WPP hands Ajay Mehta wider mandate as Rachana Lokhande decides to move on

GroupM has announced that Ajay Mehta, managing director, ITV (Cinema), has been given the additional mandate of managing director, Kinetic (OOH). Mehta will also be joining the GroupM India executive committee (ExCo).

 

Prasanth Kumar, CEO, GroupM South Asia, said, “We are fortunate to be the leaders in both cinema and OOH practices and our goal and vision is to make it stronger and bolder. Our belief in OOH and cinema related solutions for brands continue to be strong and while we are going through tough times, it is important to prepare as well as strengthen our offering. Ajay in his leadership role will focus on integrating the teams and prioritise focus on larger returns for clients and brands, shaping solutions that would provide an edge for our clients by collaborating with multi avenues like digital, technology and other media opportunities. I am confident his entrepreneurial skills and collaborative nature will help and lead the teams to larger strength.”

 

Mehta said, “I am very excited with this opportunity. The coming together of the two businesses is a huge opportunity for us to create new strengths and to be valued partners for our clients by delivering result -oriented solutions for them. I look forward to working with the two teams and to contribute to the growth of the business.”

 

The ITV and Kinetic teams will report to Mehta. Mehta will be based in Gurugram and continue reporting to Kumar. 

           

Mehta will replace Rachana Lokhande who will be leaving the agency later this year. Lokhande joined Kinetic in 2016. She was elevated as CEO in 2018.