Bangalore: Parthasarathy M A, widely known in the industry as MAPS, has announced that he will step down from WPP Media after a 17-year tenure, marking the end of one of the longest and most versatile leadership journeys within the network. MAPS most recently served as Chief Strategy Officer, South Asia, at GroupM.
In a social media post reflecting on his career, MAPS described his tenure as a period of continuous growth, reinvention and learning. He joined Mindshare India in January 2009, stepping into a business planning leadership role during a phase of agency restructuring under the then-CEO Gowthaman (Gman). Over the years, he went on to lead multiple Mindshare offices, take charge as Chief Product Officer, step into the Mindshare CEO role, and eventually move into a broader mandate overseeing strategy and consulting across GroupM/WPP Media.
MAPS highlighted the privilege of working alongside senior leaders, colleagues and major brands through various inflection points in the media landscape. Expressing gratitude to mentors and clients who shaped his journey, he said the experience had been both personally and professionally fulfilling.
Before taking on wider GroupM responsibilities, MAPS spent over 13 years at Mindshare in South Asia, where he played a crucial role in product leadership, transformation projects and cross-market integration.
Industry observers regard his exit as notable, given his influential role in shaping GroupM’s strategy function and his long association with Mindshare’s growth story. His next move has not yet been announced.
