Based in Bengaluru, Bharati Joshi will lead the agency’s product offering as vice-president, product, while Kunal Danda will head the agency’s Mumbai office as vice-president, client services. Based in Delhi, Vinish Mathews (pictured) will lead the agency’s partnership with key client Google as vice-president, client services, India and Southeast Asia. The three new hires will report to Sonali Malaviya, managing director, India, as part of Essence’s leadership team. 

Joshi brings with her over 17 years’ industry experience, joining from Initiative where she was assistant vice-president, strategy and insights. Previously, she held practice and client leadership positions at GroupM’s Wavemaker and Maxus. In her roles, she was instrumental in the development of agendas, frameworks, playbooks and tools, in areas related to data and measurement, integrated media planning and optimisation, content marketing and creativity. 

Danda has more than two decades of media and marketing experience in India and the Middle East, working at agencies such as OMD, Edelman and Digitas, and organisations such as DBS Bank, Energy Central and Arab Insurance Group. Most recently, he served as principal partner at Mindshare in Mumbai, heading digital media, integrated marketing and business development.

With over 18 years’ experience in China and India, Mathews joins from Mindshare, where he was most recently managing director, overseeing teams across Beijing and Shanghai. With a proven track record in leading client relationships across sectors such as ecommerce, fast-moving consumer goods, tourism and vision care, his capabilities in strategic brand management, media investment planning and communications campaign design have helped brands build immersive consumer connections using media. For his work, he has garnered over 100 award wins locally and globally with his teams, clients and partners.

“Bharati, Kunal and Vinish’s appointments are key in strengthening Essence’s India leadership team”, commented Malaviya. “I am delighted that we are able to attract exceptional talent who share and are excited about our vision to reimagine what is possible for India.

“I am looking forward to partnering with Bharati, Kunal and Vinish in their new roles, and driving continued growth for our people, capabilities, clients and business across India.”