Kamil Kuran
Group CEO, Grey Group
With over 18 years of industry experience spanning leadership positions on the strategic and managerial fronts, Kamil recently assumed the role of Grey Group CEO MENA, responsible for its various communication entities. Prior to joining Grey Group, Kamil was the Strategic Planning Director for Leo Burnett MENA, leading on several multinational and regional brands such as Kraft, GM, P&G, Mastercard, Showtime and Saudi Telecom. He then assumed the role of Managing Director, Levant for Leo Burnett, followed by Regional Managing Director of the Publicis Group of Companies in the Levant. Under his leadership, Leo Burnett Lebanon was transformed into a regional hub for creative excellence (globally ranked in the top 20 Most Creative Agencies in the World for 4 years with the latest global rank of 4th Most Creative Agency in the World in 2015, according to the Big Won Report). Before advertising, Kamil worked in Auditing at KPMG, Lebanon and Management Consultancy (IT) at Price Waterhouse, USA. He holds a BBA from the American University of Beirut, an MBA (Finance and Marketing) from the University of Florida and an MA in Economics from the University of Georgia.
Himanshu Ratnawat
CFO, Grey MENA
Himanshu graduated from Delhi University and qualified as a Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. He started his career in 1999 with Ernst & Young, in their Assurance and Audit division, leading Audit and Consulting assignments for local groups and various multinationals. In 2005, he joined Grey Dubai as Finance Manager. By 2012, he was promoted to Regional Finance Director GCC before taking on the role of Chief Financial Officer for the region. During his tenure at Grey, Himanshu has been instrumental in improving agency efficiencies and effectiveness across all areas of operations, including SOX reporting.
Shagorika Heryani
Head of Strategy, Grey MENA, Grey Dubai
Shagorika is a brand and digital strategist with extensive experience across marketing, brand consulting and advertising roles. She has worked with diverse businesses in multiple geographies like India, United States, MENA, APAC and Bangladesh. Some of her key assignments include companies like Bharti Airtel, Seagram, FCB, Cheil (Samsung), among others.
As a progressive marketer, she helps brands invigorate their business through maximizing the digital-first customer journey that directly impacts purchase, loyalty, brand reputation & revenue.
She was awarded ‘India’s Most Influential Digital Media Professional’ in 2015 and is frequently invited to speak at marketing conferences globally. She has also been a judge for various international advertising awards and writes for marketing magazines. She is a mentor and writer for the world’s largest career ecosystem, where she guides women professionals to navigate their careers.
Vidya Manmohan
Executive Creative Director,Grey Dubai
From walking out of the medical school gates to entering an Art campus, and from switching to copywriting from art direction half way through her advertising career, Vidya has followed her passion all along.
Her work reflects the pop culture around her, be it the awards won in Radio, Print, Design, Outdoor, Integrated or Advertising for Good.
Vidya has been a part of many International and Local Award juries and says that she learns as she shares her knowledge.
She is also one of the rare species that really knows how to have a work-life balance. When asked how she copes with advertising, this mom of a 16-year old, smilingly adds, ‘God has been kind, surrounding me with the most amazing people’.
And when it comes to her 11-year relationship with Grey, she says, “While I have greyed here, it has added hues of experience to my life and career.”
