WPP India country manager CVL Srinivas to retire, ending 36-year industry career

India — WPP has announced that CVL Srinivas, also known as Srini, country manager for India, will retire at the end of March 2026, bringing to a close a 36-year career in the industry. He has held the India role since 2017.

The company said that under his leadership, India has become one of WPP’s largest markets globally, rising to a top-four revenue contributor.

Srinivas has spent 20 years at WPP, during which time he oversaw the integration of the company’s agency and specialist operations in India. WPP stated that this approach supported the development of India as a hub for global delivery services, technology capabilities, and specialist talent.

Cindy Rose, CEO of WPP, said, “Srini is a truly outstanding leader whose vision has been instrumental in transforming India into one of WPP’s most important and dynamic markets globally. He has not only delivered exceptional growth but has also built an incredible culture of collaboration and innovation.”

Cindy continued, “From establishing our integrated campuses to scaling our global delivery and tech capabilities, his legacy is a stronger, more unified, and future-ready WPP in India, perfectly positioned to harness our AI advantage for our clients. We are deeply grateful for his immense contributions, and we all wish him the absolute best for the future.”

Reflecting on his time at the company, Srinivas said,  “Leading WPP in India has been the privilege of a lifetime. I am incredibly proud of what our 11,000-strong team has built together – a market defined by growth, innovation, and most importantly, a shared purpose. Our foundation is strong, and the potential for India to drive WPP’s global agenda is boundless. I will be cheering from the sidelines as I look forward to my next chapter.”

During his tenure, WPP’s workforce in India grew to more than 11,000 employees across agencies, global delivery operations, and support functions. The company also established collaborative campuses in Mumbai, Gurgaon, and Chennai, and launched several initiatives focused on creativity, technology, and integration.

WPP added that Srinivas also chaired the WPP India Foundation, which expanded its programmes to support nearly 20,000 children, and represented the company in a number of industry sustainability initiatives, including as a founding member of Xynteo’s Vikaasa coalition.

Before becoming WPP’s country manager for India, Srinivas held senior roles, including CEO for South Asia at GroupM and CEO Asia Pacific at Maxus. He was involved in the launch of India’s first media agency of record for Hindustan Unilever in 1995 and has served on the boards of organisations including BARC, ABC, MRUC, and the IAA. He was also a founding co-chairman of MMA India.

WPP said the next phase of leadership for its India business will be announced in due course.