MAM
Wavemaker appoints Ajay Gupte as COO, south asia
MUMBAI: Wavemaker, the global media, content, and technology agency, today announced the appointment of Ajay Gupte as the Chief Operating Officer for Wavemaker, South Asia.
Ajay joins from Wavemaker Indonesia where he was Managing Director of the agency. Ajay has successfully led the MEC-Maxus merger in Indonesia. Under his stewardship, Wavemaker Indonesia won several blue-chip clients and many global and local accolades for the agency.
Ajay has rich experience of over 23 years in media, sales and marketing spanning across markets like India, Africa and Indonesia. Prior to joining Wavemaker Indonesia, he has spent over 15 years in India with Maxus (now part of Wavemaker) handling clients like Nokia and Hero MotoCorp to name a few. Earlier to Wavemaker, Ajay has had extensive cross-functional stints with TVS Motor Company.
In his new role, Ajay will be located at Wavemaker Delhi office and will report into Kartik Sharma, CEO – Wavemaker, South Asia.
Commenting on the appointment, Kartik Sharma, CEO – Wavemaker, South Asia said, “It is an absolute pleasure to have Ajay back in India. Under his leadership as MD of Indonesia since 2011, Wavemaker (erstwhile MEC) has grown exponentially and is now ranked as top 3 agency in the country. I am confident with his strong experience of agency and client domain, Ajay will be will be able to grow Wavemaker further as an agency of the future.”
Commenting on his new role, Ajay said, “I am very excited to be back in India. The media scene in India is vibrant and offers unlimited opportunity for marketeers. With our future-focused offering around Media, Content, and Technology, Wavemaker is uniquely positioned to deliver maximum impact for our clients. I am delighted that the next lap of my journey continues with Wavemaker where I can contribute to delivering this promise.”
MAM
Edelman elevates Siddharth Panicker to head of Mumbai office
Financial services veteran steps up after nearly 15 years at the firm
MUMBAI: Edelman has elevated Siddharth Panicker to head of its Mumbai office, promoting a long-serving leader who has spent nearly 15 years building the firm’s financial services franchise in India.
Panicker has held a series of senior roles at Edelman, including associate vice president, head – financial services, and VP & head – financial services. In these positions, he led the development of the firm’s financial services practice, advising C-suite clients across investment banking, private equity, NBFCs, fintech, disputes, litigation and life insurance.
The promotion reflects his track record in corporate and financial communications, strategic counsel and leadership, as Mumbai remains a central hub for India’s financial and professional services sectors.
Earlier in his career, Panicker gained industry exposure through internships at Nalco Water, part of Ecolab, and MSL India.
His elevation underlines Edelman’s focus on leadership continuity and deep sector expertise as clients navigate increasingly complex regulatory, reputational and market environments.
