MAM
Vikram Gaikwad quits Creativeland Asia
MUMBAI: After six years in Creativeland Asia, Vikram Gaikwad has put down his papers as partner and executive creative director.
He has been with the agency since its inception in 2007. Gaikwad said, “I am very proud of what we have achieved at Creativeland in a very short time. With the coming of the New Year, I have decided to move on and make time for my other areas of interests. My heart and good wishes will always be with Creativeland and I hope they get every success they deserve.”
Commenting on the development, Creativeland Asia founder and creative chairman Sajan Raj Kurup said, “Vikram has been a great friend and an incredible support in my journey. Creativeland is thankful to him for all the support and service that he has extended. And I sincerely wish him the best for the new path that he has charted out for himself.”
Prior to Creativeland, Gaikwad had worked with Enterprise Nexus, Leo Burnett and Grey.
MAM
WPP appoints Mark Taylor as chief people officer in leadership reshuffle
Marie-Claire Barker moves to culture role as Cindy Rose builds new team
MUMBAI: WPP has appointed Mark Taylor as its new chief people officer, bringing in a seasoned HR leader as part of a broader leadership reshuffle under chief executive Cindy Rose, according to media reports.
Taylor succeeds Marie-Claire Barker, who will transition into a specialised role focused on performance and culture, reporting to him. The move is seen as part of WPP’s effort to sharpen its organisational structure and align talent strategy with its transformation agenda.
With more than three decades of experience, Taylor brings a diverse track record across industries including pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, retail and digital entertainment. He most recently served as chief people advisor at The LEGO Group, where he worked closely with top leadership on board and executive appointments, governance and organisational strategy.
Prior to that, he held senior HR leadership roles at Burberry and King, where he played a key role in organisational transformation and integration efforts, including the company’s alignment with Activision Blizzard. Earlier in his career, Taylor also worked with Kimberly-Clark and GlaxoSmithKline.
His cross-sector experience is expected to support WPP’s three-year ‘Elevate 28’ turnaround plan, which focuses on simplifying operations, strengthening capabilities and driving sustainable growth.
The appointment marks the second major leadership hire under Rose in a week. Recently, WPP named Anne-Isabelle Choueiri as chief transformation officer, bringing in additional firepower to execute its strategic overhaul. Choueiri previously held a senior transformation role at Estée Lauder Companies.
The leadership changes signal a clear push by WPP to blend experience with transformation as it navigates a rapidly evolving advertising landscape. With Taylor now steering the people agenda, the company appears focused on ensuring its talent strategy keeps pace with its broader ambitions.
