Rishad Tobaccowala helps guide strategy and foster innovation across VivaKi – a Publicis Groupe entity. He helps VivaKi’s companies show clients the way forward in an exciting and changing time for marketing.
Before VivaKi, Rishad was CEO of Denuo – a Publicis Groupe company that brings new forms of creativity to help brands meet the challenges of modern marketplaces.
Previously, Rishad was the Chief Innovation Officer of Publicis Groupe Media, and founder and President of SMG Next, the first and most comprehensive futures practice in the media industry. Before starting SMG NEXT, Rishad was president and founder of SMG IP, helping to get SMG selected by Media in 2002 and 2004 as Interactive Agency of The Year.
In 1993, Rishad formed Leo Burnett’s Interactive Marketing Group. Between 1996 and 1999, he served as the President of Giant Step, Leo’s interactive agency.
Rishad was named by BusinessWeek as one of the top business leaders for his pioneering innovation (2005), and TIME magazine dubbed him one of five “Marketing Innovators.” He was appointed to Advertising Age's Interactive Hall of Fame; named Adweek's 2000 Media All-Star for Interactive Media; and honored by OMMA as a Media Strategist All-Star in 2005. In 2008, he was named an industry legend by Ad Color, and in 2009, conferred an Industry Achievement award at ad:tech for long-term dedication and industry service.
In addition to the VivaKi board, he serves on the board of directors for leading behavioral marketing firm Audience Science and Recycle Bank. He also serves as an advisor to a broad range of companies, including Marketshare, Greycroft Partners, and the Berlin School of Creative Leadership.
Rishad holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Bombay and an M.B.A. from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago.