WPP hires AKQA global CEO from Accenture

AKQA has appointed Accenture Song's Baiju Shah as global chief executive, replacing founder Ajaz Ahmed.

Ahmed founded AKQA, now billed as WPP's design and innovation company, in 1994. He resigned in October 2024 after 30 years at the helm.

Shah left Accenture Song, where he was global chief strategy officer, at the end of May 2024. He co-founded Accenture Song, the creative division of Accenture and formerly known as Accenture Interactive, in 2022.

Mark Read, outgoing chief executive of WPP, thanked Stephen Pretorius, chief technology officer at WPP, for taking on the role of interim chair of AKQA after Ahmed's departure. He also described Shah as "one of our industry's leaders in bringing strategy, creativity and emerging technology together".

Shah's appointment follows news that the parent companies of Accenture Song and AKQA, Accenture and WPP, had held discussions about a potential M&A deal or partnership.

Shah said: “I’m excited to lead AKQA into its next chapter, honouring our legacy while reimagining what an agency can be. AKQA will serve as a testing ground for the innovative and responsible use of AI, acting as pioneers for our clients, for WPP, and the future.”