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.
Brands
Madhu Soman joins Crestoria Global advisory board role
Former WION, Zee Business executive pivots to mentorship platform
MUMBAI: Madhu Soman, former chief business officer at WION and Zee Business, has joined the board of advisors at Crestoria Global, marking a shift from newsroom leadership to mentorship and education.
Soman, who brings close to three decades of experience across journalism and media management, said the move reflects a growing focus on shaping the next generation through guidance and real-world insight. His career spans leadership roles at organisations including Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters and Reuters, covering markets from India to Asia-Pacific.
“Across 28 years in the news business, one idea kept resurfacing as a meaningful off-ramp, teaching, mentorship, and helping shape the next generation,” said Soman. “Crestoria sits right at that intersection.”
Crestoria Global, which positions itself as a long-term education and career advisory platform, focuses on helping students navigate global opportunities through structured guidance, research-led insights and personalised mentorship. The company said its approach goes beyond university admissions to focus on long-term career positioning.
Soman added that the platform’s philosophy of designing success with intent, rather than leaving it to chance, resonated with his own outlook on impact and influence.
The advisory board brings together professionals from diverse fields, including academia, media and corporate leadership, aimed at offering students a broader perspective on career pathways in an increasingly complex global landscape.
As he steps into this new role, Soman’s move signals a wider trend of seasoned industry leaders turning towards mentorship, where experience is not just shared, but scaled for the next generation.
