Abhimanyu Khedkar takes on managing director role at Leo Mumbai

Abhimanyu Khedkar, managing partner at Leo, has been elevated to the role of managing director and head of the agency’s Mumbai office. The development marks a progression in Khedkar’s tenure at the agency, where he has been part of the leadership team for several years. He announced the new role through a LinkedIn post, confirming his expanded responsibilities within the organisation.

Khedkar joined Leo in 2016 as vice president, becoming part of the agency’s senior management during a period of consolidation and growth. Over the years, his role evolved to managing partner, where he has been involved in overseeing business strategy, client relationships and operational leadership. His elevation to managing director reflects continuity within the leadership structure and a focus on strengthening the Mumbai office’s position within the agency’s national footprint.

With the new mandate, Khedkar will be responsible for leading Leo’s Mumbai operations, including business performance, talent development and client servicing. The role places him at the centre of the agency’s engagement with key clients and internal teams based in one of India’s largest advertising markets. Mumbai continues to be a critical hub for agency operations, housing major brand accounts and creative resources across the advertising and marketing ecosystem.

Khedkar brings over 22 years of industry experience to the position. His career spans multiple agency networks and independent firms, providing him with exposure to a range of operating models and client categories. Prior to joining Leo, he worked with Ogilvy, Percept, BBH, Publicis Ambience and Minority Brand Creation and Management. Across these stints, he has held roles focused on account management, strategic planning and business leadership.

His professional journey reflects sustained involvement in mainstream advertising and brand communication, working across both global networks and Indian agencies. This background positions him to navigate the operational and creative demands of a large-market office such as Mumbai, where client expectations and competitive pressures continue to evolve.

The elevation also underlines Leo’s approach of promoting from within its existing leadership bench. By appointing a long-serving executive to head the Mumbai office, the agency signals an emphasis on institutional knowledge and continuity. Khedkar’s familiarity with the agency’s culture, clients and teams is expected to support stability while enabling incremental growth.

While the announcement did not outline specific strategic priorities, the role typically encompasses oversight of revenue growth, delivery excellence and collaboration across regional and national teams. As managing director, Khedkar will be expected to balance creative output with commercial objectives, aligning the Mumbai office with broader agency goals.

Khedkar’s appointment comes at a time when agencies are navigating shifts in client expectations, integrated marketing requirements and talent dynamics. Leadership continuity at the office level is increasingly viewed as a factor in sustaining long-term client partnerships and internal capability building.

With this elevation, Khedkar moves into a position of greater influence within Leo’s leadership structure, taking charge of one of its key offices and reinforcing his long-term association with the agency.