Ishan Ghosh steps into new role at Barrett and Welsh

Ishan Ghosh is stepping back from active duties as CEO at Barrett and Welsh and transitioning into a Chairman Emeritus and Chief Purpose Officer role, Barrett and Welsh has announced.

As Ghosh transitions into the newly announced positions, agency co-founder and Chief Creative Officer Gavin Barrett will take majority control of the agency and interim CEO responsibilities, with the close support of COO/CSO Nitin Bagga.

In his new role, Ghosh will continue contributing to the agency’s industry DEI leadership and will mentor immigrant talent in the agency and beyond in continued collaboration with Gavin Barrett. Ghosh hopes to find room to add to the teaching roles he has enjoyed at UofT/Rotman and McMaster/DeGroote. As its co-founder and secretary, he also plans to devote some time to strengthening the Multicultural Marketing Alliance of Canada, the association that represents Canada’s finest multicultural agencies.

“My journey with Barrett and Welsh has been one of the most rewarding in my life, as I oversaw our growth from creative boutique to the most recognized crusader in inclusive marketing,” said Ghosh, adding, “I am proud of the specialized teams and the strong friendships I built with the founders and my partners for almost 12 years, and the leadership team of Nitin Bagga and Benjamin Borges. After 40+ years devoted to the industry, my priorities must now shift towards my personal obligations. I look forward to this new role, and to continuing to motivate and guide the agency toward its purpose. I am excited to see Barrett and Welsh leap into the future.”

Ishan Ghosh, Gavin Barrett and Mike Welsh first met at Vickers & Benson, and Ghosh joined Barrett and Welsh as Partner and CEO in 2011, after a stint as Partner at The Brand Factory.

“I am so grateful to have been able to call Ishan both partner and friend,” said Barrett. “And I am so glad we can continue to count on his great gifts in his new role, shaping our industry and our team.”

During Ghosh’s time at Barrett and Welsh, the agency has achieved tremendous growth, becoming the most accoladed multicultural agency in Canadian marketing, with a client list that grew to include blue chip clients like Allstate, Proctor & Gamble, Sobeys, TD and Walmart.

Nitin Bagga, the agency’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Strategy Officer said, “Ishan is the reason I came to Barrett and Welsh and the work Gavin and I have done together at the agency is the reason I'm here to stay. We have so many exciting announcements coming up — new hires, new wins, new work."

Barrett and Welsh won a slew of awards at Strategy’s 2022 Marketing Awards, and placed 5th among all Canadian agencies. The agency specializes in the multicultural space — its trademark insight-rich, inclusive communications to underserved communities have become a key ingredient of brand success, as Canada prepares to welcome over 1.2 million new immigrants over the next two years.

About Barrett and Welsh: Barrett and Welsh is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, Anishnabeg, Chippewa, Haudenosaunee and Wendat peoples, on Treaty 13 and Williams Treaties lands. It is a certified B Corporation and a Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council certified Minority Owned agency specializing in communications that create inclusion for minorities. It is Canada’s most-awarded multicultural agency and is considered one of the world’s leading branding and advertising agencies in the space. The agency’s work has served clients like Allstate Canada, Walmart, TD Bank, the Dalai Lama, Viva, Hurontario LRT, Sobeys, Nia Centre, The National Art Centre, the City of Brampton, Mina Halal, Canadian Blood Services, Halton Multicultural Council and York Region Rapid Transit Corporation. It is a founding member of the Multicultural Marketing Alliance of Canada. The agency’s logo is a tartan turban.