Kapur said his job is that of a brand ambassador: "I'll make sure there's more cooperation between WPP operations in India. We already have an operating unit looking after the backroom procurement in terms of travel, and print and production. I'm accountable for that and any new business opportunities if I can help identify them."
He said that this did not imply that the agencies, which compete fiercely against each other for business, would be dropping their guard anytime soon. "They should remain competitors. I have no executive role and each unit head has total autonomy, and will report to their own systems. My objective is when they should cooperate, I should get them to do so," he said.
WPP is India's largest marketing communications group, owning two of the top three agencies, J. Walter Thompson and Ogilvy & Mather, apart from Contract and Equus, and with a stake in Rediffusion DY&R. It also owns the media company Group M, which includes MindShare, Maxmize, and Fulcrum and Quadra marketing consultancy. Other WPP entities include research outfit IMRB, Portland Outdoor, Sudler & Hennessey, 141 and Wunderman among others.
Kapur assigned to country manager role for WPP India
Ranjan Kapur, former chairman and CEO of O&M India, has been designated country manager for WPP in India.