WPP Media names Prasanth Kumar as India-Sri Lanka lead in major APMEA overhaul

WPP Media has introduced a major organisational restructuring across Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (APMEA), marking a strategic shift aimed at simplifying operations, enhancing synergies, and accelerating growth in key high-potential markets. As part of the new regional model, Prasanth Kumar will lead operations in India and Sri Lanka. 

This reorganisation follows a significant global transition at WPP Media, including the formal retirement of the GroupM name earlier this year. As part of that move, WPP Media repositioned itself as an integrated, AI-driven media agency. It also consolidated Grey under Ogilvy, further aligning its creative capabilities within a unified reporting structure.

As part of the restructuring, WPP Media has segmented its APMEA business into six defined sub-regions:

  • Australia and New Zealand – led by Aimee Buchanan

  • China – led by Rupert McPetrie

  • India and Sri Lanka – led by Prasanth Kumar

  • Middle East and North Africa (MENA) – led by Amer El Hajj

  • Northeast Asia (Japan, Korea, Hong Kong) – led by Michael Beecroft

  • SEAPAT (Southeast Asia, Pakistan, South Africa, Taiwan) – led by Helen McRae

Helen McRae takes on the newly created role of CEO, SEAPAT, in addition to her ongoing leadership of LVMH across APAC. WPP Media stated that McRae’s operational expertise and agency leadership would be central to driving momentum across the SEAPAT markets.

Further leadership appointments include:

  • Sindhuja Rai as Chief Client Officer, APMEA, who will oversee global and regional client portfolios and lead a new client solutions team based in Singapore.

  • Josh Gallagher as Chief Strategy and Growth Officer, APMEA, responsible for spearheading the agency’s go-to-market plans, new business efforts, and cross-WPP collaboration.

The company is also integrating its Nexus and Investment units into a consolidated Media Management and Delivery (MMD) organisation. Under this structure:

  • Anita Munro, Executive Director, Thailand, will lead Media Management, focusing on building bespoke, client-centric solutions.

  • Arshan Saha will head Media Delivery, while continuing to oversee Singapore and Malaysia operations.

Both executives will report to the APMEA CEO and align with the global MMD framework. Additionally, Amer El Hajj (MENA) and Claudelle Naidoo (South Africa) will join the expanded APMEA leadership team.

The company noted that leadership appointments within Choreograph APMEA, its data and technology division—are still being finalised.

These developments come at a time of broader change across WPP’s global business, including the exit of former CEO Mark Read. The reorganisation signals a continued push toward integrated growth, operational agility, and sharper client focus across its fastest-growing regions.

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