Rajappa's amiability is disarming. Even more so, since he has just taken over as the president of Everest Brand Solutions, after serving as the CEO of Rediffusion DYR, Sri Lanka, since 2003. But that ability of putting someone at ease may not be all that surprising considering that, while in Sri Lanka, he also worked closely with the Indian High Commission in Colombo, to promote Indian business in the island nation.

His 18-year-long career - 12 of which were with Rediffusion DYR - has also spanned stints with Interact Vision, an agency from the Mudra Group, as well as McCann (then Clarion McCann). He cut his teeth in advertising at Clarion McCann where, he says, he learnt the 'tricks of the trade'. This was followed by a stint at Interact Vision which was set up with a distinct mission of serving the small Indian entrepreneur. There, he worked on several brands like Mother Dairy and Monte Carlo. Then began his long affair with Rediffusion. ... more