MUMBAI — Indian healthcare PR firm SPAG has hired Abhinav Srivastava to the newly-created role of chief operating officer, as it steps up expansion across Southeast Asia.

Srivastava joins from Avian Media where he spent more than four years as group business director in Mumbai. At SPAG, he reports directly to co-founder and managing partner Aman Gupta.

Specifically, Srivastava will oversee SPAG's business operations in India. He had previously served on leadership teams at Edelman India, Comma Consulting and Rediffusion Y&R in a career spanning nearly two decades.

"Abhinav brings a wealth of knowledge to his new role at SPAG," said Gupta. "His skills are an amalgamation of strategy, operations and growth across digital, social and traditional communications. In this role, he will focus on providing strategic leadership in the planning and implementation of projects across India."

SPAG made Healthcare Agency of the Year shortlists at both a regional and global level in 2019, reflecting its development as one of Asia's top healthcare players.