India – Dentsu India has named John Thangaraj as chief strategy officer – creative & media, reinforcing its commitment to uniting creative excellence with media effectiveness to deliver impactful client outcomes.
In his new role, Thangaraj will be tasked with bridging dentsu’s creative and media functions to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration, aligning efforts with the network’s broader vision of integrated, impact-driven marketing.
A seasoned strategist with expertise in consumer insight, data-led planning, and creative development, Thangaraj is expected to bring a cohesive strategic approach across both verticals.
He previously served as chief strategy officer at Havas Creative Network, where he spearheaded campaigns that reshaped brand engagement. Prior to that, he was group chief strategy officer at FCB India, overseeing strategic direction across multiple agencies, including Ulka, Interface, India, and Kinnect.
Speaking about his appointment, Thangaraj commented, “In all honesty, I have never been more excited to begin a new role. The world has changed, and so must we. Marketing is more challenging than ever, and clients are increasingly looking for outcomes rather than outputs – sometimes driven by media and data-fuelled creativity and at other times by creative and consumer-driven media interventions.”
“By combining strategic thinking across both creative and media practices, dentsu has set the benchmark for truly outcome-based integrated marketing. This network has some of the best talent in the industry, and I’m thrilled to be part of this exceptional team. Full speed ahead! ” he added.
Thangaraj will report to Amit Wadhwa, CEO of Dentsu Creative & Media Brands for South Asia, and Narayan Devanathan, president and chief strategy officer for South Asia.
Wadhwa said, “This role requires a unique blend of courage, humility, and trust. John brings the strategic firepower needed to drive our vision forward, along with the emotional intelligence to unify teams, challenge conventions, and inspire real progress. His ability to navigate complexity while keeping the end goal in sight makes him the ideal leader for this pivotal role.”
Devanathan added, “In a world that is sometimes foolishly obsessed with the new and shiny, it’s both refreshing and bold to recognise that challenging times don’t always call for change. They call for creativity amidst chaos, assurance amidst ambiguity, and a leader who can collect and connect dots in strikingly imaginative ways. That’s not just John’s mandate; it’s his forte. In this integrated strategy leadership role, he will be instrumental in shaping client outcomes as much as the industry’s future itself.
