Dentsu India Appoints Ajay Gupte as Chief Operating Officer

Dentsu India has appointed Ajay Gupte as its Chief Operating Officer (COO), South Asia, strengthening its leadership team as the company accelerates its transformation into an integrated, client-centric and innovation-led growth partner.

In his new role, Gupte will work closely with Harsha Razdan, Chief Executive Officer, South Asia, to advance the company’s strategic priorities, strengthen its operating model and drive sustainable business growth. His appointment reflects dentsu’s vision of “Innovating to Impact” and its continued investment in building future-ready capabilities across marketing, technology and consulting.

Driving Operational Excellence

As Chief Operating Officer, Gupte will play a central role in advancing dentsu’s transformation agenda by improving operational excellence, strengthening collaboration across the organisation and building a more agile operating model.

Working alongside the South Asia leadership team, he will help translate strategic priorities into execution while enhancing the company’s ability to deliver integrated solutions across strategy, creativity, media, data and technology.

His responsibilities will also include strengthening client-centric ways of working and supporting dentsu’s Business to Business to Society (B2B2S) approach, enabling the organisation to create long-term value for clients, businesses and society.

Extensive Industry Experience

Gupte brings more than 25 years of experience across media, marketing and sales, having worked across India, Africa and Indonesia.

Before joining dentsu, he served as President – Client Solutions at WPP Media, stepping down from the position at the end of January 2026.

During his career, he has developed extensive expertise in business transformation, client leadership and operational management across multiple international markets.

A Proven Media Leader

Gupte spent nearly 15 years with WPP Media, where he held several senior leadership positions across India and Southeast Asia.

Throughout his tenure, he managed large-scale business operations while leading strategic initiatives focused on client growth, operational efficiency and organisational transformation.

His leadership experience across regional markets has equipped him with deep knowledge of integrated media, business strategy and customer-focused growth.

Strengthening Dentsu’s Growth Journey

At dentsu, Gupte is expected to work closely with Harsha Razdan and the broader leadership team to strengthen operational capabilities, accelerate transformation initiatives and unlock new opportunities for business growth.

The appointment reflects the company’s ambition to build a future-ready organisation capable of delivering connected marketing, technology and consulting solutions in an increasingly AI-driven business environment.

By combining operational excellence with innovation, dentsu aims to help clients navigate evolving consumer expectations while delivering measurable business outcomes.

Focus on Client-Centric Innovation

The company believes Gupte’s leadership will play a key role in enhancing collaboration across teams and strengthening integrated service offerings that combine creativity, media, technology and data.

His appointment aligns with dentsu’s broader strategy of creating agile, innovation-led solutions that support sustainable growth for clients across industries.

The Bigger Industry Shift

The appointment reflects several trends shaping the marketing and advertising industry:

• Greater focus on integrated operating models
• Increased investment in transformation leadership
• Expansion of AI-powered marketing solutions
• Stronger collaboration across media, technology and consulting
• Growing emphasis on operational excellence and client-centricity

As agencies continue to evolve into integrated growth partners, experienced leaders with cross-functional expertise are becoming increasingly important in driving long-term transformation.

The Bottom Line

Ajay Gupte’s appointment as Chief Operating Officer, South Asia, marks a significant addition to dentsu India’s leadership team.

Backed by more than two decades of experience across media, marketing and business transformation, Gupte is expected to play a pivotal role in strengthening dentsu’s operations, accelerating innovation and supporting the company’s next phase of growth across the South Asian market.