Wunderman Thompson North America CEO, Audrey Melofchik, announced the appointment of Vaishali Sarkar, former CEO of Wunderman Thompson and VMLY&R Indonesia, as the new president of Wunderman Thompson Canada. The agency operates local offices in Toronto and Montreal, serving clients such as HSBC, Microsoft, and various automotive brands.
"Vaishali is a proven leader deeply familiar with many of the brands we share as clients. She has a heart for her team and is known for her success in steering agencies and clients towards success," Melofchik said.
During her tenure as CEO of Wunderman Thompson Indonesia, Sarkar successfully navigated the agency through its noteworthy merger and the COVID-19 pandemic. She also secured and managed Danone Aqua, one of Indonesia's leading water brands and one of Wunderman Thompson Indonesia's largest accounts. Sarkar's leadership led to several new business wins, including Perfetti, Nestle's KitKat, and Purina.
Sarkar brings over 30 years of experience, most of which she spent at Ogilvy in Asia. During her time at Ogilvy, she expanded its offerings, developed marketing solutions across all disciplines and emerging technologies for brands including American Express, Unilever, Nestle, and UNICEF, earning accolades such as Cannes Lions, Campaign Asia's Agency of the Year, WARC distinctions, and ECHO Awards.
Sarkar expressed her excitement about her new role, "The power of our network provides me with the opportunity to apply my experience in Indonesia to another important market - Canada. Wunderman Thompson North America's creative reputation is growing, with some of the best ideas and work originating in Canada. I look forward to helping our clients and talent in Canada to thrive."
Before joining Wunderman Thompson, Sarkar served as CEO at BBDO Indonesia, attracting top talent and forming a robust leadership team across account management, strategic planning, and creative.
Known for integrating cutting-edge technology and creative data in its work, Wunderman Thompson Canada has garnered recognition for innovative projects such as 'The Immortal Poppy,' 'The Luckiest Red,' 'The Disparity Coin,' and 'Remastered Memories.' The agency has also been honored by Fast Company in the past two years for their innovative, purpose-led campaigns.
