Harsh Kapadia returns to India from New York taking on Chief Creative Officer role at Grey India
Harsh Kapadia has been appointed as Grey India’s new Chief Creative Officer, joining from MRM New York (part of McCann Worldgroup), where he served as CCO since 2021. Kapadia is a Mumbai-born creative leader with extensive global experience. He will be based in India and report to Grey’s Global Chief Creative Officer, Gabriel Schmitt.
This strategic hire underscores Grey’s commitment to strengthening its creative firepower in the critical Indian market and leveraging his unique blend of local understanding and international best practices. The move to Grey represents a return to the WPP network for Kapadia, who had previous tenures at VML and JWT.
Kapadia will partner with Anusha Shetty, CEO of Grey India, who brings over 25 years of marketing and advertising experience. Together, they will spearhead Grey India’s next phase of growth across its Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore studios, focusing on delivering famously effective creative solutions that resonate with local audiences and achieve global impact.
“Bringing together the proven leadership of Anusha Shetty with the creative vision of Harsh, whose experience spans the spectrum from cutting-edge AI-driven technology solutions to time-tested traditional advertising, sets Grey India up for an exciting future,” said Sarah Trombetta, Chief Executive Officer, Grey APAC. “This breadth of worldclass expertise will allow us to craft uniquely effective campaigns that resonate with diverse Indian consumers across all platforms and touchpoints.”
Gabriel Schmitt added: “India presents a tremendous opportunity, both culturally and economically. We need to be at the forefront of marketing and communications, creating exceptional work for the remarkable brands we represent there. Harsh’s experience in New York, London, Melbourne and India, coupled with his deep understanding of the local culture, makes him the ideal leader to drive lasting value for our clients. With Harsh and Anusha at the helm, our clients will gain a significant creative advantage and unparalleled client partnerships. Can’t wait to see the ideas flowing.”
“Harsh’s return to India is an extraordinary win for Grey,” said Anusha Shetty. “He is a well-known creative force with deep experience across brands and strongly believes in the application of technology to ideas and ideas to technology; we couldn’t have asked for a stronger addition to leadership.”
Kapadia’s appointment is particularly significant given his Mumbai roots and his extensive experience working across four continents. His understanding of the Indian market, combined with his exposure to global best practices, positions him uniquely to lead Grey India’s creative vision. He has a proven track record of delivering award-winning campaigns for global clients like Google, Reckitt, Motorola, Lego, New Balance, and Diageo.
Kapadia said: “I’m thrilled to continue my global journey while returning to WPP and lead Grey India at such a transformative moment. Partnering with Anusha and the exceptional team at Grey, I’m eager to harness the philosophy of Cultural MacGyverism—blending rich local insights with cutting-edge marketing—to create work that drives real business impact.”