IPG Mediabrands, a leading global media and marketing agency, has announced the appointment of Kumar Kanagasabapathy as Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) for the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. Based in Singapore, Kanagasabapathy will report directly to Leigh Terry, CEO of IPG Mediabrands APAC, and will spearhead the agency’s strategic direction across the rapidly evolving APAC market.
Bringing over two decades of experience in leading cross-functional teams and driving strategic innovation, Kanagasabapathy previously served as Global Chief Strategy Officer at Rufus, an IPG Mediabrands network agency. In that role, he was instrumental in shaping the strategic framework for the global Amazon business, further cementing his expertise in data-driven insights and creative solutions.
On his appointment, Kanagasabapathy shared on LinkedIn:
“After two incredible decades in the US, my family and I are gearing up for a new chapter. This Lunar New Year, we’re packing our bags and relocating to Singapore. I’m excited to step into the role of APAC CSO for IPG Mediabrands, a new adventure that promises fresh challenges, growth, and collaboration with brilliant minds across the region. The amazing teams at Initiative and Rufus have shaped me in countless ways, and I’m deeply grateful to the many people who have been my anchors and mentors.”Â
Kanagasabapathy’s career spans leadership roles at several renowned global agencies, including Senior Partner and Strategy Lead for adidas at MediaCom, VP of Strategy at Horizon Media, and Partner and Director of Communications Planning at Maxus. He has worked with major global brands such as Target, NBCUniversal, and Disney, leveraging his expertise in creative strategy and data-driven marketing solutions.
His appointment follows the recent hiring of James Hawkins as Chief Client Officer, further strengthening IPG Mediabrands’ leadership team and reinforcing its commitment to delivering innovative, data-driven strategies for clients across the APAC region.
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