Mumbai: WPP has announced that CVL Srinivas (Srini), Country Manager for India, will retire from the company at the end of March 2026, bringing to a close a distinguished 36-year career. Since taking on the role in 2017, Srini has played a pivotal role in transforming India into one of WPP’s most strategic and dynamic markets, elevating it to become one of the company’s top four revenue contributors globally.
Srini’s two-decade tenure at WPP has been marked by sustained growth, operational excellence and a strong emphasis on collaboration and innovation. Under his leadership, WPP successfully integrated its agency and specialist capabilities in India, unlocking greater value for clients and establishing the country as a global hub for next-generation services, technology and talent.
Cindy Rose, CEO of WPP, said, “Srini is a truly outstanding leader whose vision has been instrumental in transforming India into one of WPP’s most important and dynamic markets globally. He has not only delivered exceptional growth but has also built an incredible culture of collaboration and innovation. From establishing our integrated campuses to scaling our global delivery and tech capabilities, his legacy is a stronger, more unified, and future-ready WPP in India, perfectly positioned to harness our AI advantage for our clients. We are deeply grateful for his immense contributions, and we all wish him the absolute best for the future.”
Reflecting on his journey, CVL Srinivas said, “Leading WPP in India has been the privilege of a lifetime. I am incredibly proud of what our 11,000-strong team has built together – a market defined by growth, innovation, and most importantly, a shared purpose. Our foundation is strong, and the potential for India to drive WPP’s global agenda is boundless. I will be cheering from the sidelines as I look forward to my next chapter.”
During Srini’s leadership, WPP India achieved several milestones. The market rose from outside the top 12 to become one of WPP’s top four globally by revenue, reflecting sustained strategic growth. Operations in India expanded to over 11,000 people across agencies, a scaled Global Delivery Centre and critical global support functions, positioning the country as a powerhouse for delivering innovative, creative-tech solutions worldwide.
He also championed integrated client teams that consistently rank among the best-rated by WPP’s global clients, while fostering a collaborative culture through three integrated campuses in Mumbai, Gurgaon and Chennai. Initiatives such as the Creative Tech Experience Centres, WPP Stream India and the WPP Ignite Awards further strengthened the organisation’s focus on creativity and technology.
Beyond business growth, Srini played a key role in driving social impact. As chairman of the WPP India Foundation, he helped expand its reach to support nearly 20,000 children and positioned WPP as a leader in sustainability initiatives, including as a founding member of Xynteo’s Vikaasa coalition.
Prior to his role as Country Manager, Srini held senior leadership positions including CEO – South Asia at GroupM and CEO Asia Pacific at Maxus. A respected industry voice, he has served on the boards of BARC, ABC, MRUC and IAA, and was a founding co-chairman of MMA India. His contributions have been recognised through multiple honours, including the IAA Media Agency Head of the Year (2015), e4m’s Most Influential Person (2017–18), the XLRI Distinguished Alumnus Award (2023) and the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 Media Ace Awards.
Srini leaves behind a strong leadership team and a robust foundation for WPP India’s next phase of growth. The company said an announcement on the next phase of leadership for India will be made in due course.
