Manika Juneja elevated to COO at Dentsu Creative

MUMBAI: Climbing the agency ladder is rarely a solo campaign, and for Manika Juneja, the latest promotion is the result of years spent building teams, businesses and brands. Dentsu Creative has elevated Manika Juneja to the role of chief operating officer, marking a significant milestone in her long-standing journey within the Dentsu network.

Juneja announced the move, reflecting on a leadership philosophy centred on consistent execution, strong partnerships and continuous evolution. Her appointment comes after serving as managing partner at Dentsu Creative Isobar, where she led the agency’s pan-India business mandate and played a key role in driving growth, culture and strategic transformation.

“These past few months have reinforced something I have long believed. Growth isn’t driven by a single campaign, client win, or milestone. It compounds through great people, honest partnerships, a willingness to keep evolving, and the discipline to deliver consistently,” said Juneja. “Grateful for the trust and excited about what we are building together.”

The promotion crowns a career spanning more than 15 years in digital marketing, advertising, operations and business leadership. During her tenure as managing partner, Juneja oversaw profitability and growth across regions and verticals while managing integrated client teams and expanding strategic consulting initiatives.

One of her notable contributions was helping build and scale new business verticals, including video production and influencer marketing, into revenue-generating operations. She also led EGIYO, a consulting-led practice designed to address complex business challenges through integrated solutions spanning creative, media, customer experience, martech, retail media, sports, gaming, entertainment and out-of-home advertising.

Her rise within the organisation mirrors the evolution of the agency itself. Juneja has been associated with the business through its transformation from WATConsult into Dentsu Creative Isobar, playing an active role in scaling operations and shaping agency culture along the way.

Before becoming managing partner, she spent more than 11 years at WATConsult, progressing through a series of leadership roles including executive vice president, vice president, associate vice president, group account manager and senior manager. Throughout that journey, she managed large teams, handled profit and loss responsibilities, advised brands on digital transformation and led integrated marketing campaigns for a wide range of clients.

Earlier in her career, Juneja worked in digital media strategy and marketing, including a stint with TOPSGRUP managing assignments related to the Indian Premier League, as well as a strategic planning and marketing role at Della Adventure & Resorts.

Known for championing a “walk the talk” leadership style, Juneja has consistently emphasised accountability, collaboration and empowerment. Her management approach has focused on balancing commercial growth with team development, a combination that has helped her build and mentor large cross-functional teams throughout her career.

Academically, she holds an MBA and postgraduate qualification in marketing and operations from Vinayaka Mission’s Research Foundation.

The appointment comes at a time when agencies are increasingly being asked to combine creativity with business outcomes, technology and consulting expertise. With Juneja stepping into the COO role, Dentsu Creative is placing a proven growth leader at the centre of its operations. As the agency industry continues to evolve, her next challenge will be turning scale into sustained momentum while keeping people, performance and purpose moving in step.