing company. Post GroupM’s acquisition of a controlling stake in Interactive in 2008, Mehta was appointed Managing Director of the OOH business at GroupM.

Mehta also floated an online movie ticketing business that was acquired by Indya.com (a News Corp company) right at the concept stage.

Alok Jalan, MD, Laqshya Media

With two decades of leadership in the Media & Advertising industry, Alok Jalan is among the stalwarts who has revolutionised the OOH ecosystem, and continues to spearhead strong and ethical practices at Laqshya. He has been the firm’s MD for the last 17 years. Jalan was earlier with the agency from 1999 to 2007 as Director.

From 2010 to 2016, he was the Managing Director of Right Angle Media, which holds advertising rights to all bus shelters across the city of Dubai. They are being used by blue chip advertisers to promote brands in an innovative manner.

He began his career in 1992 as the Proprietor of Anoop Synthetic and learnt valuable lessons in entrepreneurship.

Pramod Bhandula, Executive Chairman, JCDecaux

Pramod Bhandula is a prominent leader in the out-of-home (OOH) advertising industry with over four decades of experience.

As Executive Chairman of JCDecaux India since 2006, he has been instrumental in establishing the company as a market leader, introducing innovative and sustainable advertising solutions.

During his tenure as Managing Director (2006-2019), he spearheaded JCDecaux’s successful expansion in India, transforming the urban advertising landscape. Previously, as COO at Selvel Vantage for 26 years, he played a key role in shaping the Indian OOH industry. Known for his strategic vision, leadership, and expertise in media management, Bhandula has made significant contributions to the growth of the advertising sector in India.

Narayanaswami Shekhar, CEO, Times OOH

Narayanaswami Shekhar is a business leader with 30+ years of experience in Business & Strategy, Corporate Governance, Corporate Finance, Business Process Re-engineering, People Management, Investor Relations, Advisory Services, Mergers & Acquisitions, Supply Chain and Revenue Growth Management.

As the CEO of Times OOH Group since June 2024, he is committed to driving revenue growth and profitability with a strong emphasis on empathy and purpose.

Joining Times OOH in 2008, he climbed the ranks to become CEO, leveraging his expertise to drive growth and innovation. Under his leadership, Times OOH has expanded its footprint across India, integrating advanced technology into its offerings.

He has worked with brands like Airtel, Coca-Cola India, Timex. Narayanaswami Shekhar began his career as Assistant Manager of Tata Motors in December 1989.

Jayesh Yagnik, CEO, MOMS Outdoor

Jayesh Yagnik's journey with MOMS Outdoor Media Solutions spans an impressive 22 years, showcasing his commitment and steady rise through the ranks. Starting as an Assistant Manager in Client Servicing in January 2003, he demonstrated a keen understanding of client needs and strategic campaign execution.

Over the next few years, Yagnik progressed to managerial roles, including Manager, Senior Manager, and Account Management Head for the West region, each role allowing him to hone his leadership and operational skills.

In November 2015, he was appointed Chief Operating Officer, a role in which he strategically expanded MOMS’ market presence and enhanced its service offerings. Finally, in January 2020, he ascended to the position of Chief Executive Officer, leading the company into its next phase of growth with a focus on innovation.

Dipankar Sanyal, CEO, Platinum Communications

In 2015, Dipankar Sanyal took on the role of Chief Executive Officer at Platinum Communications. As CEO, he has led the company to new heights, focusing on blending creative, data-driven, and sustainable solutions for clients.

In 2011, he joined MOMS Outdoor Media Solutions as Chief Operating Officer. Over the next four years, he played a pivotal role in driving the organization’s growth and operational efficiency.

Starting his journey as an Associate Media Director at Zenith Media from 2001 to 2003, Sanyal honed his skills in media strategy and campaign planning.

Imtiyaz Vilatra, CEO, Posterscope India, Dentsu

Dentsu India elevated Imtiyaz Vilatra to Chief Executive Officer of Posterscope India recently in December 2024 and reports to Anita Kotwani, CEO, Media – South Asia, dentsu.

With extensive experience spanning over 25 years, Vilatra is known for a focus on innovative and impactful OOH campaigns.

Vilatra’s career in advertising spans over two decades, marked by leadership roles and entrepreneurial success. He began as a Business Director at Ogilvy & Mather, serving for nearly 12 years.

In 2009, he co-founded and became Managing Partner at Milestone Brandcom, shaping it into a leading OOH agency. In 2021, he joined Posterscope India as Country Head and was elevated to Managing Director in 2022, leading innovative, data-driven OOH solutions.

Dipankar Chatterjee, CEO, Signpost India

Dipankar Chatterjee is a distinguished turnaround specialist, recognised for his exemplary achievements within the advertising industry. With a career spanning several prominent organizations, including Mid-Day, Posterscope India, Portland Outdoors (a GroupM Company), and JCDecaux India, he has consistently demonstrated his expertise in revitalizing businesses, steering them toward sustained success.

At Signpost India, where he has been for over a decade, he propelled the company to become the fastest-growing media group in the industry.

Vikram Das, Senior Director, Publicis OOH

Vikram Das started his career in advertising and media, gaining valuable experience in client servicing and campaign management. Over the years, he developed a specialization in OOH, earning him the role of Senior Director at Publicis OOH. Das has been with Publicis since 2019. Prior to that, he was Brand Director with Street Talk for over 6 years.

Siddharth Rai, President, Coral Media

With over two decades of experience, Lekshumanan Annamalai’s career began at Rediffusion Brand Solutions in 2001 as a Senior Account Executive.

He moved to Hakuhodo Percept in 2002 as an Account Manager, managing key accounts for two years.

In 2004, he became Branch Head at Serve & Volley, overseeing regional operations for three years. Transitioning to Reliance Broadcast Network in 2007, he served as Sales Manager for three years. Since 2010, he has been Business Head at Coral Media, driving growth and innovation in Bengaluru. 

(This list is not based on any ranking.)