Omnicom Advertising has rolled out a refreshed leadership and agency structure for its India operations, marking one of the most significant reorganisations within the network ahead of its global transition taking effect on January 1, 2026.
In the new framework, Prasoon Joshi has been elevated to Chairman, Omnicom Advertising (OA) India, while Aditya Kanthy will steer the organisation as President and Managing Director, OA India. Both leaders will work closely with — and report directly to — Sean Donovan, President, Omnicom Advertising, Asia. The new appointments and structural changes were shared with senior leadership via an internal communication.
Expanded Strategic Leadership
Joining Joshi and Kanthy at the top table is S. Subramanyeswar (Subbu), who steps into a dual mandate as Chief Strategy Officer, OA India and Chief Knowledge Officer, OA Asia. Subbu’s expanded role underscores Omnicom’s push to strengthen its regional strategic capabilities.
Agency Leadership Alignments
As part of the reorganisation, leadership for the network’s individual agency brands has also been crystallised:
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McCann India will now be led by Dheeraj Sinha and Rahul Mathew.
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Josy Paul continues to helm BBDO India, with an updated leadership cohort set to be announced shortly.
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TBWA\Lintas is being consolidated under the joint leadership of Govind Pandey and Prateek Bhardwaj.
Digital Ecosystem Consolidation
On the digital and experience front, Kinnect and 22feet Tribal will be unified under a single operation led by Chandni Shah, who assumes the role of CEO of the combined entity. Meanwhile, Rohan Mehta has been elevated to strengthen digital integration and capability-building efforts across the Omnicom Advertising ecosystem.
Reporting Framework & Transition Timeline
All agency CEOs, along with the OA India organisation, will now report to Kanthy in his capacity as President and MD. Joshi, as Chairman, will support the overall strategic direction. The organisation is currently putting in place operational blueprints aligned to the January 1, 2026 transition date, with individual agency leaders expected to share more granular plans soon.
A Model Tailored for India
In his note to employees, Donovan emphasised that India’s scale, market potential, and mature agency ecosystem warranted a bespoke adaptation of the global Omnicom Advertising model. The refreshed structure, he said, is designed to preserve “continuity and change” in equal measure, ensuring client relationships remain stable while unlocking new opportunities for talent across levels.
Globally, Omnicom Advertising will now be organised around three core networks — McCann, BBDO, and TBWA — further strengthened by the legacy equities of Lintas, Ulka, and Mudra. Donovan reassured teams that the India revamp is being shaped collaboratively with local leadership to ensure a smooth transition and open “exciting new paths” for growth within Omnicom.
