Ajay Gahlaut

Based in Mumbai

Ajay Gahlaut is an independent creative and the former Chief Creative Officer at Dentsu Creative.

Ajay started his profession journey in 1994, as a junior copywriter at Rediffusion Y&R. Until 2001, his role expanded in the capacities of senior copywriter and copy supervisor at agencies like Saatchi & Saatchi and McCann Erickson. For several years following that, he served as the associate creative director at Ogilvy. He then returned to Rediffusion Y&R as the executive (2005) and regional (2007) creative director, and back to McCann Erickson as the senior creative director (2006).

This was followed by his 11-year-long stint at Ogilvy as the Chief Creative Officer (North) and Deputy Chief Creative Officer (India). Before Ajay started working independently, he briefly served as the Chief Creative Officer and Managing Director at Publicis Communications as well.

After three decades of experience in the Indian advertising landscape, today, Ajay is one of India’s most celebrated creative minds. Known for blending wit with cultural insight, he has created some of the country’s most iconic campaigns. From penning the unforgettable line “Do Boond Zindagi Ki” for the Pulse Polio Immunisation campaign with Amitabh Bachchan, to crafting the timeless “Make It Large” for Royal Stag, his work has shaped brands and popular culture alike.

His creative stamp is also evident in campaigns such as Voltas’ beloved Mr. Murthy series and Imperial Blue’s long-running 'Men Will Be Men' campaign, both of which became household phenomena.

Over the years, Ajay’s work has been recognised globally, with multiple awards at Cannes Lions, One Show, D&AD and more. In 2013, he led Ogilvy Delhi to 8 Lions at Cannes. Most notably, under his leadership, Dentsu Creative became the first Indian agency to win ‘Agency of the Year’ at Cannes Lions 2022.

Beyond the awards, Ajay continues to champion the balance of creativity and effectiveness in an era of data-driven marketing, proving that great ideas can be both timely and timeless.

Social Media Handles:

- LinkedIn - Ajay Gahlaut

- Instagram - @gahlautajay