Kartik Iyer, Chief Operating Officer of dentsu India, retired from the organisation on August 14, concluding an association of nearly two decades with the advertising network and a career spanning more than three decades across media, advertising and agency leadership.
Iyer began his career in 1991 as a management trainee at Lowe Lintas. He later held senior roles across the industry, including serving as Director of Media Services at Active International India.
In August 2008, he joined Carat Media Services India as Managing Director, leading the agency’s India operations for more than 11 years. During his tenure, he established himself as a prominent figure in India’s media agency ecosystem and worked across key businesses and client relationships.
In January 2020, Iyer was appointed President, Media Brands at dentsu India. He took on the role of Chief Operating Officer in 2021, becoming part of the network’s market leadership team. As COO, he worked across dentsu’s businesses, collaborating with client teams and regional and global leadership while supporting the network’s transformation and evolving operating model in India.
Iyer’s career coincided with a significant transformation in the advertising industry—from traditional media-led models to an ecosystem increasingly driven by digital platforms, data, technology and integrated consumer experiences. His ability to navigate these changes while holding senior leadership positions became a defining part of his professional journey.
During his long tenure with dentsu, Iyer contributed to the growth of multiple agencies, client relationships and professional teams, bringing extensive institutional knowledge and media expertise to the network.
With his retirement on August 14, Iyer brings to a close a career of more than three decades, leaving behind a legacy of consistent leadership, media expertise and institution-building across several phases of India’s advertising industry.