WPP Creative names Hephzibah Pathak as India CEO

By: WE Staff | Tuesday, 21 April 2026

• Hephzibah Pathak named CEO WPP India
• APAC structure to be streamlined, but agency identity will remain unchanged
• India becomes an important market for WPP growth internationally

In order to enhance its overall strategy for India, WPP has named Hephzibah Pathak the Chief Executive Officer. The move comes in tandem with WPP's broader efforts to simplify their network of creative agencies throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

The message, which was sent internally from Kyoko Matsushita, outlines a dual strategy that maintains each of WPP's flagship creative agency's unique identity while fostering greater integration and collaboration that can help these agencies create new growth.

In addition to her leadership of Ogilvy, Pathak will now also serve as WPP's Chief Executive Officer for India. This announcement underscores Ogilvy's status as an important participant in the global agency network and the increasing demand from marketers for integrated, multi-market solutions where India represents a Main Engine of Growth Worldwide.

“Strong leadership in our diverse APAC markets is critical to us becoming the trusted growth partner for our clients,” Matsushita wrote.

WPP Creative is home for WPP's highest-profile agency brands, including VML, Ogilvy, Burson, AKQA, Grey, Landor and Design Bridge & Partners.

According to Matsushita, these agencies will “remain distinct, bringing differentiated craft and brand value to market,” and the WPP Consolidated Brain will also continue its development towards a more unified operating structure. This plan is part of a growing trend among major holding companies to simplify their structure, while continuing to offer specialized services.

The team leading WPP's having the APAC region represents the new governing framework with Bernadette Chan as Chief People Officer and Andy Kochar as Chief Financial Officer.

As CEO of WPP Creative in India, Pathak will be responsible for driving brand recognition and enhancing client partnerships in one of the fastest growing advertising markets worldwide.

Her primary goal will be to partner with agency leadership to “deliver unparalleled client value, unlocking growth and upholding the distinctiveness and tradition of creative excellence” across WPP’s portfolio, according to the internal note.

According to industry sources, by placing Pathak in this position, WPP is solidifying her power and authority within the WPP family, especially considering her success at Ogilvy India, where she was responsible for a number of large client projects, including the creation of innovative advertising campaigns.

As the global networks are placing a greater emphasis on India as a result of India's growing economy, a fast-digitalising consumer base and the increasing amount of marketing dollars being spent from both local and multinational clients.

WPP’s strategy appears to include appointing a movement-specific CEO and working closely with its regional leadership in order to create a hybrid business model that provides both local agility and regional scale.

Matsushita referred to Pathak as being instrumental in achieving WPP’s success throughout APAC as it relates to the importance of India as part of WPP’s overall regional strategic direction.