United States – WPP has named Baiju Shah as the new global CEO of AKQA, its design and innovation company, as the group aims to strengthen its blend of creativity, technology and artificial intelligence.
Shah joins AKQA from Accenture Song, where he was global chief strategy officer and a co-founder of the consulting giant’s creative arm, formerly Accenture Interactive. Over his 25-year career, he has worked with leading global brands to boost customer engagement and business performance, and played a key role in expanding Accenture Song’s global footprint and AI capabilities.
His appointment comes at a time when brands are looking to harness rapid cultural change and emerging technologies like generative AI to stay competitive. WPP says Shah’s expertise across creativity, strategy and technology will help AKQA’s clients seize new opportunities and build experiences that inspire and drive growth.
Mark Read, CEO of WPP, welcomed the appointment, describing Shah as “one of our industry’s leaders in bringing strategy, creativity and emerging technology together.” He added: “I am excited to see how he will redefine what a modern creative company can deliver for clients.”
Shah takes the helm as AKQA celebrates recent milestones, including a Cannes Lions Grand Prix for Innovation in 2025. He replaces Stephan Pretorius, WPP’s Chief Technology Officer, who served as AKQA’s Interim Chair for the past eight months. Pretorius praised the global team’s achievements during the transition and called Shah “the perfect choice” to guide the agency’s next phase.
In a statement, Shah said he was honoured to lead a company known for “iconic, creative innovation,” and sees AKQA playing a pivotal role as AI reshapes the creative industry. “This is about more than creative output. It’s about achieving meaningful growth, setting new standards for innovation, and proving that imagination remains the most powerful force for building futures worth living in,” he said.
Shah added that AKQA would serve as a “testing ground for the innovative and responsible use of AI,” positioning the agency and its clients at the forefront of industry transformation.
![[Statement] AirAsia Ph June 4 2026](https://marketech-apac.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Statement-AirAsia-Ph-June-4-2026.jpg)