MAM
O&M’s Kakar moving to Anil Ambani’s camp
MUMBAI: Ogilvy & Mather executive director Ajay Kakar is slated to join Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Enterprises (ADAE).
A 14 years veteran at O&M, Kakar has steered its financial practice since inception. Since August 2003, he was also the country head for Ogilvy Public Relations in India.
Kakar said, “I am going to partner ADAE’s foray into all facets of the financial spectrum. But at heart I remain an ambassador for Ogilvy.”
Commenting on Kakar’s move, O&M India & South Asia CEO John Goodman said, “Ajay has been a wonderful colleague and we wish him all the best in this bold change of career.”
Kakar’s successor will be announced shortly.
MAM
WPP appoints Kyoko Matsushita as APAC CEO of WPP Creative
Former Japan CEO and Essence Global leader takes regional helm.
MUMBAI: Kyoko Matsushita just went from running Japan to captaining the entire APAC creative fleet because when you’ve already conquered one island nation, the next logical step is to steer a whole continent. WPP has appointed Kyoko Matsushita as APAC CEO of WPP Creative, effective immediately. She succeeds her previous role as CEO of WPP Japan, which she held since April 2022.
Matsushita brings a formidable track record in global media and creative leadership. Before joining WPP Japan, she served as Global CEO of Essence Global, having first joined the agency in 2014 as its inaugural APAC CEO. She was later promoted to global chief client officer, where she oversaw client services, satisfaction, and both organic and new business growth. Her earlier career includes senior roles at Sony, Electronic Arts and Gree UK, as well as a stint at Leo Burnett. She holds a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Announcing the move on Linkedin, Matsushita described APAC as “a hotbed of creativity and potential” and expressed her excitement about working with teams across the region “to reimagine client growth” and “collaborate, learn, and co-create the future of creativity.”
The appointment strengthens WPP’s creative leadership in one of the world’s fastest-evolving markets, where Matsushita’s blend of regional expertise, global perspective and client-focused innovation is expected to drive the next phase of growth for WPP Creative across APAC.
In an industry where creativity knows no borders, WPP has chosen a leader who has already built bridges from Tokyo to London and back tasked with turning the entire Asia-Pacific region into one seamless canvas of ideas.
