2025 Creative LIAisons Virtual Coaches

Himanish Ashar

Executive Creative Director, Innovation
Leo Burnett India
Mumbai
, India

Himanish Ashar, now an Executive Creative Director at Leo Burnett Mumbai, is a force in modern advertising, blending wit, tech, and social consciousness to create compelling campaigns. Known for standout projects like #PUMADive and Gatorade’s Turf Finder. Ashar’s work celebrates sports culture, internet, gaming, and tech while pushing creative boundaries.

His recent campaigns embody this philosophy - #PUMADive, for instance, was a clever use of AI to maximize brand exposure during the 2023 Cricket World Cup - a World Cup where PUMA wasn’t even an official sponsor. Similarly, Gatorade’s Turf Finder, powered by Google Maps, uses data and tech to unlock places to play in bustling urban cities, swiftly converting them into inclusive playgrounds for all.
Ashar also leads Apollo 11, Leo Burnett’s Innovation Lab, a specialized division of the agency for young people with backgrounds in aerospace, engineering, and environmental science, designed to solve human and brand problems using scientific methodologies. This lab fosters creative solutions by merging tech, science, and storytelling to address real-world issues and create social impact.

With multiple awards under his belt, including a Cannes Grand Prix for “The Missing Chapter,” D&ADs, One Shows, Clios, and LIAs, Ashar is not only part of advertising’s new generation, he’s shaping it. Looking ahead, he remains dedicated to projects that combine bold storytelling, purpose, striving to leave a lasting impact on both his industry and the communities his work touches.