With over 25 years in marketing and brand management, Raji Ramaswamy has built a formidable reputation for herself. Over the years, she has worked with some marquee brands, in Mumbai and later in Kolkata, including Kellogg's, DeBeers, ITC, Tata Steel, Berger Paints and Exide. Prior to being the CEO of Contract, she headed JWT Kolkata.

Raji is credited with building the DeBeers business in India and has spearheaded the development of the first diamond brand in the world -Nakshatra followed by Asmi, Arisia, Sangini and others. Her pioneering work helped to and create a platform for the launch of multiple brands around the world. She was also involved in providing strategic direction in building a diamond brand in South Africa for De Beers in 2005. She helped make Kellogg’s a household name in the country and managed the business from 2000 to 2006. She has led the agency team in the development and successful launch of Engage deo and fine fragrances from ITC. Her strategic skills have helped in building some of the largest brands of Tata steel like Tata Tiscon, Tata Shaktee, Tata Pravesh and in the development of Tata steel as a corporate brand. She has also worked on iconic brands like HSBC, Wipro and Bata Global.

Her key achievements are leading teams in the area of category development, strategic and brand insights, Brand management and working with global and local teams. Raji believes in the collision of technology and imagination. She is passionate about delivering exceptional value to the client’s business.

She is currently focussed on taking Contract to the next level through new business wins, scaling up the current offerings like iContract, Design Sutra, Content, technology products. Under her leadership Contract has consolidated its position in the Industry as one of the independent top 10 communication agencies in the country. In a challenging year for the industry the agency won a number of new businesses including key projects. She led the team to win the Bata Global Business post a multi-agency pitch in 2019. She was also instrumental in winning and managing the Wipro business apart from others.

Her vision for Contract is to create the most integrated agency model for the future with a seamless multi- dimensional structure.

Raji has been featured in the Impact’s top 50 list of the most influential women in 2018 & 2019. She was a member of the Global Diversity and Inclusion Council of J. Walter Thompson in 2017. She is the recipient of the Telegraph She Leadership award 2016/17. She has been part of CII, Marketing Committee (Eastern Region) for a span of 5 years. Raji is a part of Wunderman Thompson APAC Inclusion & Diversity Council and a part of WPP Stella Mentor, a global initiative to mentor young, talented women professional within the WPP network.

A team player and an inspirational leader, Raji loves travelling, adventure sports, yoga and meditation. She is also interested in art and likes reading fiction and non-fiction books.

She believes life is all about learning, focus, achieving excellence and helping to create a sustainable world as an individual and as a community.

She believes leadership is about having a clear vision, and inspiring and empowering people with that to realise their own potential while achieving the larger goals of the Company.