Ajay Gupte will join dentsu in a senior leadership position during the second half of 2026, marking another notable leadership shift among global agency networks.
Earlier this year, Gupte stepped down from his role as President – Client Solutions at WPP Media South Asia, ending a nearly 15-year tenure with the network. His move comes as holding companies continue reshaping leadership teams to strengthen growth strategies and enhance client-centric transformation. At this stage, it is not confirmed whether he will directly replace Anita Kotwani, former Chief Client Officer at dentsu.
Gupte began his journey with WPP Media in 2011 and went on to hold several leadership roles across India and Southeast Asia. In July 2025, he was elevated to President – Client Solutions for WPP Media South Asia, where he worked closely with clients on integrated growth and transformation initiatives across markets. His role also coincided with the network’s consolidation of Wavemaker, Mindshare, and EssenceMediacom.
Following his departure, Shekhar Banerjee has taken over his responsibilities at WPP Media. Banerjee joined the organisation in 2018 as Managing Partner – West at Wavemaker India and has since expanded his leadership scope within the company.
