GURUGRAM — Cheil South West Asia (SWA) has announced the promotion of Kumar Awanish to Group Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective March 16, 2026. Transitioning from his previous role as Chief Growth Officer, Awanish will now lead the group’s operational strategy as the agency pivots toward an AI-first future.
He will report directly to Sungkyoon Kim, who was appointed President & CEO of Cheil SWA in February 2026.
Key Highlights of the Leadership Move:
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Operational Strategy: Based at the Gurugram headquarters, Awanish is tasked with overseeing operational excellence across the group’s network, including offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata.
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AI Transformation: A central part of his mandate is doubling down on AI literacy across all functions. The goal is to integrate technology and data as a catalyst for human creativity rather than just an efficiency tool.
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Full-Funnel Integration: His new role emphasizes the “reunion of media and creative,” ensuring the agency delivers holistic, full-funnel marketing impacts for its diverse client portfolio.
Professional Background:
Kumar Awanish brings over 20 years of experience in advertising and marketing to the role.
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Cheil Tenure: As the former Chief Growth Officer, he led a team of over 100 specialists and was instrumental in scaling the agency’s D2C, commerce, and media growth.
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Industry Track Record: His career includes leadership stints at major organizations such as Airtel, Snapdeal, Times Internet, GroupM, and Oppo, with a consistent focus on digital transformation and brand performance.
This elevation signals Cheil SWA’s commitment to evolving into a future-ready, data-powered infrastructure that moves beyond traditional campaign-led thinking.
