WPP has announced that CVL Srinivas, Country Manager for India, has decided to retire from the company at the end of March 2026, bringing to a close a 36-year career in the advertising and media industry. He has led WPP India since 2017.
During his tenure, WPP India has emerged as one of the company’s key global markets and has risen to become a top four revenue contributor worldwide. The company has strengthened its integrated model in India by bringing together agencies and specialist capabilities to deliver unified client solutions.
WPP’s operations in India have expanded to over 11,000 employees across agencies, global delivery centres and support functions. The market has played a growing role in global delivery, technology-led services and specialist capabilities for clients across regions.
Under Srinivas’ leadership, WPP has established collaborative campuses in Mumbai, Gurgaon and Chennai, and has formalised cross-agency communities focused on talent, technology and inclusion. Several initiatives linking creativity and technology have also been launched and scaled during this period.
The WPP India Foundation has expanded its social impact initiatives under his chairmanship, with a focus on education and sustainability-related collaborations within the industry. Srinivas has also continued to play an active role in industry bodies and associations in India.
Prior to becoming Country Manager for India, Srinivas has held leadership roles including CEO – South Asia at GroupM and CEO Asia Pacific at Maxus. He has been associated with several industry boards and has received multiple industry recognitions over the years. WPP has stated that the next phase of leadership for India will be announced in due course.
Cindy Rose, CEO of WPP, said, “Srini is a truly outstanding leader whose vision has been instrumental in transforming India into one of WPP’s most important and dynamic markets globally. He has not only delivered exceptional growth but has also built an incredible culture of collaboration and innovation. From establishing our integrated campuses to scaling our global delivery and tech capabilities, his legacy is a stronger, more unified, and future-ready WPP in India, perfectly positioned to harness our AI advantage for our clients. We are deeply grateful for his immense contributions, and we all wish him the absolute best for the future.”
Srinivas said: “Leading WPP in India has been the privilege of a lifetime. I am incredibly proud of what our 11,000-strong team has built together – a market defined by growth, innovation, and most importantly, a shared purpose. Our foundation is strong, and the potential for India to drive WPP’s global agenda is boundless. I will be cheering from the sidelines as I look forward to my next chapter.”
