21N78E has announced the appointment of Viren Mahindra as national creative director.

He moves from Digital Refresh Networks, where he was national creative director and chief operating officer. He spent nine years with the agency.

Sudhir Nair, founder and CEO, 21N78E, said, “We are at a juncture where unless we pivot, we will become irrelevant in a few years. It’s not just true for us, it is the reality of the business. We are indexing heavily on our consulting practice and parallelly augmenting our delivery capabilities to create transformative work at scale. Viren comes with a rich experience across categories and most importantly is on the right side of tech which aligns with our long-term plans. Having been integral to many brand journeys, he brings a lot of knowledge to the table.”

Mahindra said, “As I embark on this journey with 21N78E Creative Labs, I am inspired by the immense potential of creative collaboration. Together, we can transform ideas into unforgettable experiences and turn challenges into opportunities for innovative, connected brands. What appealed to me about this role was the way the agency functions. There is a great deal of emphasis given to what the business outcomes are or should be; and that makes even the creative product equally accountable—which is essential for true satisfaction."

Mahindra has also had a stint with Quadrum Solutions.