Cheil X appoints Ritesh Rao to head Mumbai, elevates Kanika to lead Delhi office

Cheil X, part of the Cheil SWA Group, has appointed Ritesh Rao as Head of Operations for its Mumbai office and elevated Kanika as Head of the Delhi office, where she was previously Vice President.

In his new role, Rao will be responsible for driving business expansion and operational excellence for Cheil X in Mumbai. He brings over two decades of experience across integrated marketing, growth strategy, brand transformation and client leadership roles.

Most recently, Rao served as CEO of 26FIVE Global Lab. His earlier leadership stints include roles at Creativeland Asia, Isobar and Lowe Lintas.

Speaking about his appointment, Ritesh said, “Creativity is the heart of advertising, and creative transformation is about ensuring that the heart beats stronger across every department, platform, format, and consumer touchpoint. I’m excited to join Cheil X at a time when creativity, technology, and culture are converging faster than ever. The agency’s ambition and integrated thinking create a strong opportunity to build work that is both impactful and meaningful for the brands we partner with.”

Kanika, who takes charge as Head of the Delhi office, will lead the agency’s operations in the region following her elevation from Vice President.

Commenting on her new role, Kanika said, “As India’s leading integrated marketing agency, Cheil’s biggest strength lies in our ability to deliver tech-first solutions across the entire marketing funnel—under one roof. From brand strategy and creative to commerce, experience, and performance, our integrated model enables seamless collaboration and end-to-end problem solving. This is increasingly critical for brands navigating complex business challenges in today’s fast-evolving market.”