Grey 82.5 has appointed Shouvik Roy as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 December 2026. He succeeds Kiran Ramamurthy, who is moving to lead VML India as its CEO.
The move brings Roy back into The Ogilvy Group, the network that houses Grey 82.5. He returns with nearly three decades of experience across brand strategy, marketing transformation and business building. Until the transition takes effect, Ramamurthy and Roy will work together to keep client partnerships and agency operations on track.
An operator who has also built brands
Roy previously served as President and Head of Ogilvy Delhi, where he worked with more than a dozen brands that rank among the world’s top 100. His career also includes a founder chapter: he co-founded an advertising and design agency that helped create Paper Boat, and later contributed to building G.O.A.T Brand Labs.
That combination matters because leading an agency and building a brand require different instincts. A large-network CEO runs client relationships, talent and integration; a founder has to make a brand desirable without the safety net of an established network. Grey 82.5’s bet is that Roy can bring both modes to the agency as it chases growth and creative excellence.
A transition built on integration
Ramamurthy had been driving Grey 82.5’s transformation after Grey and 82.5 came together. His move to VML India means the agency is passing the baton at a moment when its structure is settled and its momentum is being emphasised.
VR Rajesh, CEO of The Ogilvy Group India, said Roy ‘perfectly embodies our challenger ethos.’ He thanked Ramamurthy for his leadership and pointed to the integration as the foundation for the agency’s next phase.
What this means for marketers
A CEO transition is often treated as an internal agency matter, but it quickly shows up in account direction, resourcing and the tone of the work. The handover period is therefore a practical opportunity, not a formality.
- Confirm which client partners and campaign owners stay with your account through December.
- Ask how the incoming leader’s brand-building experience will sharpen strategy and creative output.
- Use the pre-December window to lock in 2027 scope, budgets and performance expectations.
The challenge ahead
Roy arrives with a founder’s playbook and deep network relationships. The next few quarters will show whether that blend speeds up Grey 82.5’s momentum and pushes creative work beyond the safety of business-as-usual. For clients, the clearest signal will be not the appointment itself but how quickly the agency’s output changes under new leadership.
Source: MediaNews4U
