Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, July 2026 — McDonald’s India (West & South) has appointed Mehak Jaini as its Head of Marketing, bringing on board a seasoned brand strategist with nearly two decades of experience in marketing, brand building, consumer insights, and strategic communications. In her new role, she will lead the marketing function for McDonald’s operations across the West and South regions of India under Westlife Foodworld.
Mehak Jaini joins McDonald’s India following a successful tenure at Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL), where she served as Global Brand Equity Lead – Personal Care & Global Effectiveness. During her time at GCPL, she played a pivotal role in strengthening global brand equity, driving effectiveness across international markets, and leading strategic initiatives for the company’s personal care portfolio. She also previously led global brand equity for the Hair and Air categories, contributing to brand growth across multiple geographies through consumer-centric marketing strategies.
Prior to GCPL, Jaini spent almost 16 years with DDB Mudra Group, where she built an outstanding career in strategic planning and brand consulting. She most recently served as National Strategy Head, 22feet Tribal Worldwide, and Vice President – Strategy, DDB Mudra Group, leading the agency’s digital strategy practice, mentoring talent, driving new business initiatives, and shaping strategy for some of the group’s largest clients. Throughout her tenure, she progressed through leadership roles including Vice President, Vice President – Strategy, Senior Strategy Director, Director, Account Planning, Manager, Account Planning, and Executive, Account Planning, consistently delivering award-winning brand strategies and helping the agency strengthen its market position.
During her agency career, Jaini worked with an impressive portfolio of leading brands including McDonald’s, Godrej, Disney+ Hotstar, Lipton, LIC, The Economic Times, Femina, HBO, Indian Oil, Huawei, Electrolux, and several others. Notably, she had previously led strategy for McDonald’s as an agency partner, giving her deep familiarity with the brand and its consumers long before joining the organisation. She began her professional journey with a management internship at L’Oréal and holds an MBA in Account Planning, Communication and Brand Management from the prestigious Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad (MICA).
About McDonald’s
McDonald’s is the world’s leading global foodservice retailer, operating more than 37,000 restaurants across over 100 countries. More than 90% of its restaurants are owned and operated by independent franchisees, reflecting the company’s entrepreneurial business model and strong local partnerships.
Globally, McDonald’s and its franchisees employ approximately 1.9 million people and serve millions of customers every day with iconic menu offerings including the World Famous Fries®, Big Mac®, Quarter Pounder®, Chicken McNuggets®, and Egg McMuffin®. The company continues to innovate across menu, customer experience, and digital engagement while maintaining its position as one of the world’s most recognised consumer brands.
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