Dentsu has announced the creation of a new “cluster” for Southeast Asia headed by a team of veteran industry leaders including Sanjay Bhasin, Prakash Kamdar, and Bharti Agrawal to lead the fast-growing market for the network in APAC. The newly-formed SEA cluster will include Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
As the fifth largest economy in the world, Southeast Asia is experiencing exponential growth and tremendous transformation, says Dentsu, adding that its growth in advertising spend is anticipated to outpace Asia Pacific.
Sanjay Bhasin, previously CEO Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, dentsu, has been promoted to CEO Southeast Asia. A veteran of the industry with 30 years of experience across APAC and SEA region, Bhasin was formerly CEO of Y&R SEA from 2012 to 2018.
“It’s well documented that SEA is experiencing exponential growth and tremendous transformation,” said Rob Gilby, CEO APAC, dentsu.
“Aligning with this is a natural progression for the business and will support significant investment in and commitment to our people, our clients, our partners and our competitive capabilities in this important growth region. I could not be more excited about the proven leaders in Sanjay, Prakash and Bharti leading our over 4,000 diverse talents to accelerate our clients’ and our growth in SEA.”
Bhasin added: “SEA has been my home for the best part of my professional life and I have had the privilege of working with some of the most ambitious businesses and leading some of the most talented teams in just about every market in this incredibly exciting and diverse cluster.
Us coming together as one borderless team to realise the promise of SEA in the decade of SEA is quite simply the right next step in dentsu’s and my journey.”
Additionally, Prakash Kamdar has been promoted to CEO, Clients & Solutions, Southeast Asia, dentsu and Bharti Agrawal to CFO, Southeast Asia, dentsu having been in the role for some months already.
He brings 27 years of experience in digital marketing and digital transformation and has a strong track record in client-centricity and creating transformative solutions. He joined the digital industry back in 1997 and has been CEO, Singapore, dentsu since 2019 and concurrent CEO, Indonesia, dentsu since January 2022.
“Since joining dentsu in 2012 as CEO of Isobar Singapore, I have seen the business through its transformation, and I have been truly humbled by the responsibility and confidence that has been given to me,” said Kamdar.
“I have played various different roles at dentsu in the last 11 years, however my deep love and passion has always been for using the combined power of creativity, design, data, media, and technology to create transformative solutions that help businesses and brands achieve their growth and good ambitions. I am eager and excited to work with Sanjay, Bharti and the rest of our SEA leaders and colleagues to transform the fortunes of businesses and people’s lives through our very best integrated growth solutions.”
Bharti bring over 20 years of financial experience together with operational, commercial and M&A expertise in listed and private organisations across the UK, Brazil and Southeast Asia.
She has been in the role for some years already while MaryAnn Puthussery, General Counsel Southeast Asia, dentsu and Yvonne Tan, Group HR Director, Southeast Asia dentsu have been in Southeast Asia roles for the past year and are also strong members of the dentsu Southeast Asia leadership bench.
