MAM
WPP’s Cohn & Wolfe appoints new corporate practice leadership
MUMBAI: WPP’s brand communications agency Cohn & Wolfe has appointed Andrew Escott, formerly managing director of UK Corporate, as global corporate practice leader effective immediately.
Escott takes over from Geoff Beattie, who last week was named global leader of Cohn & Wolfe’s new Strategic Consulting Unit.
Helen Searle, formerly UK Corporate director, steps up to become managing director of UK Corporate.
The Corporate Practice operates across Cohn & Wolfe offices worldwide, covering all aspects of Reputation Management including Crisis and Issues Management, Business-to-Business Communications, CSR & Sustainability, Employee Engagement, Public Affairs and Corporate Storytelling.
“Demand for our corporate reputation work has grown significantly around the world and Andrew has been a major contributor to our success. Under Andrew’s leadership, I see our Corporate Practice continuing to be a significant driver across Cohn & Wolfe markets,” said Cohn & Wolfe CEO Donna Imperato.
The UK has been among the agency’s stand-out markets for corporate work. Over the past four years, the UK Corporate Practice doubled revenues, expanded its suite of services and added major global brands in the natural resources, financial services, healthcare and food and drink industries. Current clients include Warburtons, Twinings, Ferrero, Asia Pulp & Paper and Lloyds Banking Group.
Escott said, “The global business environment has never been tougher so our clients need a partner that can seamlessly both protect and promote their business. That’s what we have built in London and it has been a successful and differentiated model driven by a hugely talented team. Helen is a great leader, a critical part of our recent success and I have no doubt she will take the business even further.”
Escott joined Cohn & Wolfe in 2009 to drive the UK office’s crisis management and corporate health capabilities. In 2010, he founded Cohn & Wolfe Political Counsel, the agency’s first public affairs service. Since then he has worked across service areas to create a fully integrated Corporate Practice able to advise clients on all aspects of reputation management. While managing director of the UK Corporate Practice, Escott’s client work included Danone, Warburtons and Asia Pulp & Paper.
Searle joined Cohn & Wolfe in 2012 as a corporate director and now leads integrated corporate brand campaigns for clients such as Lloyds Banking Group, Danone and Make. Searle brings more than a dozen years’ experience at agencies such as Blue Rubicon and Weber Shandwick, where she delivered award-winning campaigns for Aviva, O2, RBS and Visa. Searle is a specialist in devising creative corporate campaigns that embrace both B2B and B2C audiences.
Brands
Emami names Dhruv Aggarwal as chief growth officer
Former Bain partner steps in as FMCG firm sharpens growth playbook
MUMBAI: Emami Limited has appointed Dhruv Aggarwal as its chief growth officer, effective 25 March 2026, following the resignation of Giriraj Bagri.
Aggarwal joins the FMCG major from Bain & Company, where he most recently served as partner. With over two decades of experience across consulting and strategy, he brings a global perspective shaped by work across India, the US, the UK and Germany.
During his tenure at Bain, Aggarwal advised consumer, retail and media companies on large-scale transformations, business turnarounds and growth strategies. He was also closely involved with India’s startup ecosystem, guiding early-stage ventures on scaling and digital expansion, while supporting private equity and venture capital firms on investment decisions.
His earlier stints include a brief role at Barclays Capital and operational experience at Jindal Power, giving him a mix of financial and industry exposure.
Academically, Aggarwal holds an MBA from Indian Institute of Management Bangalore and has also been associated with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as a PhD candidate and teaching assistant.
The appointment comes at a time when Emami Limited is looking to sharpen its growth strategy in a competitive consumer market. With a seasoned strategist now at the helm of growth, the company appears set to double down on transformation and expansion in the months ahead.
