Ogilvy's former APAC chief growth officer launches new venture

Ogilvy’s APAC chief growth officer Sheilen Rathod (pictured) has left to launch FutureProof Group, redefining customer growth across the region.

In conversation with MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, Rathod said he wanted to create a new model of engagement after decades in senior leadership roles at global agencies such as Ogilvy.

“Large agencies bring scale, but they also bring bureaucracy and slow-moving hierarchies that dilute impact. The decision wasn’t about leaving Ogilvy — it was about building something different: a lean, senior-led collective where clients work directly with experienced partners and outcomes are delivered with clarity and speed; all focused-on customer-first thinking,” he added.

Explaining the insights behind his new venture, Rathod said FutureProof Group was born from a simple idea: brands need business partners who can cut through the noise and deliver customer-first ecosystems that drive relevance, long-term resilience, and growth.

“We combine the rigor of big-agency thinking with the agility of a boutique consultancy. Our team fuses East and West perspectives, brand and business strategy, customer experience design, and creative direction —all powered by AI, data intelligence, and outcome-focused execution.”

Formed by a team of senior alumni from leading 4A’s agencies, Rathod said every engagement is led by experienced partners, ensuring clients get direct access to decades of expertise.

Based in Hong Kong, the agency will be actively engaged in APAC markets while also working with several global clients, he said. “Our team’s experience spans Asia, Europe, the UK, and the Middle East, and we bring that global perspective to every partnership.”

Moving forward, FutureProof Group aims to position itself as the go-to senior-led agency for customer-centric growth and loyalty transformation. “We will continue to strip away bureaucracy, focus on actionable frameworks, clear outcomes and deliver measurable growth. Expansion will be thoughtful, always anchored in client outcomes rather than scale for scale’s sake.”

He said: "FutureProof Group is where experience meets resilient innovation. We strip away the noise, focus on what matters, and deliver customer-first brand ecosystems that drive relevance and results.”

Related articles:

Ogilvy's Marie-Claire Barker joins MEC as chief talent officer
BBDO's Andy Wilson returns to Ogilvy to launch Asia sustainability practice