Kartik Sharma to lead Omnicom Media India as Sashi Sinha becomes advisor

Omnicom has appointed Kartik Sharma as chief executive of the newly combined Omnicom Media India following the group’s $13 billion acquisition of Interpublic Group, a move that creates the world’s largest advertising company by revenue. Business Standard reported that the merger also positions the combined entity as the second-largest player in India’s media market.

IPG’s Indian operations, previously housed within IPG Mediabrands, will now fold into Omnicom’s media business. Sharma, who has led Omnicom Media Group India since 2020, will oversee the integrated operation. Sashi Sinha, the long-serving chief executive of IPG Mediabrands India, will take on the role of strategic advisor to the merged entity, according to people familiar with the transition.

The restructuring extends across senior operational roles. Sources said Rishit Mehta will serve as chief financial officer and Amardeep Singh as chief operating officer of Omnicom Media India. On the creative and advertising side, an internal memo noted that Prasoon Joshi — previously CEO and chief creative officer of McCann Worldgroup India and chairman of McCann Asia Pacific — will become chairman of Omnicom Advertising India. Aditya Kanthy, formerly CEO and managing director of Omnicom Advertising India, is set to move into the role of president and managing director.

The Omnicom–IPG deal was driven largely by financial considerations, including cost optimisation and consolidation of back-end functions. Omnicom Media Group chief executive John Wren said on Monday that more than 4,000 roles would be eliminated globally as part of integration efforts. Media reports indicated that administrative and select leadership positions would be the most affected. The cuts represent around 3% of the combined workforce as of 2024 and follow earlier trimming initiated after the deal was announced in December last year.

Global leadership appointments reflect similar consolidation. Phil Angelastro will continue as Omnicom’s executive vice-president and chief financial officer. Philippe Krakowsky, chief executive of IPG, and Daryl Simm, Omnicom’s president and chief operating officer, will serve as co-presidents and COOs of the merged company. Omnicom said that Krakowsky, Patrick Moore of IPG’s board, and E Lee Wyatt Junior would join its board of directors.

With IPG Mediabrands being phased out in India, the combined company will now operate six global agency brands: OMD, PHD, Hearts & Science, UM, Initiative and Mediahub. The consolidation marks one of the most significant restructurings in the advertising sector in recent years and is expected to reshape competitive dynamics across global and Indian markets as Omnicom pursues closer alignment of strategy, operations and creative capability.