Satish Nair Appointed to Lead WPP Production India Business

WPP Production has appointed Satish Nair as CEO, India, strengthening its leadership team as the company looks to drive its next phase of growth and business transformation in the market. Nair succeeds Karthik Nagarajan, who is moving on after a tenure of nearly four years.

Nair brings 25 years of industry experience, including 15 years with WPP Production, formerly known as Hogarth. His career spans the UK, global and Indian markets, with extensive experience in scaling production models, managing global client partnerships and driving business transformation.

15 Years with WPP Production

During his long association with the company, Nair has played a significant role in its growth and operational development. He helped establish robust operational frameworks and led major global client partnerships, including The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC), Ford and Diageo.

His experience across multiple markets has equipped him with a strong understanding of global production operations, client management and growth strategy.

Returns to India After Global Leadership Role

Before taking charge as CEO of WPP Production India, Nair served as Chief Client Officer for APAC, where he focused on accelerating growth and strengthening high-impact client management across the region.

Prior to this, he was based in London as Global Chief Growth Officer, leading growth initiatives and contributing to the company’s global business strategy.

His appointment as India CEO brings him back to a market where he has significant experience, combining his global leadership exposure with deep knowledge of WPP Production’s business and operations.

Karthik Nagarajan Moves On

Nair takes over from Karthik Nagarajan, who is leaving the organisation to pursue new opportunities.

Nagarajan initially joined GroupM as Chief Content Officer at Wavemaker India, where he worked on scaling the agency’s content and production capabilities. He subsequently became CEO of Hogarth India in 2023, taking responsibility for the company’s strategy and client relationships.

During his tenure, Nagarajan contributed to strengthening the organisation’s teams, client partnerships and production capabilities.

Focus on Growth and Transformation

With extensive experience spanning global production, business growth, operations and client leadership, Nair’s appointment positions him to lead WPP Production’s India business through its next stage of development.

His familiarity with the organisation, combined with leadership experience across India, APAC and global markets, is expected to support WPP Production’s efforts to strengthen client partnerships, scale its production capabilities and drive business transformation in India.

The Bottom Line

Satish Nair’s appointment as CEO of WPP Production India marks a significant leadership transition for the company. With 25 years of experience and a 15-year association with WPP Production, Nair brings deep institutional knowledge and global leadership expertise to the role as he takes over from Karthik Nagarajan.