Creative veteran Pratik Thakar takes up senior Asia-Pacific role at Coca-Cola

Thakar (pictured) continues to be based in Shanghai and reports to John Hackett, head of Pacific Group marketing, customer and commercial leadership, who is based at Coca-Cola's headquarters in Atlanta.

Thakar came on board on 1 March after his last working day at Grey Group on 28 February. He will be working across Coca-Cola’s five business units, more than 25 individual markets (including South Asia-India, Southeast Asia, Greater China, Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand).

Thakar will lead creative and content development for all of the Pacific Group. He will connect with the global team and the other regions of the world for the company’s portfolio including Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, Minute Maid, Frestea, Heaven & Earth, Real Leaf, Dasani, Powerade, Aquarius, Samurai and Burn.

He told Campaign Asia-Pacific that he has worked with his new employer on many successful campaigns. “During my 10 years long stint at McCann Worldgroup, I led creative strategy for global Islamic campaign, which ran across 33 markets," he said. He also worked on many global and regional initiatives for Coke-with-Teens as well as Coke-with-Meals.

Thakar said he will always cherish his "short but action-packed stint" at Grey Group Greater China, which he joined last April, Pratik told Campaign Asia-Pacific, “I really enjoyed partnering with my great friend and mentor TH Peng in bringing mojo back at Grey.”

In the last few months, Grey has gained momentum, winning a number of high-profile clients including Wellcome Supermarket and Mengniu. The team also expanded "significantly" with talent across Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai, he said, adding that it "has been a difficult decision to leave Grey, and more importantly TH.”

"It has been a great experience working with Pratik for the past year," Peng told Campaign Asia-Pacific from a business trip in Australia. "Together we have built a powerful planning team at Grey. He is strategic and creative. Now he is taking a more creative-oriented job, I am confident that he will do well in his new role."