CVL Srinivas is set to retire as Country Manager, WPP India in March 2026

CVL Srinivas, Country Manager of WPP India and one of the most influential leaders in the Indian advertising and media industry, will retire on March 31, 2026, bringing the curtains down on a distinguished career spanning 36 years. Widely respected across the industry and fondly known as ‘Srini’, he will step down from his group role at WPP, a position he has held since October 2017.

Srinivas joined WPP in January 2013 as CEO – South Asia at GroupM (now WPP Media), where he played a pivotal role in strengthening the company’s regional leadership and market presence. In October 2017, he was appointed Country Manager of WPP India, succeeding Ranjan Kapur. For over a year, until late 2018, he successfully managed the dual responsibilities of leading both GroupM South Asia and WPP India, before transitioning to focus exclusively on steering the WPP group in the country.

CVL Srinivas had conveyed to WPP’s global leadership his decision to retire upon turning 60 on March 14, 2026, honouring a personal commitment to step away from a full-time executive role at that milestone. As a lighter aside, Srinivas—fondly known as Srini across the industry—shares his birthday with Albert Einstein.

WPP has been preparing for this transition for over 15 months, underscoring the significance of Srinivas’ role within the organisation. The successor to the Country Manager of WPP India is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Widely regarded as one of the most respected leaders in Indian advertising and media, Srini’s leadership legacy is marked by integrity, mentorship and an ability to build institutions. Under his stewardship, WPP India not only consolidated but extended its leadership, maintaining a commanding lead in the Indian advertising market. A key milestone during his tenure was the establishment of WPP’s Global Capability Centre (GCC) in India, further reinforcing the country’s strategic importance within the global network.

Srinivas has served as Country Manager of WPP India since October 2017 and is a member of the WPP Global Operating Board. Over a distinguished career spanning 36 years, he has held several senior leadership roles across leading organisations. These include CEO – South Asia at GroupM, Chairman at Starcom MediaVest India, CEO Asia Pacific at Maxus (GroupM), and COO at Madison Media. Earlier in his career, he was also part of the founding team at HTA that launched Fulcrum in 1995—India’s first dedicated media AOR for Hindustan Unilever.

Beyond corporate leadership, Srini has played a pivotal role in shaping the industry ecosystem. He has served on the boards of BARC, ABC, MRUC and the IAA, chaired the RSCI, and is a founding member and Co-chairman of MMA India. His contributions have consistently focused on establishing best practices, improving governance and advancing the media industry’s credibility.

Throughout his career, Srinivas has been at the forefront of growth and innovation. At Madison, he helped expand the agency’s footprint through a series of marquee client wins. At GroupM, he launched Maxus in India and the Asia-Pacific region and led it to become one of the top agencies in record time. Later, as CEO South Asia at GroupM, he drove a transformation agenda that placed data and digital at the core of the organisation, preparing it for the future.

At WPP, Srini led a far-reaching transformation of the business in India—leveraging technology, creativity and collaboration across a complex organisation. Under his leadership, India emerged as a key driver of growth and innovation for WPP globally and is now among the group’s top four markets worldwide.

His stature within the industry was underscored in November 2025, when Srinivas was conferred the e4m Media Aces Lifetime Achievement Award in Mumbai. The recognition was met with a standing ovation from over 300 industry leaders—an emphatic testament to the respect he commands.

Perhaps Srini’s greatest legacy lies not in numbers or titles, but in the leaders he has nurtured. Within WPP and beyond, he is admired for his humility, compassion and unwavering integrity, and for creating an environment where leadership talent could flourish.

As he steps away from a formal executive role, Srinivas is expected to pursue interests he enjoys rather than take on another full-time position. His next chapter is keenly anticipated by the industry, even as clients and colleagues prepare to miss his calm leadership, simplicity and human touch.

Quoting Albert Einstein, who famously said, “The only source of knowledge is experience,” few in the industry embody that sentiment as completely as Srini. His experience and standing ensure that whatever path he chooses next will be closely watched.

An XLRI Jamshedpur alumnus from the Class of 1993, Srinivas was President of the institute’s Marketing Club, Maxi. He began his professional journey at Lintas Bangalore in 1993, moved to J. Walter Thompson Worldwide in 1994, and spent the formative years of his career working on the Unilever business as Media Lead at HTA Fulcrum. Prior to advertising, he also worked with the TVS Group following his engineering degree and before pursuing his MBA.

From Madison World (1998–2003) to Maxus Asia Pacific (2003–2006), Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd. (2008–2010), Starcom MediaVest Group (2011–2013), GroupM (2013–2017) and finally WPP India (2017–2026), Srinivas’ career reflects a rare blend of strategic depth and people-first leadership.

Taking over from the legendary Ranjan Kapur, Srinivas filled some of the biggest shoes in the industry—and did so with quiet confidence. If Kapur was a giant, Srini has been a “gentle giant,” nurturing a new generation of leaders in his wake. The only remaining question now is whether his successor will emerge from within WPP’s ranks or arrive from outside to carry forward this formidable legacy.