Josy Paul

Based in Mumbai

Josy Paul is currently the Chairman and Chief Creative Officer at BBDO India—where he has been for the last 18 years now.

Before launching BBDO India, Josy was National Creative Director at JWT, and also set up David, Ogilvy’s challenger agency, in India in 2000—the very first David office worldwide.

Today, he is one of the most influential and awarded creative leaders in Indian advertising. He founded BBDO India in 2008—famously starting it from the backseat of his car—and has since shaped it into one of the country’s most celebrated creative agencies.

Under his leadership, BBDO India has created some of the most culturally resonant brand movements, guided by his philosophy of “acts, not ads.” Campaigns like Gillette 'Women Against Lazy Stubble', Aviva 'Great Wall of Education', and Quaker 'Mission to Make India Heart Healthy', laid the foundation for this belief. His work for Whisper 'Touch The Pickle' won the inaugural Glass Lion Grand Prix at Cannes in 2015, and Ariel 'Share The Load' won multiple Cannes Gold Lions and being ranked twice as the world’s most effective campaign by WARC. In 2024, the Ariel campaign 'Silent Separation' won the coveted White Pencil for sustained impact at the D&AD Awards.

Josy's storytelling is so deeply ingrained in the Indian culture and context that they resonate with the audiences not just on a commercial level but on an emotional one. His ideas are driven by insight, and his narratives are fueled with purpose.

Josy has been widely recognised for his contribution to advertising. He was named Creative Agency Head of the Year by the Indian Advertising Association (2016), Creative Person of the Year for South Asia by Campaign Magazine (2012 and 2015), and in 2023, Asia-Pacific Creative Leader of the Year. The Economic Times has consistently ranked him among the ten most influential people in Indian advertising, and in 2020, he was inducted into the Advertising Club Calcutta’s Hall of Fame.

At the Good Ads Matter Awards, India '25, WhatsApp 'Oye Lucky' ft. Abhay Deol won a Gold and a Silver accolade, and Ariel India 'How Strong is Your Home Team?' won a Bronze.

Josy embodies his foundational mantra: “Think like the navy, deliver like the pirates.” His journey continues to inspire, proving that creativity can change culture and drive real-world impact.

Social Media Handle:

- LinkedIn - Paul Josy