Karthik Nagarajan Steps Down as CEO of WPP Production India After Nearly Four Years

August 3, 2026

Karthik Nagarajan, the Chief Executive Officer of WPP Production India, has announced his decision to step down from his role after nearly four years with the organisation. Nagarajan shared news of his departure through a post on LinkedIn, stating that he will be moving on to pursue new professional challenges.

What Happened

Nagarajan took charge of the company, then known as Hogarth India, in January 2023. During his tenure, the business was rebranded as WPP Production as part of a global restructuring effort by WPP. Reflecting on his timeframe leading the firm, Nagarajan described his three and a half years as India CEO as deeply fulfilling while highlighting the culture and business growth achieved during his time there.

In his announcement, Nagarajan expressed gratitude toward WPP India chairman CVL Srinivas and GroupM South Asia president Tushar Vyas for the opportunity to lead the business. He also credited his team for driving the firm’s transformation, calling them magicians at the confluence of craft and technology.

Key Highlights

Nagarajan served as CEO of WPP Production India for 3.5 years as part of his nearly four-year tenure at the firm.
Under his leadership, WPP Production India tripled in size over three years.
He led the company’s strategic transformation toward AI-centered and AI-enabled content production.
The firm was originally known as Hogarth India when Nagarajan assumed leadership in January 2023 before being rebranded during WPP’s global restructuring.
Nagarajan has more than two decades of industry experience across digital marketing, content, analytics, and technology.
His career includes previous leadership roles at GroupM, Wavemaker, Nielsen, NM Incite, Frost & Sullivan, and Shipcom Wireless.
He currently serves as an Industry Council Member at the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies and has been an I-COM Global Board Member since 2015.

Why This Matters

Nagarajan’s tenure marked a period of growth and operational evolution for WPP Production India. During his leadership, the organization expanded threefold in scale while pivoting its production capabilities toward AI-centered content technologies.

What to Watch Next

Following his announcement, Nagarajan stated he will pursue new professional challenges. Specific details regarding his next career movement or leadership succession at WPP Production India have not been detailed.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Karthik Nagarajan take charge of the company?

Nagarajan took charge of the business in January 2023 when it operated as Hogarth India, prior to its rebranding to WPP Production.

What growth did WPP Production India achieve under his leadership?

Under Nagarajan’s leadership, WPP Production India tripled in size over a three-year period and strengthened its capabilities in AI-enabled content production.

Source: ETBrandEquity