Mumbai: WPP Media has announced a sweeping organisational restructure, launching a new Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA) regional model in a strategic move to streamline operations, unlock synergies, and accelerate growth across key markets. The overhaul is effective immediately and signals a bold shift in how the global media powerhouse operates in its fastest-growing regions.
The new structure will see the business divided into six sub-regions:
- Australia and New Zealand led by Aimee Buchanan
- China led by Rupert McPetrie
- India and Sri Lanka under Prasanth Kumar
- Middle East and North Africa (MENA) led by Amer El Hajj
- Northeast Asia (Japan, Korea, Hong Kong) helmed by Michael Beecroft
- SEAPAT (Southeast Asia, Pakistan, South Africa, Taiwan) led by Helen McRae
Helen McRae assumes the newly created role of CEO, SEAPAT, in addition to her ongoing leadership for LVMH across APAC. WPP Media noted, “McRae’s track record in agency leadership and operations would be key in accelerating growth across this cluster.”
As part of the leadership shake-up, Sindhuja Rai has been appointed Chief Client Officer, APMEA, and will oversee global and regional accounts, elevate client services, and lead a newly created client solutions team based in Singapore.
Josh Gallagher takes over as Chief Strategy and Growth Officer, APMEA, where he will drive WPP Media’s go-to-market strategy, new business development, and cross-WPP integration initiatives.
In a further operational shift, WPP Media has consolidated Nexus and Investment into a unified Media Management and Delivery (MMD) organisation. Under this model:
Anita Munro, Executive Director of Thailand, will lead Media Management, focusing on developing client-centric solutions.
Arshan Saha will head Media Delivery in addition to his responsibilities for Singapore and Malaysia. Both report to the APMEA CEO and the global MMD structure.
New regional leads Amer El Hajj (MENA) and Claudelle Naidoo (South Africa) officially join the APMEA leadership team.
The company added that the APMEA Choreograph leadership structure is currently being finalised in consultation with global teams, with updates to follow.
This restructuring follows a period of major transformation at WPP Media. Earlier this year, the agency officially retired the GroupM name and rebranded as WPP Media, positioning itself as a fully integrated, AI-powered media organisation. It also consolidated creative agency Grey under Ogilvy, removing it from the AKQA Group reporting line.
These changes come amid larger leadership shifts at WPP, including the departure of longtime CEO Mark Read, signalling a new chapter for the company as it sharpens its focus on agility, integration, and client-centric growth across its global markets.
