Sunil Gautam steps down as chairman, Hanmer MSL

Sunil Gautam, chairman and founder, Hanmer MSL has stepped down and handed over full responsibilities of the agency to Hanmer's chief executive officer, Jaideep Shergill.

Shergill, who had taken charge as CEO in March 2010, will continue in his current capacity and no new chairman will be appointed. ''We will continue to use Gautam's advice when required, and work out how we can work with him informally,'' Shergill told Campaign India. 

He added that the agency has a leadership team in place now on the back of senior level appointments last year, and is looking to continue with its growth story. 

Gautam had founded Hanmer & Partners in 1999, which was acquired by Publicis Groupe's PR and events network-MS&LGroup in 2007, following disputes with his partners at Clea, which was also co-founded by Gautam. (See: Publicis Groupe's PR arm Manning Selvage & Lee's to acquire top Indian PR firm Hanmer & Partners)