Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, July 2026 — dentsu India has appointed Ajay Gupte as its Chief Operating Officer (COO). In his new role, he will oversee business operations, client solutions, and strategic execution while helping accelerate growth, strengthen collaboration across the agency network, and drive integrated value creation for clients.
Ajay joins dentsu India with more than 28 years of leadership experience spanning media, advertising, marketing, sales, business transformation, and client management across India, Southeast Asia, and West Africa. Throughout his career, he has built a strong reputation for leading high-performing businesses, scaling operations, driving commercial growth, and developing integrated marketing solutions for global brands.
Prior to joining dentsu India, Ajay served as President – Client Solutions, South Asia at WPP Media, where he was responsible for strengthening client partnerships and delivering integrated business solutions across the South Asian market. Before that, he spent nearly eight years with Wavemaker, progressing through multiple leadership roles including Managing Director – Indonesia, Chief Operating Officer, South Asia, and ultimately Chief Executive Officer, South Asia, where he led one of the region’s largest media agencies, driving business growth, operational excellence, digital transformation, and client success.
Earlier, Ajay served as Managing Director at MEC Indonesia, leading the agency’s expansion and strengthening its market position across one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing advertising markets. Prior to that, he was Director at mediaReach OMD, where he led the agency’s rapidly growing business across Nigeria and Ghana, further expanding his international leadership experience.
His earlier corporate career includes serving as Project Lead – Advertising Products at OnMobile Global, where he helped conceptualize and launch innovative mobile advertising solutions during the early growth of mobile marketing. He also served as General Manager at MAXUS Global, heading the Delhi business and leading strategic media planning and client management.
Before moving into agency leadership, Ajay held marketing and sales leadership roles at TVS Motor Company, serving as Manager – Communications, where he managed the company’s media investments, brand communications, cricket sponsorship initiatives, and dealership branding programs, before taking on the role of Area Sales Manager overseeing major regional markets. He began his media career with Madison Media as Media Controller and earlier with Mudra Communications, where he developed expertise in media planning, client servicing, and strategic communications.
A graduate of MICA, where he completed his Post Graduate Diploma in Advertising & Marketing, and Symbiosis International University, Ajay combines deep strategic marketing expertise with extensive operational leadership experience developed across multiple geographies and industries.
At dentsu India, his appointment comes at a significant time as the organization continues strengthening its integrated capabilities across media, creative, customer experience, technology, and data-driven marketing. His extensive experience in building client-centric organizations, driving business transformation, and leading large, multicultural teams is expected to further accelerate dentsu India’s growth strategy and reinforce its position as one of the country’s leading integrated marketing networks.
About dentsu India
dentsu India is part of the global dentsu network, one of the world’s leading integrated marketing and advertising organizations. The company partners with brands to deliver meaningful progress through capabilities spanning media, creative, customer experience management, technology, commerce, and data-driven marketing solutions. With a strong focus on innovation, collaboration, and sustainable business growth, dentsu India helps organizations create long-term value by combining creativity, technology, and strategic expertise.
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