Sindhuja Rai, chief client officer for APAC at WPP Media, will leave the business next month after more than three years, the company confirmed.
A WPP Media spokesperson said: “Rai will be leaving the business next month. We’re grateful for her contributions during her time with us and wish her all the very best for what’s next.” The network added that the departure is not part of any significant restructuring underway in the regional business. Rai has not announced her next move.
The exit closes another chapter in a long career that spans both sides of the marketing table. Before joining WPP, Rai spent 13 years at Mondelēz International, most recently as senior director, global media investment and AMEA consumer experience. Her regional work has covered media, data, digital and consumer engagement across APAC, the Middle East and Africa.
Why the APAC client role matters
Rai took charge as chief client officer, APAC in June 2025, following the launch of WPP Media and a reshuffle of its regional leadership. Based in Singapore, she was responsible for strengthening client service across the region, overseeing global and regional accounts and leading the client solutions team. Before that, she was CEO of Wavemaker APAC from September 2023 to June 2025.
In agency networks, this role is often the commercial anchor. It sets escalation paths, shapes account service quality and protects revenue. When the anchor changes, client teams can feel the shift through new ways of working, longer decision cycles or moments of uncertainty.
A wider APAC leadership churn
Rai’s exit is the latest in a run of senior moves across WPP Media’s APAC operations:
- In Malaysia, former Carat Malaysia partner and head Vanitha Selvathurai has joined as vice president, clients.
- In Hong Kong, Adrian Lee has taken the newly created chief client and operating officer role, reporting to Michael Beecroft, CEO of WPP Media North East Asia, and working alongside Silas Ho.
- Arshan Saha, formerly CEO of WPP Media for Singapore and Malaysia, has joined Aleph as regional managing director for APAC, with a remit spanning 15 markets.
WPP Media has ruled out a significant restructuring tied to Rai’s departure. Even so, the volume of movement suggests a competitive senior talent market across the region.
What marketers should watch
For brand-side marketing teams, leadership churn at an agency partner is a signal to revisit continuity plans. Ask who the named regional lead is for your account today, confirm that a successor or escalation contact has been identified, and request a documented handover process before any transition happens.
Stable agency leadership does not guarantee strong work, but clear succession planning reduces operational risk when senior leads move on. That risk is especially visible in APAC, where regional account roles carry wide remits and local nuance.
Source: MediaNews4U
