Rahul Mathew

Based in Mumbai

Rahul Mathew is the Chief Creative Officer at DDB Mudra Group.

Rahul started his career in 1998, as a junior writer at JWT Delhi. In the following years, he steadily progressed in designation to copywriter, senior copywriter, and copy supervisor at agencies like Leo Burnett, Enterprise Nexus and Ogilvy. In the five years that followed, he served as the creative director at McCann Erickson and Young & Rubicam. His stint at DDB Mudra Group started in 2014, when he joined as the creative head of West; later serving as the National Creative Director, before moving to his current role.

As Chief Creative Officer of the DDB Mudra Group, Rahul is at the helm of a creative resurgence that has earned the agency global acclaim. Under his leadership, the Group has been ranked No.1 in Asia and No.12 in the world by WARC, and has consistently delivered work that is both effective and celebrated—including consecutive wins at Cannes Lions (2018, 2019, 2021), Grand Prix at Spikes Asia, and international recognition for projects like Project Free Period and Hashtags Don’t Heal. In 2020, Effie Index named DDB Mudra among the Top 20 most effective and creative agencies worldwide.

Before DDB, Rahul led McCann Mumbai’s creative turnaround, winning nearly 100 awards across festivals including Cannes, One Show, and Spikes Asia. His stint at Y&R Kuala Lumpur also saw the network win its first-ever Grand Prix at the Asia Pacific Adfest.

Individually, Rahul has been consistently ranked among the region’s top creative minds—3rd among India’s and 19th among Asia’s Most Awarded Creative Leaders (Campaign Brief Asia, 2021), a top 10 writer in India multiple times, and 8th most awarded writer in Asia by Campaign in 2013. His work, including the globally recognised Western Union billboard, has been emphasised by Advertising Age and Creativity as some of the most awarded in the world.

With a career spanning almost two decades, Rahul continues to push for ideas that are as culturally resonant as they are effective—balancing creativity, impact, and a relentless drive to win.

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