Cheil South West Asia (SWA) has announced the appointment of Jitender Dabas, known as Jeetu, as the new CEO of Cheil X. In addition, he will take on the role of Group Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) for Cheil SWA.
Cheil X, an independent full-service agency under the Cheil India SWA group, is responsible for managing accounts beyond Samsung. Jitender will lead Cheil X’s offices in Delhi and Mumbai and provide strategic oversight to the various agencies under Cheil SWA. His responsibilities will cover creative services, strategy, digital marketing, digital media, influencer marketing, tech, content production, retail design, and performance solutions.
Jitender joins Cheil from McCann Worldgroup, where he held the position of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Strategy Officer for India, as well as Head of Effectiveness for the APAC region.
An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, Jitender is recognised as one of the top strategic leaders in global advertising. His career includes notable stints with WPP and IPG, earning multiple accolades for thought leadership and creative effectiveness. A recipient of the WPP Atticus Award, Jitender has also served on the juries for prestigious awards such as Cannes Lions, 4A’s Jay Chiat Strategy Awards, WARC Awards, and regional Effies. His work has garnered more than 100 advertising awards both in India and internationally.
Carlos Limseob Chung, Managing Director of Cheil India and President of Cheil South West Asia, expressed his enthusiasm for Jitender’s appointment, saying, “We’re thrilled to welcome Jitender Dabas to the Cheil SWA Group and family. His reputation as a professional and leader precedes him, and his appointment marks a significant milestone as Cheil X enters its next phase of growth and transformation. With our scaling up of our capabilities in digital marketing through Experience Commerce, content production through CYLNDR, retail design & branding through newRx, and digital media and influencer marketing, there couldn’t have been anyone better than Jeetu to drive this intersection of creativity, strategy, and technology into a new future-focused agency.”
Jitender Dabas shared his thoughts on the move by saying, “I am really excited about leading Cheil X at the pivotal moment in its journey in India. As an industry, we are all acutely aware of the change that is upon us. The old models are giving way, and newer models haven’t yet crystallized. And the truth is that disruptive creativity and big brand strategy, only when deployed across the persuasion funnel, will lead to truly impactful outcomes.
Cheil is a global leader when it comes to solutions at the intersection of creativity and technology, and I am excited about partnering businesses and brands in India with all the new-age capabilities that Cheil is building in India. I’m looking forward to creating something future-facing: an agency that doesn’t just keep up with change but leads it.”
