Ajay Gupte turns a year older: Celebrating a leadership journey across markets & mandates

Gupte’s journey serves as a reminder that enduring leadership is built through curiosity, adaptability and the willingness to embrace new challenges

by e4m Staff
Published: Sep 11, 2026 4:26 PM | 3 min read

Ajay Gupte has had a diverse career in media and advertising, starting as a Media Planner in 1998 and progressing to leadership roles across India, Southeast Asia, and West Africa.
His experience spans traditional media planning, brand management, and sales, with significant roles at Mudra Communications, Madison Media, and TVS Motor Company, among others.
Gupte has held key positions in international markets, including Director at mediaReach OMD in West Africa and Managing Director at MEC Indonesia, where he managed transformation and growth.
Currently, he serves as Chief Operating Officer, South Asia, at dentsu, following a tenure as CEO at Wavemaker South Asia, showcasing his adaptability and focus on client growth in the evolving media landscape.

Few careers capture the transformation of the media and advertising business as comprehensively as that of Ajay Gupte. Beginning with traditional media planning in the late 1990s, Gupte has gone on to lead businesses across India, Southeast Asia and West Africa, while navigating the industry’s shift towards digital, data and integrated client solutions.

As Gupte recently celebrated his birthday, it was also an occasion to acknowledge a professional journey marked by diverse assignments and an ability to build businesses across cultures.

Gupte began his career with Mudra Communications in 1998 as a Media Planner, later becoming a Senior Media Planner. Working on key accounts and new business pitches gave him a strong grounding in consumer understanding, media strategy and client management.

He subsequently joined Madison Media as Media Controller, leading media planning for BPL Electronics and contributing to new business development. These early assignments helped establish the strategic foundation that would shape his later leadership roles.

His move to TVS Motor Company broadened his experience beyond the agency ecosystem. As Manager – Communications, Gupte managed the company’s investments across different media platforms, handled the TVS Cup brand and worked on maximising the value of its association with cricket. He was also responsible for the retail identity of TVS dealerships.

Gupte later moved into frontline business operations as Area Sales Manager, heading sales in Rajasthan and subsequently West Bengal. The combination of marketing, media and sales experience gave him a valuable understanding of both brand building and commercial execution.

In 2006, he returned to the agency business as General Manager at Maxus Global, where he headed the Delhi office. This was followed by a stint at OnMobile Global as Project Lead – Advertising Products, where he conceptualised, launched and marketed mobile advertising products at a time when the mobile ecosystem was becoming an increasingly important advertising channel.

His career then assumed a distinctly international dimension. In 2009, Gupte joined mediaReach OMD as Director and Business Head for West Africa, overseeing operations across Nigeria and Ghana. The assignment offered him first-hand exposure to rapidly evolving markets and diverse consumer environments.

In 2011, he moved to Jakarta as Managing Director and Country Head of MEC Indonesia. He remained at the helm for more than six years and subsequently led Wavemaker Indonesia after the formation of the new agency brand. His long stint in Indonesia established him as a leader capable of managing transformation, integration and growth in a complex international market.

Gupte returned to India in 2019 as Chief Operating Officer, South Asia, at Wavemaker. Within months, he was elevated to Chief Executive Officer, South Asia—a position he held for more than five years. During this period, he played a central role in strengthening Wavemaker’s business, capabilities and client relationships across the region.

In July 2025, Gupte became President – Client Solutions, South Asia, at WPP Media, taking on a wider mandate centred on integrated solutions and client growth.

The newest chapter in his journey began in July 2026, when he was appointed Chief Operating Officer, South Asia, at dentsu. The appointment placed him at the heart of dentsu’s growth and transformation agenda in the region, drawing upon his experience across media, marketing, digital transformation and business operations.

What distinguishes Gupte’s career is not merely the senior positions he has occupied, but the range of experiences that preceded them. He has understood media from the perspective of a planner, a brand custodian, a sales leader, a product innovator and a regional chief executive. He has also demonstrated the ability to move between markets while remaining focused on clients, teams and sustainable business growth.

As Ajay Gupte begins another year, his journey serves as a reminder that enduring leadership is built through curiosity, adaptability and the willingness to embrace new challenges.