Suresh Balakrishna to speak on Karnataka OOH growth drivers

Karnataka with its strong industrial base has attracted the best talents from around the globe, and the overall economic prosperity has translated into high living standards, high disposable income in the hands of people, and strong consumerism – aspects that attract the attention of a whole gamut of consumer and industrial brands. As a result, Bengaluru and Rest of Karnataka have developed into strong brand destinations, evidenced by rapid growth of advertising, as seen in the OOH space.

Against this backdrop, Suresh Balakrishna, CEO, South Asia and Middle East, Kinetic Advertising India Private Limited, will speak on ‘What pulls brand advertisers to Karnataka OOH’ at the Karnataka Talks OOH Conference that will be held at Royal Orchid hotel, HAL Airport Road, Bengaluru on February 9.

Suresh Balakrishna began his career with The Times of India in the advertising (now Response) Department, in January 1987. In May 1996, Suresh joined Lintas and was there for 6.5 years. As Associate VP In charge of Initiative Media, a media division of Lintas India Limited, he was initially heading Media Buying and Operations for the regions, was for a brief period Head of Strategic Media Planning and was later promoted to Executive VP, driving various ventures of Lintas like rural and new media buying divisions. He had set up Linterland which specialised in Rural Communication.

In January 2003, Suresh joined Hindustan Times, Delhi as VP -Media Marketing, In March 2005, Suresh joined Zee Telefilms Limited as Executive VP, Head of Marketing for Zee Network and then was seconded to Diligent Media Corporation Limited (DNA) as CMO - Head of Sales and Marketing and was primarily responsible for the high decibel launch of DNA.

In June 2007, he joined the India Today Group as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Mail Today, the daily morning newspaper launched in Delhi. In January 2011, he joined the Lintas Media Group and initially was CEO-BPN. Subsequently, took over Initiative Media and Rapport – the OOH Company of Mediabrands. In January 2016, he moved to the WPP GROUP and took over as CEO, South Asia and Middle East at Kinetic Advertising India Private Limited.