The journey of WPP's new COO Devika Bulchandani

Devika Bulchandani's ascent to the role of Chief Operating Officer at WPP is the latest chapter in a remarkable career that began in Amritsar, India. Born in the late 1960s, she completed her schooling in India before moving to the US in 1991 to pursue higher education. Her entry into the world of advertising was, by her own account, a "happy accident," but it set her on a path to becoming one of the industry's most respected leaders.

A Legacy of Impact
Before joining WPP subsidiary Ogilvy, Bulchandani spent 24 years at McCann, where she rose through the ranks to eventually become President of McCann New York in 2017. Her career is punctuated by her involvement in campaigns that transcended traditional advertising to create cultural impact. Two of the most celebrated examples are the "Fearless Girl" campaign for State Street Global Advisors, which became a powerful symbol for gender equality, and Mastercard’s "True Name" feature, a groundbreaking initiative supporting the transgender and non-binary community.

In her four-year tenure as Global CEO of Ogilvy, Bulchandani led the agency to unprecedented success, earning it the historic distinction of being named both the Most Creative and Most Effective agency network in the world by WARC for three consecutive years (2023-2025). This period of exceptional growth and creative excellence further cemented her reputation as a visionary leader.

The Next Chapter at WPP
As she steps into her new role as WPP's COO, Bulchandani will focus on commercializing the company’s vast portfolio of services and solutions to drive client growth. The appointment, announced just after Cindy Rose took over as WPP’s new CEO, is seen as a strategic move to streamline operations and leverage top talent across the network.

Reflecting on her journey, Bulchandani noted, "I have been the luckiest person in the world, to have the best job in the world as Ogilvy's CEO - and I'm immensely proud of what we've achieved together as a team. As we all begin this next chapter at WPP, I'm energised by the immense potential ahead. I truly believe that when we seamlessly bring together WPP's world-class capabilities, we become an invincible force, one that unlocks unparalleled value for our clients. I look forward to collaborating with Cindy and leaders across WPP to amplify that impact and drive even greater success for our partners."