GroupM SEA CEO Himanshu Shekhar steps down after 2 decades with firm

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Himanshu Shekhar has parted ways with GroupM after holding the role of CEO of Southeast Asia since May 2023. In a statement to MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, a spokesperson at GroupM said: “After two and a half decades with GroupM, Himanshu Shekhar has decided to step down from his role managing our business in Southeast Asia this month. Shekhar has been a strong leader for us over the years. We’re grateful for his many contributions to our success in the region and wish him the best for the future.”

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to Shekhar (pictured) for a statement. Based in Indonesia, Shekhar has been a driving force of growth for GroupM in Indonesia, holding titles such as CEO of GroupM Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.

In 2018, GroupM announced that Shekhar will be taking over from Ed Thesiger as CEO GroupM Indonesia effective 1st January 2019. During his appointment, GroupM said in a statement that Indonesia continues to be a key growth market for the network, and shared that Shekhar has a proven track record with a depth of experience and industry relationships that is second to none in that market.

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Prior to taking on the role with GroupM, Shekhar also spent a large part of his career helming the Mindshare brand. In 2010, Shekhar moved to Indonesia to lead Mindshare Unilever Team. Subsequently, he was appointed CEO, Indonesia in 2011 and CEO Southeast Asia in 2014.

Across different roles he has partnered global as well as local clients especially Unilever, Nestle, GSK, Indofood, Shopee amongst others.

Late last year, the group also reshuffled its leadership in Asia Pacific (APAC), making multiple appointments. The changes expand the remits of Mindshare, Wavemaker, and EssenceMediacom’s regional agency leaders to include responsibility for critical GroupM-wide functions and capabilities.

Helen McRae (pictured left) will oversee GroupM’s growth and business development teams in the region. In her new role, McRae will work closely with regional leadership and GroupM’s recently appointed global chief growth officer, Hamish Davies, to ensure teams responding to new business opportunities benefit from shared knowledge.

In addition, Sindhuja Rai (pictured centre), Wavemaker’s regional lead for APAC, will take on the additional responsibility for overseeing GroupM’s client leadership communities in the region. Meanwhile, EssenceMediacom’s chief operating officer for APAC, Josh Gallagher was been promoted to client president for the agency in the region.

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