Happily, I have found the reality to be just the opposite. I have met a good number of practitioners from different agencies in India and have been impressed.
The agency I retain in Delhi is 100 per cent indigenous to India and staffed entirely by Indian nationals. They have proven year after year to be both talented and business-savvy. India is no different to anywhere else in this respect.
Agencies need to seek out, nurture and develop talented people. With a population approaching 1.2 billion, they are there to be found. Sweeping statements such as Kahn's are not constructive and give an impression that, in my experience, is also inaccurate.
Guy Douglas, head of comms, India, Middle East and Africa, BAE Systems.