Dentsu has announced leadership changes in South Asia, with Kartik Iyer retiring as chief operating officer, South Asia, effective immediately. 

Iyer will continue with the organisation in an advisory role. He has been part of dentsu's leadership team during a period of significant change for the organisation and the wider media industry. During his tenure, he worked across operating capabilities and delivery frameworks and supported the group's transformation efforts. 

Saagar Sethi, currently leading dentsu's investment and trading business, has been appointed chief business officer, South Asia, effective 1 September. He was previously president - Amplifi India and joined dentsu in 2022. 

In his new role, Sethi will oversee an expanded portfolio covering investment and trading, media planning and operations, performance practice and operational excellence. He will report to Sujit Vaidya, chief financial officer, with a matrix reporting relationship to Ajay Gupte, chief operating officer.

The leadership change brings dentsu's investment, planning, performance and operational functions under Sethi's expanded remit.

Harsha Razdan, chief executive officer, South Asia, dentsu said, “Kartik has been a valued colleague and a steady hand through some demanding years for our industry. He has played an important role in strengthening the way this business operates, and we are grateful for the experience and perspective he has brought to the leadership team. We are pleased that his counsel will continue to be part of dentsu as he takes on an advisory role, and we wish him every success for the next chapter. The Indian market is moving faster than any playbook can keep pace with. Brands here are being asked to show business outcomes, and the distance between a media decision and a commercial result has never been shorter. Our job is to close that distance for our clients. Saagar has spent his career at the commercial end of this business, and putting investment, planning, performance, and operational excellence in one pair of hands gives clients a more direct line to growth. His understanding of how this organisation works makes him the right person to lead this portfolio.”