CVL Srinivas, who assumed the role of Country Manager in October 2017, will step down after informing WPP leadership of his intention to retire upon turning 60 on March 14, 2026, a decision conveyed as part of a long-planned transition process. The succession planning has been underway for over 15 months, and WPP is expected to announce his successor in the coming weeks.
Fondly known as Srini within the industry, Srinivas joined WPP in January 2013 as CEO – South Asia of GroupM (now WPP Media). Between October 2017 and late 2018, he concurrently held both the GroupM leadership role and the WPP India Country Manager position, before transitioning fully into the group role.
During his tenure as Country Manager, WPP India continued to consolidate its position in the Indian advertising and media landscape. Under his leadership, India emerged as one of WPP’s top four global markets, and a Global Capability Centre (GCC) for the WPP Group was established in India. He also served as a member of WPP’s Global Operating Board.
Across his career, Srinivas has held several senior leadership roles, including CEO – South Asia at GroupM, Chairman at Starcom MediaVest India, CEO Asia Pacific at Maxus (GroupM), and COO at Madison Media. He was also part of the founding team at HTA, which launched Fulcrum, India’s first media agency of record for HUL, in 1995.
His professional journey includes stints at J. Walter Thompson Worldwide, where he worked between 1994 and 1998 as Media Lead for Foods & Personal Care (HTA Fulcrum – Unilever business), followed by Madison World as COO from 1998 to 2003. He later served as CEO Asia Pacific at Maxus (2003–2006), Director – Private Treaties at Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd. (2008–2010), and Chairman India at Starcom Mediavest Group (2011–2013) before joining GroupM.
Srinivas has also played an active role in industry bodies, serving on the boards of BARC, ABC, MRUC, IAA, and RSCI, and as a founding member and Co-chairman of MMA India.
An XLRI Jamshedpur alumnus (Class of 1993), Srinivas began his career at Lintas Bangalore before moving to JWT in 1994. Prior to entering advertising, he worked with the TVS Group following his engineering degree.
Srinivas’s career has been closely associated with leadership development, organisational transformation, and long-term industry building. Post-retirement, he is unlikely to take up a formal executive role, and his next professional chapter remains open.
