MAM
Yash Rohra flips the script at Represent
MUMBAI: The music marketing maven announced last month he has left Warner Music India to become head of marketing and streaming at Represent, the Mumbai-based artist management outfit that Forbes crowned a “top Indian music startup”. It is a strategic pivot that swaps Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa for Anuv Jain and MC Stan—and international promotion for global export.
Rohra’s Warner stint was nothing short of spectacular. He helped shepherd Ed Sheeran’s Sapphire featuring Arijit Singh to number one, watched Rosé and Bruno Mars’s APT climb the charts, and oversaw Coldplay’s Indian invasion, which netted over 200m streams across all platforms in three months—one of the biggest jumps for an international act visiting India. He also championed Taambdi Chaamdi, the first proper Marathi electronic hit, taking it from viral moment to certified superhit.
The work brought him close to the machinery of global music promotion: collaborations with Diljit Dosanjh and Karan Aujla, partnerships with streaming platforms, and the arcane art of turning international releases into Indian chart-toppers. Rohra name-checks a dozen colleagues who “pushed, trusted, and shaped” his thinking on marketing and music. It reads like a Warner Music India roll call.
But Represent offered something Warner could not: the chance to reverse-engineer the playbook. Instead of importing hits, Rohra now exports them. His new roster includes Jonita Gandhi, Anuv Jain, MC Stan, Yashraj, Lost Stories and Jay Dhir—a motley crew of independent Indian artists who have built followings without major label backing. Represent, led by Aayushman Sinha (another Forbes-anointed “new age entrepreneur”), manages over 20 artists and has racked up more than 1,000 global brand collaborations. The company also dabbles in creator management, consulting, strategic partnerships and investments in direct-to-consumer businesses.
Rohra’s career arc traces the evolution of India’s music industry. He started as a music programmer and curator at BookMyShow in 2017, creating 1,200-plus international playlists and analysing user listening patterns to boost ticket sales for concerts and films. A stint in digital marketing at Mindstorm followed, managing accounts for Bath & Body Works India and Parachute’s Africa and Russia operations. Then came Hoopr, India’s first music licensing platform, where he spent two years as senior manager for music and content acquisition, building a library of 5,000-plus tracks with over 300 artists and launching “Sing To Sync”, India’s first toplining contest.
Warner was the natural next step—a chance to work with the biggest names in the business and learn how global music promotion actually functions. Now comes the hard part: applying those lessons to Indian artists trying to break international markets. It is one thing to promote Coldplay in India. Quite another to promote MC Stan in Los Angeles.
If Rohra can pull it off, he will have cracked the code that has eluded most Indian independent labels. If not, well, at least he got to work with Ed Sheeran first. The man knows his way around a chart.
MAM
Dentsu revamps global leadership, names Takeshi Sano global CEO
New structure aims to sharpen execution, accelerate transformation and drive client growth
Tokyo: Dentsu Group has unveiled a sweeping global management shake-up, appointing Takeshi Sano as president & global ceo, effective March 27, 2026. The move is aimed at supercharging execution, driving client growth and accelerating the group’s transformation across 120 countries.
Sano, who currently serves as ceo, dentsu Japan and deputy global coo, has transformed Dentsu Inc. into an integrated growth partner, delivering 11 straight quarters of revenue growth and strong profits for two consecutive years. Since 2023, he has steered dentsu’s business transformation globally as BX ceo, dentsu, and strengthened Japanese client expansion overseas.
“To support the pace of our transformation and strengthen execution, dentsu will sharpen the distinctive value that sets us apart, positioning ourselves as a true growth partner from strategy through execution,” Sano said. “By creating momentum for clients, partners, people and society, we will reinforce trust and steadily enhance corporate value.”
Under the new management, the global coo and global president roles are being removed. Regional CEOs and practice presidents will now report directly to Sano, enabling faster decisions and tighter client alignment. A new global chief transformation officer and global chief corporate affairs officer have been appointed to accelerate enterprise initiatives and reinforce governance.
Yoshimasa Watahiki, currently Coo, dentsu Japan, steps up as director, representative executive officer, executive vice president and global chief corporate affairs officer. Shigeki Endo remains global cfo, bringing over 30 years of global finance expertise to the fore. Both, along with Sano, are slated for approval as directors at the March 27 shareholders’ meeting.
Other key appointments include: Beth Ann Kaminkow as ceo, dentsu Americas & chief global client officer; Andre Andrade, ceo, dentsu EMEA; Yuichi Toyoda, ceo, dentsu APAC; Will Swayne, global practice president – media & integrated solution; Pete Stein, global practice president – CXM; Yasuharu Sasaki, global chief creative officer; Miho Tanimoto, global chief HR officer; Noritaka Omi, global chief transformation officer; Jean Lin, global chief brand officer; Yoshiki Ishihara, global new ventures officer; Manus Wheeler, chief of staff; Jeremy Miller, global chief communications officer; Shirli Zelcer, chief data & technology officer.
Additionally, Toby Benjamin has been appointed as chief media officer at dentsu UK.
The shake-up comes as dentsu looks to accelerate its transformation, strengthen governance, and deliver measurable growth for clients worldwide. “By eliminating redundant layers and empowering leaders closest to clients, we can act faster, execute better and generate sustainable value,” Sano added.
Hiroshi Igarashi, Arinobu Soga and Giulio Malegori will step down from the global management team and take on advisory roles, marking a clean slate for the new executive leadership.
With a sharpened management engine, Dentsu is betting on speed, unity and client-centric execution to drive its next chapter of global growth.
