Jakarta: GroupM’s Southeast Asia CEO, Himanshu Shekhar, has parted ways with the company after a tenure spanning over two decades. Shekhar, who took on the role of Southeast Asia CEO in May 2023, has been instrumental in driving the company’s regional success across key markets.
Shekhar’s association with GroupM began over 25 years ago, during which he held various leadership roles within GroupM agencies, including Mindshare. In April 2022, he was promoted to cluster CEO of GroupM Thailand, extending his leadership to cover Indonesia and Vietnam.
Shekhar’s career trajectory in media has been marked by transformative leadership and strategic growth. He was appointed CEO of GroupM Indonesia in 2011 and later CEO of Southeast Asia in 2014, during which he built strong partnerships with global and regional clients, including Unilever, Nestlé, GSK, Indofood, and Shopee.
Before his regional roles, Shekhar served in multiple leadership positions at Mindshare India, where he worked for over seven years, eventually becoming General Manager. He also held the role of Business Head North & West at Big FM for two years.
Shekhar’s media journey has been centered on driving innovation, fostering high-performance teams, and nurturing strategic partnerships. His contributions have garnered both local and global industry recognition, helping GroupM achieve sustained success in key markets.
In a statement to MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, a GroupM spokesperson confirmed Shekhar’s departure, expressing gratitude for his contributions. “After two and a half decades with GroupM, Himanshu Shekhar has decided to step down from his role managing our business in Southeast Asia this month. Shekhar has been a strong leader for us over the years. We’re grateful for his many contributions to our success in the region and wish him the best for the future.”
