(Left to Right) Kiran Guruswami - COO | Devya Patney - Chief People & Culture Officer | Kaushik Srinivasan - Chief Client Officer | Vishal Srivastava - CEO
Annalect India, An Omnicom Media Group Company
Over a decade ago, Omnicom, a premier media and ad agency holding company, founded Annalect with the vision of transforming marketing by leveraging the power of data, technology, and analytics.
The objective was to empower their agencies with innovative solutions to grow their brands in new and creative ways. In India, Annalect offers a diverse portfolio of products and services in Media Services, Marketing Science, Technology, Market Research, Creative Services and Business Support Services.
As a fully owned subsidiary of Omnicom, a worldwide network of premier marketing and communications agencies, Annalect plays a key role in the evolving marketing landscape.
Annalect serves to enhance Omnicom’s already exceptional offerings by providing additional support and services around the clock. With a focus on talent, technology, creativity, and innovation, Omnicom represents some of the world’s most iconic and successful brands.
Annalect’s mission is to continuously find new and innovative ways to add value for Omnicom agencies and their clients, further solidifying its position as a key player in the marketing and communications industry. Annalect functions as a shared capability centre for Omnicom agencies worldwide.
By leveraging its operational and service excellence, Annalect provides support that enhances business value and efficiency for its clients. This allows Omnicom agencies to benefit from the expertise and resources of Annalect while maintaining their own distinct identities and operations.
The end objective of Annalect is to aid the growth of the brands managed by the agencies they serve. This is accomplished through the provision of additional or improved services through their highly integrated workforce, advanced capabilities, superior operational performance, and tangible business value.
Annalect is committed to continuously elevating its skills, level of service, and value proposition while upholding the highest standard of work-life balance and workplace environment for its rapidly expanding and highly motivated team.
Vishal Srivastava, Chief Executive Officer
Hailing from Gorakhpur, a city known for Gita Press (renowned publisher of the Bhagwad Gita), Vishal relocated to Delhi NCR after finishing schooling to pursue B.Tech. in Computer Science.
Fascinated by the world of data, he has been drawn to this field ever since. He commenced his career with CEB (now Gartner), developing the company’s BI expertise and later ventured into the world of media and marketing with Wunderman (part of WPP).
“Owing to the fascination I have with the world of data, in 2012, I took the leap of faith and started Annalect India, and it has been an incredible journey so far. My team and I have been focused on developing a value-driven business model for Omnicom agencies over the past ten years. We strive to provide customised solutions tailored to the needs of our stakeholders. I am proud of the work we have done and continue to do, and I am excited about the possibilities that the future holds.”
Vishal
As the Chief Executive Officer, Vishal has been focused on developing a value-driven business model for Omnicom agencies. The company continues to offer a variety of solutions tailored to the needs of its stakeholders.
Kiran Guruswami, Chief Operating Officer
A mechanical engineering graduate, Kiran Guruswami, commenced his professional journey in Business Intelligence at Wipro. He later joined Wunderman (part of WPP), where he found a footing in the advertising industry.
“The advertising industry kind of picked me, and I’m grateful that it did. There, I discovered my passion for data-driven marketing, which has been a significant driving force in my career. I have been exploring and learning more about the industry for quite some time now, and it never ceases to amaze me.”
Kiran
As one of the founding members, Kiran Guruswami joined Annalect India in 2012, starting out as a data analyst. Over time, Kiran’s role transitioned into that of a multidisciplinary enabler, and currently holds the position of Chief Operating Officer. Annalect India’s work environment is designed to offer diverse growth opportunities and learning experiences.
Kiran emphasises, “It’s logic-driven and graspable if you’re able to equate your efforts with outcomes – and this very part catalyses and carries the impact to a wide network of stakeholders.”
Kaushik Srinivasan, Chief Client Officer
An electronics graduate and an MBA, Kaushik Srinivasan decided to pursue a career in Consulting as it offered diverse opportunities to work across sectors and functional expertise.
Originally from Hyderabad, Kaushik’s work took him across the world, including Mumbai, Houston, New York, and back to Hyderabad.
Working with renowned global professional service leaders such as Deloitte Consulting and PwC provided him with the best opportunities to work globally and various capabilities, including Strategy, Tech & Digital, M&A, Organization Transformation, and Talent.
Kaushik shares, “Prior to Annalect, I had the privilege of spending ten years as an entrepreneur, building profitable and innovative organisations while serving a greater purpose.
As the Chief Client Officer for Annalect India at present, I am thrilled to be a part of a team that is constantly opening new opportunities for our clients, agencies, and team members in areas such as creative, media, data & reporting, technology, research, and other business functions.”
Devya Patney, Chief People and Culture Officer
A graduate in Strategic Human Resource Management from IIM Calcutta, Devya Patney has a career spanning all aspects of People and Culture operations, including recruitment, learning & development, organisational behaviour, and employee well-being.
She played a crucial role in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, leading the recruitment and management of over 20,000 volunteers and staff members. Devya has also worked with several fast-growing organisations like MakeMyTrip and InterGlobe.
Recalling her journey at Annalect, Devya shares, “Annalect India’s vision to build a global capability centre that’s also a learning and growth hub for its people inspired me to join the organisation. My journey here has been phenomenal; we’ve worked towards and witnessed 100% YoY growth and a significant improvement in retention.”
Omnicom strives to meet the diverse needs of its clients in the Marketing and Communications space through its comprehensive range of products and services.
From data and reporting solutions to cutting-edge technology products and creative production services, their offerings are designed to provide clients with the support they need to succeed.
Their team of highly talented professionals, combined with their commitment to digital innovation, ensures that Omnicom is always at the forefront of the industry, constantly exploring new and innovative ways to scale and expand its offerings.
Whether clients require research services, internal business support, or something else entirely, the team is always ready to help and is dedicated to driving operational excellence for their clients. Their clientele comprises some of the most renowned global brands, such as Diageo, Sanofi, Nissan, Loreal, Unilever, and SAP.
The story of Annalect began in 2010 when a group of ambitious individuals came together in New York to reimagine marketing at the crossroads of data, tech & analytics.
With their determination and foresight, they quickly realised the potential for growth in India and made the bold move to expand their operations there in 2012.
Despite starting with just a small team of five, they were driven by a clear vision and a strong work ethic. Their hard work and commitment have built a proud history of accomplishments and memories that will last a lifetime. Today, Annalect stands as a testament to its growth and success.
Vishal shares, “Marketing and communications have always fascinated me. Guiding behaviour through the communication of ideas is a simple yet powerful concept.
We experience a great sense of satisfaction when our ideas are understood and valued. Annalect helps agencies communicate ideas on behalf of the brands they serve in ways their audience too will value.”
Annalect is renowned for its exceptional talent and technologically advanced tools, many of which have been custom-made in-house. This fusion of human expertise and technology results in imaginative marketing strategies that expertly blend data, technology, algorithms, and analytics.
This distinctive approach gives the company an edge in uncovering and leveraging new opportunities, as well as facilitating comprehensive and innovative problem-solving.
The past decade has been an incredible journey of growth and achievement. The company has accomplished remarkable feats, starting from humble roots to now being featured in global client presentations and collaborating with top agencies on behalf of renowned brands.
Vishal shares, “We define success as a win for both our clients and employees. The goal is to continue expanding the range of services and reach by offering a wider variety of learning opportunities for the team.”
From its inception, Annalect has been guided by a clear vision and a set of shared values that shape all of its actions.
These values, which inform every decision the company makes, are:
Right First Time
Never Give Up
Better the Best
Lead by Example
These values are a constant reminder of Annalect’s commitment to excellence and integrity in all of its endeavours.
The COVID-19 pandemic was a stark reminder of the unpredictability of life. It was one of the rare events that caught the world by surprise. At the outset, many were uncertain about the future of our industry.
However, the agencies of Omnicom demonstrated their resilience and ingenuity by coming up with innovative solutions for the new normal.
Vishal shares, “Despite the challenges, we stayed the course and came out even stronger on the other side. It’s heartening to see that we are now witnessing record growth.”
The pandemic brought about a change that opened new doors of opportunity. While virtual interactions were already in place, they were fully embraced during this time.
At Annalect India, we quickly adapted to this new working model and became more connected with our teams. Moreover, regular check-ins were implemented to ensure everyone’s well-being.
In response to these changes, the organisation improved its online presence, recruitment, learning and development, finance, and people operations to pave the way for future growth. The outcome recorded success, growth, and a stronger sense of connection within the organisation.
As a leader, Vishal’s approach to the pandemic strengthened relationships and embraced growth. He says, “The pandemic transformed my relationship with my team. Keeping in touch and fostering strong relationships became even more crucial to me.
I now have a renewed emphasis on my team’s health, well-being, and professional and personal growth. In the industry, there is a palpable new growth mindset. I’m excited for what’s to come, and if the growth we’ve recently experienced is any indication, the future certainly looks bright.”
Privacy and the responsible use of data have been a topic of much discussion lately; Annalect, however, has long been at the forefront of these conversations. With a focus on privacy, their custom software is designed with this key principle in mind rather than being an added afterthought.
Annalect has also pioneered the use of cleanroom technology, which allows multiple parties to collaborate and enhance their data while still maintaining privacy compliance. With this innovative approach, data never has to be moved, and privacy can be protected.
Annalect operates from five major cities in India - Gurugram, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Mumbai - where it has established state-of-the-art offices.
The company has invested considerable effort in designing these offices, recognising that the workplace can significantly influence collaboration and team culture.
Annalect places a high value on fostering a positive and productive working environment for its employees, which is reflected in the attention to detail that has gone into the design of its offices.
Annalect India, known for its exponential growth, continuously seeks new talent to join its team and bolster its capabilities.
The organisation strongly emphasises creating a supportive and empowering work environment that fosters strong relationships between its employees and cultivates strong connections with internal and external stakeholders.
The company aspires to expand its team to new heights and broaden its reach across the Omnicom network, with the goal of providing exceptional service to its clients and making a meaningful impact in the industry.
As an entrepreneur himself, Vishal has experienced firsthand how challenging the journey can be. Sharing his journey, Vishal says, “When I joined Annalect as part of the five-person team in India, I was both excited and a little scared of what lay ahead.
I believe most young entrepreneurs face the same dilemma – and that’s absolutely fine. Keep directing your energy and thoughts in the direction you believe is right for your organisation and people.
There will be inevitable ups and downs throughout the process, but maintain your resolve and don’t be swayed by short-term failures or successes.
Young entrepreneurs who are contemplating a move into the field of Marketing and Communications know that it offers an exciting and fulfilling experience.
Stay focused and keep working toward your dream. Show commitment, leave a lasting impression, and remember that even small actions can have a significant impact.”
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