Weber Shandwick names Shashikanth Someshwar CEO in India amid leadership shift

Weber Shandwick has promoted Shashikanth Someshwar to chief executive officer of its India operations, effective 1 October, marking a leadership transition in one of the firm’s fastest-growing Asia Pacific markets.

The agency employs more than 150 people across Mumbai, Gurgaon and Bengaluru, with client demand spanning technology, healthcare, consumer and public affairs sectors. Someshwar’s elevation follows his role as interim managing director earlier this year, after the departure of long-time India CEO Valerie Pinto in April 2025.

“India is not only one of the fastest-growing markets in Asia Pacific, but it is also one of the most influential,” said Tyler Kim, CEO, APAC, Weber Shandwick. “Shashi’s leadership will ensure that Weber Shandwick continues to be at the forefront of this growth, helping clients navigate change with creativity, innovation, and meaningful impact. His promotion is a critical step in strengthening our leadership bench as we accelerate our regional ambitions.”

Someshwar said the move represents both a personal milestone and a team achievement. “India’s communications landscape is evolving rapidly, and Weber Shandwick is uniquely positioned to help clients seize the opportunities ahead. My focus will be on building the next chapter of growth by strengthening partnerships, embracing innovation, and empowering our team to deliver impact.”

Before taking on interim leadership responsibilities, Someshwar held senior roles across corporate and consumer practices. He has been closely involved in shaping client strategies, expanding teams, and aligning the agency’s operations with changing market needs.

The leadership change comes after Pinto ended a decade-long tenure as CEO of Weber Shandwick India. She joined the firm in January 2015 and also served on the Asia Pacific board and India leadership council. At the time of her exit, the company said in a statement that Someshwar and Karan Bhandari—managing director of integrated media strategy—would continue as managing directors reporting to Kim, while Pinto would support a six-month transition to ensure continuity for clients and teams.

Someshwar also leads Current Global India, part of the Interpublic Group portfolio, alongside his responsibilities at Weber Shandwick.

The appointment comes at a time when the agency is broadening its focus on data and technology capabilities. In March, Weber Shandwick introduced Weber I/O, a platform designed to consolidate the firm’s innovation functions. Led globally by Dustin Johnson, who was recently appointed chief commercial and innovation officer, Weber I/O integrates analytics, data science, engineering, performance media, experiential technology and AI advisory.

Johnson said the initiative aims to address the increasing complexity of marketing and communications. “We launched Weber I/O to bring together all the different pieces and parts of our data, technology and innovation functions in the agency under a single umbrella,” he noted. The platform expands on services such as Weber Shandwick Futures, a generative AI-powered narrative intelligence tool launched in 2023, and an AI Accelerator unveiled the same year.

For Weber Shandwick, the dual focus on leadership stability and technology-driven services highlights the broader pressures facing communications firms: balancing growth in emerging markets with the integration of AI and data capabilities. As India assumes a larger role within the network, Someshwar’s tenure will be watched closely for how the firm aligns regional ambitions with global priorities.