KARTIK S.

Overview Key Responsibilities Key Highlights

• A boutique B2B creative agency, one of the rare independent entities to hold the Agency of Record position for Qualcomm.
• Led creative, social, and content initiatives to craft compelling global B2B brands, focusing on strategy, storytelling, and execution to drive engagement, trust, and measurable impact.
• Established and scaled the Bangalore practice, achieving 2.5x growth in the client base (2019–2022), while delivering innovative solutions for clients ( both global and regional): IBM, Qualcomm, Microsoft, VMware, Schaeffler India, Bosch In etc.

Brand Communications: Developed brand guidelines, messaging frameworks, and brand personas to establish a distinct identity for B2B brands, helping them stand out in competitive markets. Created editorial roadmaps and content strategies to engage both local and global audiences, with a strong focus on thought leadership content for CEOs.

Assets and Marketing Collaterals: Managed the creation of brand kits, sales enablement materials, blogs, case studies, and marketing collateral to support campaigns, product launches, and business development. Delivered demand-generation assets and internal communications optimized for scalability and impact.

Social and Content Initiatives: Directed social campaigns for multiple brands. Produced video content in multiple formats (social-led, customer stories/testimonials/event-led, explainers and product centric) to support storytelling and drive audience engagement.

Project Management: Led multi-stakeholder projects, ensuring alignment of creative outputs with business objectives, deadlines, and budgets. Collaborated with design, content, and strategy teams to deliver high-quality, business-aligned outputs.

Team Building & Leadership: Built and led a high-performing team of writers and designers, complemented by a network of consultants for specialized projects, ensuring collaboration and impactful execution across initiatives.

Highlights

• Snapdragon Campaigns: Elevated 'Snapdragon' to the most talked-about brand in its category in India, leading campaigns such as Qualcomm Design in India and 'Upgrade to Snapdragon.'
• Qualcomm India/APAC Social Program: Designed and executed community engagement and thought leadership initiatives for Qualcomm’s social channels.
• Editorial Content Development: Created editorial content and Q&As for ITServe, the largest US tech entrepreneur community, for flagship events.
• Internal Outreach Programs: Authored guides, mini e-books, and outreach materials with global experts like Ms. Zarina Stanford (former IBM APAC CMO), addressing topics like Generative AI and modern marketing strategies.

• Led the portfolio for accounts in Bangalore and Chennai, driving strategic initiatives across digital and social campaigns.
• Managed integrated projects (Digital and PR) for brands like Bosch Engineering, Elgi India, KBL India (Manufacturing), Randstad India, Caterpillar, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
• Spearheaded the formation of the digital and creative team, developing comprehensive social and creative blueprints for key accounts.
• Successfully delivered social media and influencer campaigns for consumer and lifestyle brands like OnePlus, Tanishq (Tata), Jockey, and TCL.
• Drove new business initiatives, managing RFPs and pitching efforts to expand the client portfolio.

( I was in the role of a senior consultant till October 2017 and then moved to a full-time)

Key Responsibilities

Projects and Highlights

• Joined as a Regional Social Content Specialist for APAC & MEA.
• Transitioned in November 2014 to Social Lead for IBM and other brands.
• Drove social media engagement for IBM's key business units, including Cloud Computing, Big Data/Analytics, Cognitive/AI, and Corporate IBM, across growth markets like India, the Middle East, ASEAN, and ANZ.
• Managed social content and calendars for regional communities on platforms such as Twitter, LinkedIn, and blogs, ensuring consistent and audience-relevant messaging.
• Partnered with Global Social Teams (US) to source assets and tip sheets, providing best practices and social media guidance to local markets.
• Directed the creation of diverse content formats, including social tiles, infographics, animated infographics, visual story strips, GIFs, case studies, reports, cinemagraphs, and microvideos to craft compelling narratives.
• Designed and executed social content and communications for global marquee events, including:THINK Forum (2015 & 2016)
  India Cloud Week (2015) and Outthink (2016)
  
• Oversaw testimonial video production and client/customer interviews during events, managing content for IBM India's YouTube channel.
• Partnered with Ogilvy's media team to run paid social campaigns, driving engagement and website traffic on platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
• Managed outreach to influencers across industries, collaborating with tech journalists, analysts, and C-suite executives to amplify content.
• Leveraged tools like Twitter Analytics, SimplyMeasured, Sysomos, TweetReach, and Hootsuite to track and report social performance metrics.
• Supervised and guided a team of two Community Managers, ensuring the cohesive execution of social strategies and community engagement efforts.
• Score with Data: Led the social media execution for IBM’s award-winning campaign during WC Cricket 2015, involving online PR outreach and sponsored/native content.
• SME Enablement Programs: Created enablement programs, social primers, and playbooks to establish social eminence for IBM SG CMO, supported by the ASEAN digital lead.

• Campaign Planning: Developed and executed the online campaign for the launch of Starcount.com, culminating in the successful Social Star Awards event.
  
• Community Management: Oversaw online communities on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+, driving engagement and fostering community growth.
  
• Influencer Outreach: Identified key celebrity bloggers and KOLs, designing and implementing a targeted outreach program to amplify campaign reach.
  
• Content Creation & Partnerships: Created, managed, and curated content for the blog and online PR, building strategic partnerships with leading social media and entertainment platforms like Mashable and Forbes.
  
• Team Leadership: Led a team of three community managers and social journalists in a fast-paced startup environment, ensuring the seamless execution of content and social media strategies.
  

• Initiative Leadership: Pioneered the establishment of social media and community management for P&G brands in Southeast Asia, launching their first-ever social initiatives for Pantene, Gillette, and Olay across ASEAN markets.
  
• Platform Oversight: Oversaw the creation and management of Facebook pages and Twitter accounts for markets including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, ensuring a unified and cohesive social media presence.
  
• Operational Framework: Defined standard operating procedures (SOPs) and workflows, clearly outlining roles and responsibilities for internal teams and P&G stakeholders.
  
• Team Leadership: Managed and mentored a team of community managers across four key markets (Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam), ensuring seamless execution of social media strategies and community engagement efforts.
  
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Served as the primary liaison for P&G brand teams and the Employee Relations team, coordinating asset gathering and information-sharing to support the community management program.
  
• Integrated Campaigns: Integrated social media into larger marketing, PR, and digital campaigns, amplifying their impact and audience reach.
  
• Content Development: Created conversation calendars tailored to each brand, ensuring consistent, targeted, and engaging content aligned with brand objectives.
  
• Reporting and Insights: Delivered monthly reports with key performance metrics and qualitative insights for Facebook brand pages, helping refine strategies and optimize results.
  

Managed earned and owned media for an international digital learning firm.
• Oversaw online marketing activities for Punflay educational apps for iPhone/iPad and Mobl21 mobile learning product in the N.A market.
• Initiated, established, and led newly developed Social Media channels, focusing on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube for communication purposes.
• Actively engaged with and managed communities on Twitter, overseeing accounts including @Punflay, @Punflaykids, and @mobl_21.
• Collaborated with PR specialists to assist in drafting executive bios, securing speaking opportunities, authoring articles, press releases, corp. PR etc.

• Managed end-to-end communications for clients including Lotte's confectionery brands, AB Mauri, and Arihant-JP Morgan's real estate venture.
• Developed and executed integrated communication plans, including print, outdoor, TVCs, packaging, POS, and digital ads. Led account planning, media strategy, PR, event management, and special consulting projects for high-profile clients like HSBC and British Airways.

Handling account planning/coordination, media planning, advertising/PR, and event management/coordination for clients.
Also led the consulting division of the team with the Vice President on special projects and case to case assignments with clients (Western Union, HSBC, British Airways etc.).