MUMBAI (Feb 10, 2026) – Industry veteran Ajay Gupte is expected to join dentsu in a senior leadership capacity, following his recent departure from WPP Media, according to industry sources.
His appointment is reportedly tied to dentsu’s Media++ strategy, an initiative aimed at unifying consumer insights, identity frameworks, and performance data into a single, actionable intelligence environment.
The Candidate: Ajay Gupte
With over 25 years of experience across India, Africa, and Indonesia, Gupte is a heavyweight in the media and marketing landscape:
-
Recent Tenure: Stepped down as President – Client Solutions at WPP Media in January 2026.
-
Leadership History: Previously served as CEO – South Asia at Wavemaker India and Managing Director of Wavemaker Indonesia.
-
Global Footprint: Has led operations across South East Asia and India since joining the WPP ecosystem in 2011.
The Strategy: dentsu’s Media++
Gupte’s arrival coincides with dentsu’s aggressive push to build a data-driven ecosystem tailored for the Indian market. The Media++ framework focuses on:
-
Actionable Intelligence: Unifying behavioral signals and performance data.
-
Integrated Decisioning: Combining global platforms with local Indian consumer identity frameworks.
-
Performance Excellence: Shifting the focus from mere media buying to data-led growth solutions.
Executive Snapshot
| Feature | Details |
| Name | Ajay Gupte |
| New Role | Senior Leadership (dentsu India) |
| Core Focus | Media++ Strategy |
| Previous Role | President – Client Solutions, WPP Media |

