CVL Srinivas to Retire as Country Manager, WPP India
After taking on the position of Country Manager in October 2017, CVL Srinivas has notified WPP leadership of his upcoming retirement upon reaching the age of 60 on March 14, 2026. This decision has been communicated as part of a meticulously planned transition process.
The preparation for his successor has been ongoing for more than 15 months, and WPP intends to reveal the new appointee in the imminent weeks.
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Srinivas, commonly referred to as Srini in the industry, assumed the role of CEO - South Asia at GroupM within WPP in January 2013. From October 2017 to late 2018, he successfully managed both the leadership responsibilities at GroupM as well as the position of WPP India Country Manager before fully transitioning into the group role.
Throughout his time as Country Manager, WPP India solidified its presence within the Indian advertising and media industry. Through his guidance, India rose to become one of the leading global markets for WPP, and the establishment of a Global Capability Centre (GCC) for the WPP Group in India reflected his strategic vision.
Additionally, he held a position on WPP's Global Operating Board, further showcasing his significant contributions to the organization's overall success.
Throughout his professional journey, Srinivas has assumed numerous high-ranking positions such as CEO of South Asia at GroupM, Chairman of Starcom MediaVest India, CEO Asia Pacific at Maxus (GroupM), and COO at Madison Media.
Additionally, he played a pivotal role as a member of the founding team at HTA, where he was instrumental in the establishment of Fulcrum, India's pioneering media agency of record for HUL in 1995.
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His career in the industry began at J. Walter Thompson Worldwide, where he held the position of Media Lead for Foods & Personal Care (HTA Fulcrum – Unilever business) from 1994 to 1998. Following this, he took on the role of COO at Madison World from 1998 to 2003. Subsequently, he assumed the position of CEO Asia Pacific at Maxus between 2003 and 2006, then served as Director – Private Treaties at Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd. from 2008 to 2010.
From 2011 to 2013, he held the title of Chairman India at Starcom Mediavest Group before becoming part of GroupM. Srinivas has been actively involved in various industry organizations, notably serving on the boards of BARC, ABC, MRUC, IAA, and RSCI, and playing a key role as a founding member and Co-chairman of MMA India.
Srinivas, a graduate of XLRI Jamshedpur from the Class of 1993, commenced his professional journey at Lintas Bangalore, eventually transitioning to JWT in 1994. Before transitioning into the advertising industry, he gained experience working with the TVS Group subsequent to earning his engineering degree.
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Srinivas has dedicated his career to leadership development, organizational transformation, and the long-term growth of industries. Following his retirement, he is not expected to pursue a formal executive position, leaving his future professional endeavors undetermined.