Shashi Sinha is the IPG Mediabrands India CEO; Lynn de Souza quits

Sinha will take on this newly created position in addition to his mandate as the head of Lodestar UM; de Souza is set to tread the entrepreneurial path.

In a major development, IPG Mediabrands has announced Shashi Sinha, chief executive officer, Lodestar UM to be the CEO of IPG Mediabrands India. Sinha will take on this new mandate in addition to his role as the Lodestar UM head.

Meanwhile, Lynn de Souza, chairman and CEO, Lintas Media Group has decided to quit and will leave IPG Mediabrands at the end of November.

IPG Mediabrands was formed in 2007 by Interpublic Group of Companies to manage its media-related asset globally. In India, IPG Mediabrands arrived earlier this year bringing together its three media agencies - Lodestar UM, Initiative and BPN. It also has a joint venture with India's digital independent - Interactive Avenues called Reprise that strengthens IPG Mediabrands India's digital offering. Further was launched Magna Intelligence to improve the group's buying capabilities and it also brought its unique consumer panels to the market.

Having consolidated a strong position in the Indian market with its assets, IPG Mediabrands India's growth phase will continue with the launch of IPG Mediabrands Analytics and the group's focus on its outdoor business.

Sinha's appointment is in line with this very growth vision. Initiative, BPN, Reprise and the Outdoor company will report to him.

On the development, a press release from the company states, "This (Sinha's appointment) represents the commitment IPG Mediabrands has made to the Indian market and recognises that Sinha, an IPG veteran of over 20 years, has contributed greatly to that growth. He has rapidly expanded and developed Lodestar UM over the past six years, led the way for the foundation of many new offerings in the market and has remained actively engaged in various industry forums."

Having risen up the ranks at Draftfcb Ulka and then taking charge of Lodestar UM, Sinha is looking forward to his new role.

"It is exciting. IPG Mediabrands is very big in India. And it is a great opportunity. We are already number two in the market and we have a great chance ahead. There will be backend challenges, of course as is the case whenever something new is launched. However, from the frontend, there aren't any. We have a great roster of clients and a great team in place," Sinha tells afaqs!.

de Souza, on the other hand is yet another IPG veteran. Having joined Lintas in 1995 to set up Initiative Media; she has always had a strong leaning towards her social responsibilities. Taking her very love for the non-profit space ahead, de Souza is set to take up the role of a social entrepreneur and is likely to announce the launch of a new initiative for the development sector in early 2013.

"IPG is thankful for Lynn de Souza's long years of service during which she built a formidable media reputation for the group and contributed to the founding, among other things, the IPG Women's Leadership Network. We wish Lynn all the success for the future," the IPG communiqué states.