Ayesha Ghosh, President of Wieden+Kennedy India, and Santosh Padhi, better known as Paddy, the agency’s Chief Creative Officer, have officially tendered their resignations, marking the end of their tenure at the globally renowned creative agency. Their departure comes alongside that of Shreekant Srinivasan, Head of Wieden+Kennedy’s Delhi office, signaling a notable shift within the agency’s leadership.
Ghosh and Padhi both joined W+K in 2022, playing pivotal roles in expanding the agency’s footprint in India. Together, they were instrumental in establishing the Mumbai office, contributing significantly to W+K’s growth and presence in the Indian market. Their leadership has been closely associated with driving creativity and fostering a dynamic culture at the agency during their tenure.
Padhi said, “I came into the W+K family with lots of excitement as I always followed their amazing work during my taproot days. I’m super proud that along with Ayesha and the solid team we managed to get some of the biggest brands in the nation, and had success on every front, be it people, reputation or clientele. We won over a dozen businesses and have managed to produce some beautiful work on the brands mentioned above. Not only me but we all really enjoyed the freedom the global team gave us on every front with total autonomy and many other wonderful things which I will always remember.”
He further added, “Unfortunately like most senior creative individuals, even my heart is calling for something beyond this, something new, something that will give me a newer high, I have to depart in search of a new love.”
Commenting on it, Ghosh said, “The last two and a half years have been quite exhilarating, right from stepping into this legendary agency, to setting up the Mumbai office, stabilising and growing the Delhi office, delivering good results and adapting the unique W+K culture to India. Within a little over half a year of joining, it was satisfying to see the impact of our leadership. This wouldn’t have been possible without the passion and hard work of our employees. Every interaction with the W+K crew around the globe has opened my mind to new ways of thinking and new ways of measuring the worth of the work that we do. I hope I get to work with such a smart set of people again.”
Ghosh’s statement added that she has been meaning to pause for a while and dedicate time to both yoga and her family.
“As for what comes next, I’ll see what the universe throws my way,” she said.
Here’s W+K’s statement on the exits: “We are grateful to Paddy and Ayesha for their efforts during these past two and a half years as they set up an office in Mumbai and brought in new energy and clients. We wish them all the best as they move on from the agency and take their talents into the world.”
Before their time at Wieden+Kennedy India, Ayesha Ghosh and Santosh Padhi (Paddy) had a shared history at Dentsu, where their professional partnership first took shape. Padhi, a highly respected creative leader in the industry, was the co-founder of Taproot India, an agency that quickly rose to prominence under his leadership. Taproot became known for its bold and innovative campaigns, ultimately attracting the attention of Dentsu, which acquired the agency in 2012.
Ghosh, on the other hand, joined Dentsu in 2015 after a successful stint at Contract Advertising, where she had already established herself as a dynamic leader in account management and business strategy. Together, at Dentsu, the duo contributed to the agency’s creative vision and business expansion before transitioning to their roles at W+K India in 2022. Their shared background at Dentsu laid the foundation for the collaborative leadership that would later define their tenure at Wieden+Kennedy.