Publicis London has hired junior creative team, Lucas Kao and Ritu Raghuram, as the first appointments within La Porte, the agency’s new dedicated programme focused to early creative careers, led by chief creative officer, Noël Bunting.

Kao, who is from Taiwan, and Raghuram, from India, hold MAs in Advertising from University of the Arts London. While on placements, the pair secured a string of junior creative awards, including D&AD New Blood (winning pencils and Portfolio nods in 2024 & 2025) and were runners up in the UK Young Lions 2025. 

Launching this month, La Porte isa new initiative designed to nurture internationally minded junior creative talent. The programme includes regular mentorship sessions and annual portfolio reviews with Noël and her senior creative leadership, and is tailored to support creative craft and industry readiness. La Porte will offer its creatives the chance to work across a range of international briefs and campaigns with Publicis London’s global client portfolio, which includes Electrolux, Essity, Marriott Bonvoy and Foster’s.

Publicis London intends to offer a minimum of four additional fixed-term roles to junior creatives in 2026 as part of La Porte, which is open to all junior creative talent with the right to work in the UK, including Graduate Visa holders and those on a Youth Mobility Scheme.

The launch of the programme marks the latest in a series of moves by Publicis London to champion international creativity.

Noël Bunting, chief creative officer, Publicis London, stated, “La Porte is such an important initiative for us. We are committed to championing ideas that move the world and rewriting the narrative on international creativity – but we can only do that with a creative team that shares our international ambitions and brings experience and ideas from every corner of the globe. Lucas and Ritu are a bright and brilliant team who are already bringing fresh and smart ideas to the table, and I can’t wait to see what 2026 brings as we grow La Porte further.”

Lucas Kao, junior creative, Publicis London, added, “Publicis London is an agency full of great people who push for brave and unexpected ideas. We’re already learning so much from working with global clients, and the agency’s international outlook gives us the confidence to push our craft in new directions.”

Ritu Raghuram, junior creative, Publicis London, commented, “Working alongside talented people from different countries has broadened the way we approach ideas. Publicis London is the kind of environment where you genuinely feel yourself developing creatively and professionally every day.”

Cover image l-r: Lucas Kao, Junior Creative; Noël Bunting, Chief Creative Officer; Ritu Raghuram, Junior Creative