R Balki, maker of 'Cheeni Kum', 'Paa' movies, bids adieu to advertising industry

Mumbai: Ad man and filmmaker R Balakrishnan, better known as Balki, has quit the advertising industry after a three decade long career. The move was announced today through an internal communication, to employees of MullenLowe Lintas Group, India. [caption id=“attachment_2739384” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  R Balki. IBNlive[/caption] Majority of Balki’s advertising years were spent at the MullenLowe Lintas Group, where he currently holds the role of Group Chairman. Balki started his career in Mudra, before moving on to Lintas in 1994, at its Bengaluru office. “We’ve been planning this for some time now. It has been a long process of succession planning that concludes with my move. The agency is at its strongest today and I leave feeling satisfied, proud and excited,” Balki said in a statement. “The agency has given me more than 22 years’-worth in opportunities, growth, values and most of all, some friends for life,” he said. Commenting on the move, MullenLowe Group Global Chief Executive Officer Alex Leikikh said:“While we will miss his infectiously passionate presence, we wish him even greater success as a filmmaker,” he said. Over the last few years, Balki has helmed movies like “Cheeni Kum”, “Paa”, “Shamitabh” and “Ki & Ka”. MullenLowe Lintas Group CEO Joseph George, who worked closely with Balki through all of the 22 years, said: “It is impossible and even foolish to try and replace someone like Balki; so we planned the transition differently.” “As early as July 2015, we put in place a management structure that would help us move forward as an organisation, while also maximising the potential and aspirations of great individuals we have. Balki and I have tried to think this through every step of the way, and it has reached a place where we feel the agency is ready for today, and tomorrow,” he said.