Ajay Gupte has stepped down from WPP Media after a 15-year association with the company, bringing to a close a leadership chapter that saw the agency expand its footprint across India and South East Asia and establish Wavemaker as one of the country’s leading media networks.
WPP Media announced that Shekhar Banerjee will succeed Gupte as president, client solutions, South Asia, as part of a broader leadership transition aimed at strengthening integrated, data-led offerings for clients in the region.
A 15-year journey across India and South East Asia
Gupte joined WPP Media in 2011 and went on to hold multiple senior roles across India and South East Asia. During his tenure, he oversaw periods of significant business growth and played a central role in building Wavemaker into a top-tier media agency in the Indian market.
Reflecting on his departure, Gupte said his time at WPP Media had been deeply formative, both professionally and personally.
He described his journey as one marked by meaningful opportunities, demanding challenges and lasting professional relationships, noting that each phase reinforced the value of resilience, teamwork and shared ambition. As he prepares to move on, he said the experiences and memories from his years at the agency would continue to motivate him in the next stage of his career.
WPP Media acknowledges contribution
Prasanth Kumar, chief executive officer – South Asia, WPP Media, acknowledged Gupte’s role in shaping the organisation’s trajectory over the past decade and a half.
He expressed appreciation for Gupte’s long-standing contribution to the company’s growth and for the support he provided to teams and leadership over the years, adding that the organisation wished him success in his future endeavours.
Leadership transition and next phase
Following Gupte’s exit, WPP Media has elevated Shekhar Banerjee to president, client solutions, South Asia. Banerjee joined the group in 2018 as managing partner – west at Wavemaker India and later served as chief client officer for the west, north and east regions.
Over the years, he has been closely involved in strengthening client partnerships, scaling teams and driving business growth across markets.
Announcing the appointment, Kumar said Banerjee takes over at a time when clients are increasingly seeking seamless, data-driven solutions capable of delivering measurable business impact. He noted that Banerjee’s experience across digital and traditional media platforms, along with his focus on talent development and execution excellence, positions him well to steer the agency’s evolving service offerings in a rapidly changing media environment.
Banerjee on building the future
Commenting on his new role, Banerjee said the growing integration of creativity, data and technology is opening up fresh opportunities for brands and agencies alike.
He said he looked forward to working with teams across WPP Media to develop solutions that create meaningful value for clients and support the network’s next phase of growth. Banerjee also thanked clients for their continued trust and collaboration, describing their partnership as essential to delivering long-term impact.
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