Mumbai: According to the media reports, Kartik Sharma has been named CEO of Omnicom Media India. His elevation comes at a pivotal time for the network, as Omnicom undertakes one of the largest organisational overhauls in its history following its $13-billion acquisition of Interpublic Group (IPG).
Industry insiders noted that Sharma emerged as the clear frontrunner for the role, buoyed by strong business momentum. OMG India added over 10 major clients in 2025—valued collectively at more than $40 million—including Kimberly-Clark, Zurich Kotak General Insurance, Atomberg, Double A, Michelin, Watertec, Bondbazaar, and most notably, Marico, the agency’s biggest mandate in India since Tata Motors.
Sharma will report directly to Tony Harradine, CEO, Omnicom Media APAC.
He joined Omnicom in July 2020 from Wavemaker, where he served as CEO–South Asia. During over a decade at Wavemaker (formerly Maxus), he held senior leadership roles that strengthened the agency’s regional capabilities. His earlier stints include Madison Media and Mindshare, bringing more than two decades of media strategy, operations and leadership experience to his new mandate.
As CEO, Sharma is expected to guide Omnicom Media India through a transformative period, sharpening competitiveness and strengthening client partnerships as the global media landscape undergoes rapid consolidation and technological disruption.
His appointment coincides with sweeping structural changes across Omnicom worldwide, with the company set to eliminate more than 4,000 jobs and retire several legacy agency brands in the wake of the blockbuster IPG deal. The acquisition positions Omnicom as the world’s largest advertising holding company by revenue, overtaking Publicis and pushing WPP to third place. The consolidation also shifts the centre of global advertising gravity back to Manhattan, the symbolic home of the original “Mad Men.”
Alongside the APAC restructuring, Omnicom has formalised four global brand presidents across its media networks:
George Manas, OMD
Stacy DeRiso, Initiative
Susan Kingston-Brown, UM
Christian Flouch, PHD
Appointments for Mediahub and Hearts & Science will be announced soon. Among the confirmed leaders, Kingston-Brown and Flouch are based in the UK, with Flouch being the only one without previous CEO experience, having served as chief client officer at PHD Worldwide.
Industry observers view Sharma’s elevation as a strategic move to strengthen Omnicom’s presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing advertising markets. His market insight, turnaround record, and strong ecosystem relationships are expected to be crucial as Omnicom integrates IPG assets, consolidates capabilities, and builds a more unified media organisation in India.
