Mumbai: Dentsu has announced that Kartik Iyer will retire from his role as Chief Operating Officer, South Asia, dentsu, effective August 17, 2026. He will continue to be associated with the organisation as an advisor. Saagar Sethi has been appointed Chief Business Officer, South Asia, dentsu, effective September 1, 2026.
Iyer has been part of dentsu’s leadership team through a period of significant transformation for the industry and the organisation. During his tenure, he contributed to strengthening the company’s operating capabilities, delivery frameworks and operational discipline, while supporting dentsu’s broader transformation agenda. As he transitions from his executive role, Iyer will continue to support the organisation through his advisory position.
Harsha Razdan, Chief Executive Officer, South Asia, dentsu, said, “Kartik has been a valued colleague and a steady hand through some demanding years for our industry. He has played an important role in strengthening the way this business operates, and we are grateful for the experience and perspective he has brought to the leadership team. We are pleased that his counsel will continue to be part of dentsu as he takes on an advisory role, and we wish him every success for the next chapter.”
Sethi will take charge of an expanded portfolio covering Investment & Trading, Media Planning & Operations, Performance Practice and Operational Excellence. The unified mandate is aimed at strengthening the integration between investment, planning, performance and delivery, while supporting a more agile operating model for clients and teams.
Sethi will report to Sujit Vaidya, Chief Financial Officer, with a matrix reporting relationship to Ajay Gupte, Chief Operating Officer.
Sethi joined dentsu in 2022 and has been leading its Investment & Trading business. During his tenure, he has focused on strengthening strategic partnerships, enhancing commercial value creation and driving operational discipline across the ecosystem.
He brings more than two decades of experience across media, commercial strategy, transformation, procurement and business operations. Prior to joining dentsu, he held senior leadership roles at LG Electronics and Ernst & Young, where he worked on large-scale transformation, sourcing and operational excellence initiatives across domestic and international markets.
Commenting on Sethi’s appointment, Harsha Razdan, Chief Executive Officer, South Asia, dentsu, added, “The Indian market is moving faster than any playbook can keep pace with. Brands here are being asked to show business outcomes, and the distance between a media decision and a commercial result has never been shorter. Our job is to close that distance for our clients. Saagar has spent his career at the commercial end of this business, and putting investment, planning, performance, and operational excellence in one pair of hands gives clients a more direct line to growth. His understanding of how this organisation works makes him the right person to lead this portfolio.”
