Mumbai: Mitali Srivastava Hough has officially stepped down from her position as Senior VP and Head of Planning at McCann Worldgroup’s Mumbai office. With over 25 years of experience in the advertising industry, Hough has been a prominent figure, having worked with leading agencies such as DDB Mudra, Ogilvy & Mather, Famous Innovations, and TBWA India.
Hough made history as the first planner in Indian advertising to co-found an agency, Utopeia Communicationz, followed by her venture, Equal, which focuses on CSR solutions. While her future plans remain somewhat ambiguous, she has expressed a desire to mentor through her creative consultancy, The Equal Agency, and to advise various other agencies.
Reflecting on her tenure at McCann, Hough shared, “I am deeply grateful for the experiences and relationships I’ve built. My time there was short but fulfilling, allowing me to collaborate with talented professionals and clients across industries. I look forward to exploring new horizons and challenges.”
In addition to her consultancy work, Hough is set to collaborate with renowned musician AR Rahman, contributing as a writer on a major project that combines creativity and technology. This partnership, alongside her other ventures, marks an exciting new phase in her career, where she aims to further explore the intersection of creativity, strategy, and passion.
Recognized as a strategic planner, digital expert, trainer, and researcher, Hough has made significant contributions to brands like Volkswagen, J&J, Reliance Retail, Bournvita, Neutrogena, Nivea, Big Bazaar, and Asian Paints. Prior to her entrepreneurial journey, she served as Associate Vice President at DDB Mudra, where she worked across multiple verticals, including DDB India and Tribal DDB. Hough’s accolades include prestigious awards at Effies, AME, James Burke, and the Indian Marketing Awards.