Ashok Kurien, Founder-Promoter/Director, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., Dish TV, Playwin, India.com; Founder-Promoter: Ambience Advertising, Hanmer & Partners; Partner, Livinguard Technologies; Senior Advisor to the Publicis Groupe India.
Life was hard for young Ashok growing up. He could not add, spell, memorize or write letters in a straight line. Regularly caned in school and further misunderstood and beaten at home, Ashok grew up being told he was dumb, stupid and a failure, crushing his young spirit. However his exceptional talent on the field ensured he managed to stay in school, eventually being appointed Sports Captain. His immense struggles growing up led him to become a rebel with a burning desire to prove himself to the world. 14 tries and 7 years later, Ashok finally got his BA degree and eventually found his calling in advertising. His big break came when a client, Garden Vareli, told him they would give him their account if he started his own agency. “All it took was that one person to believe in me” states Ashok. And the rest as they say is history. Lakme, Vadilal, TVS Suzuki, Marico, Colgate, Coca Cola, Godrej, Raymond, Taj Group of Hotels and others followed, as his agency, Ambience Advertising, grew into one of India’s finest indigenous agencies.
Over the years, Ashok has helped good friend Subhash Chandra create the entertainment group, Zee, along with India’s first online lottery, Playwin, India.com, Dish TV…….. “It looks as though I have ended up becoming a serial entrepreneur! Over the last 20 years, every three years I have found something new to do.”
Having since sold Ambience to the Publicis Group, Ashok is currently Senior Advisor to the US$ 7 billion media conglomerate. His Ammada Trust, set up in 2000, helps the poor and needy, by funding NGOs that work with the underprivileged. Currently Ashok is most excited about being a partner at Livinguard Technologies, which is developing water filters to make available potable water to as many people as possible, at the lowest cost. “I never do anything to make money. I do things because they are good ideas,” he ends, saying a movie on his life would be titled “LIVING DIFFERENTLY”!!
