Anusha Shetty leads Grey India leadership recast

Grey Group India has appointed Anusha Shetty as chairman and CEO as it merges itself with AutumnGrey, the digital and social-media agency she co-founded in 2005.

Shetty will combine forces with Sandipan Bhattacharyya, who has added MD responsibilities to his role as chief creative officer of Grey Group India.

Shetty takes over as CEO from Yashaswini Samat, who replaced Sunil Lulla in early 2018. Samat is relocating to Singapore to take up a new role for WPP and Grey, reporting to Nirvik Singh, who was appointed global COO in September, in addition to his position as chairman and CEO of Grey Group Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa.

Shetty will work closely with Singh to combine the creative strength of Grey with data-driven digital solutions from AutumnGrey, according to a company statement. 

“The breakdown of communication silos is the only way to create a future agency model," Shetty said.

Shetty "possesses a rare combination of digital and social-media knowledge along with entrepreneurial flair and business acumen," Singh said, adding that clients will be best served by an organisation and structure that puts "creativity, data and all things digital at the heart of our offering".

The dual appointments represent a "perfect blend of creativity, technology and data that’s happening at Grey", Singh added.