Komerz appoints former WPP finance leader Shahid Sadiq as group CFO

MUMBAI: Komerz is adding financial firepower as it gears up for its next phase of global growth. The AI-powered commerce platform has appointed former WPP finance executive Shahid Sadiq as its new group chief financial officer.

Sadiq joins Komerz after a two-decade career in marketing communications finance. Most recently, he served as global chief financial officer for WPP Specialist Communications and PR, overseeing finance across a broad international portfolio of businesses. Earlier, he held senior leadership positions including chief financial officer and later chief operating officer for EMEA at Geometry Global, as well as regional chief financial officer for EMEA at McCann Worldgroup. He has also served on the boards of both listed and private companies as an adviser and non-executive director.

At Komerz, Sadiq will lead group finance, capital allocation, investment strategy, fundraising, governance, investor relations and performance management. The company said his appointment comes as it accelerates international expansion and pursues strategic acquisitions across its global operations.

Founded in the UK in 2023, Komerz is currently undertaking a growth financing round that values the business at £500 million. The company has built an AI-powered operating system designed to connect marketing, commerce, data and distribution into a single commercial ecosystem.

Komerz has also expanded through acquisitions, adding businesses including NOUGHTY, Great Wines Direct, US-based Pathformance Technologies and Glassbox to broaden its capabilities across commerce, data and brand strategy.

Commenting on the appointment, Komerz chief executive officer Ramesh Krishnamurthy said, “Shahid’s appointment marks another significant milestone in Komerz’s evolution. As we continue to grow and strengthen our global presence, his experience leading complex international organisations and delivering disciplined growth will be invaluable. We are building for the long term, and Shahid brings the financial leadership needed for the next stage of our journey.”

Komerz chief operating officer Siddharth Shankar added, “Komerz is creating a new kind of commercial growth platform, combining brands, technology, data and distribution within a single ecosystem. Shahid brings world-class financial and operational expertise that will help us accelerate growth, integrate acquisitions effectively and continue building a category-defining business.”

Looking ahead to his new role, Shahid Sadiq said, “Komerz is building a highly differentiated platform at the intersection of commerce, distribution, AI and performance-led growth with a clear vision and significant opportunities ahead. The opportunity to help scale this globally, through disciplined investment, profitable expansion and strategic acquisitions, is extremely compelling.”

With fresh financial leadership in place and an ambitious acquisition strategy already underway, Komerz is positioning itself to strengthen its AI-driven commerce ecosystem and expand its presence across international markets.