Devika Bulchandani is an Indian-born American corporate woman. She came into the limelight on 7 September 2022 when the global advertising and public relations agency, Ogilvy appointed her as its Global Chief Executive Officer (CEO). She joined the company in March 2021 and was designated as the Global Chief Executive Officer in September 2022, and upon this, Devika Bulchandani became the first Indian-origin woman to head a Global Advertising Agency. She served the international advertising agency, McCann for more than twenty-six years in various roles before joining Ogilvy in 2021.
Wiki/Biography
Devika Bulchandani was born Devika Seth Bulchandani in 1973 (age 53 years; as of 2022) in Amritsar, Punjab. She completed her school education at Welham Girls’ School, Dehradun. After completing her school education, she joined St Xavier’s, Mumbai to pursue a bachelor’s degree in English and Psychology. From 1990 to 1992, Devika Bulchandani pursued a master’s in Communications from the Annenberg School of Communication at the University of Southern California. Till the age of ten, Devika Bulchandani lived in Amritsar, Punjab, India.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 6″
Weight (approx.): 65 kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family
Parents & Siblings
Devika Bulchandani (sitting right) with her father (standing)
Her mother’s name is Pammi Seth.
Devika Bulchandani with her mother
Devika Bulchandani has two brothers and a sister. The name of her sister is Priya Seth, and she is a Bollywood cinematographer.
Devika Bulchandani (second from right) with her two brothers and a sister
Husband & Children
In 1994, Devika Bulchandani got married to Ashwin Bulchandani. He works as a Global Macro Strategist and Chief Risk Officer at Matlin Patterson Global Advisers. Soon after her marriage in 1994, she shifted to the US along with her husband, Ashwin.
Devika Bulchandani with her husband, Ashwin Bulchandani
The couple has a son and a daughter. The name of her son is Arhaan, and her daughter is Anya.
Devika Bulchandani with her children
Career
Devika Bulchandani began working in some advertising companies soon after completing her college studies in 1995. She began working with the Global advertising agency McCann in 1997 in its strategy department. During her tenure at McCann, she earned the title ‘woman with a beautiful soul’ in one of the articles of the company. In March 2012, she joined
Devika Bulchandani as a young corporate woman
Campaigns
In 2017, Devika Bulchandani was among the ones who led the campaign titled ‘The Fearless Girl’ in New York City. This campaign was organised as a sign of women’s equality in the workplace. Reportedly, this campaign was considered one of the most awarded campaigns in the history of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. This campaign and its symbol were a challenge to the bull symbol of Wall Street. According to ‘The Fearless Girl’ campaign,
The charging bull with a bronze statue of a young girl, hands on her hips, to send a message about workplace gender diversity.”
The Fearless Girl statue challenging a bull
At McCann, Devika Bulchandani initiated Mastercard’s ‘Priceless’ campaign. She then led the campaign titled ‘True Name’ in 2019 and attracted the attention of transgender and non-binary people by fighting and authorising for their rights for engraving their names on their Mastercard.
The poster of the campaign ‘Priceless’ by Mastercard
In 2021, Devika Bulchandani joined the Global Advertising Agency, Ogilvy and began working in its strategy department. Reportedly, her efforts in the company earned new business from several noted international brands like Absolut, Enterprise Holdings, World of Hyatt, TD Bank, and Audi of America. In September 2022, Devika Bulchandani was elevated to the position of Global Chief Executive Officer of the company and started working with the creative network business of the company. She was given the responsibility of 131 offices situated in 93 countries across the globe along with its Advertising, Public Relations, Experience, Consulting, and Health units.
Devika Bulchandani posing with her colleagues at Ogilvy
Awards
Devika Bulchandani is often honoured by many noted magazines and tabloids by listing her name among the powerful women around the world. She is the recipient of NY Power Woman by New York Moves Magazine, US Advertising Agency Head of the Year by Campaign magazine, and Working Mother of the Year by She Runs It magazine. It was announced in September 2022 that Devika Bulchandani would be awarded as a woman “making a difference, building community, and inspiring the next generation of female leaders in their field” by the New York Women in Communications (NYWIC) at the 2022 Matrix Awards in October 2022.
Facts/Trivia
- She also goes by the name Dev.
- According to some media sources, Devika Bulchandani was one of the principal contributors to highly productive business strategies for WPP, a global marketing and network partner of Coca-Cola. Once, in an interview with a media house, the CEO of WPP, Mark Read, talked about the professional traits of Devika Bulchandani. Mark said,
Devika is a champion of creativity who brings passion, purpose, and an uncompromising focus on generating impact to everything she does.”
Devika Bulchandani posing with his colleagues at WPP
- According to Devika Bulchandani, her two white bosses at the workplace helped her a lot to flourish in her advertising career at McCann. In a media conversation, Devika disclosed that they assisted her to move out of the strategy department. She said,
They were my wings. I always say there were two white men who made me who I am, because the last seven years were critical. If I had not been moved out of strategy, I would never have been where I am today.”
Devika Bulchandani during a press conference
- Devika Bulchandani likes cooking Thai dishes in her leisure time. Once, in an interview with a media house, Devika Bulchandani disclosed that she liked preparing curry paste from scratch the most and had mastered twenty Thai dishes during the COVID-19 lockdown.