WPP has appointed Hephzibah Pathak as CEO of WPP Creative India as part of its wider Elevate28 restructuring strategy.
In her new role, Pathak will oversee WPP’s creative, design and PR agencies in India, including Ogilvy, VML, Burson, AKQA, Landor and Design Bridge and Partners. She will work with the CEOs of these agencies to strengthen integration, expand capabilities and provide clients with easier access to talent across the WPP network.
The appointment marks an internal elevation for Pathak, who has spent nearly three decades with Ogilvy. She joined the agency in 1997 after starting her career at Clarion Advertising in 1993. Over the years, she has held a series of leadership roles at Ogilvy, including Mumbai office head, Chief Client Officer India, Vice Chairperson and most recently Executive Chairperson of Ogilvy India.
Her appointment is part of WPP’s broader Elevate28 transformation plan, announced earlier this year. Under the strategy, WPP is reorganising into four key divisions: WPP Media, WPP Creative, WPP Production and WPP Enterprise Solutions, a new AI and technology-focused unit.
The restructuring is aimed at simplifying operations and delivering annual cost savings of £500 million by 2028. The company expects to incur around £400 million in restructuring costs over the next two years.
The move comes after a difficult financial year for WPP. The company reported revenue of £13.55 billion in 2025, down from £14.74 billion the previous year, while operating profit fell sharply due to impairment charges and restructuring expenses.