Isha Kapoor takes on the senior vice president role at Propagate India

MUMBAI: A new title, a bigger canvas and a lot more to build. Isha Kapoor has stepped into the role of senior vice president at Propagate India, part of Publicis Groupe, capping a climb that began with a fledgling digital agency and now spans some of the biggest names in beauty, confectionery and spirits.

Kapoor, who has spent over a decade building and scaling businesses, says the promotion is another chapter in a journey that has taught her plenty about leadership, backing ideas, navigating challenges and bringing the right people together. Her strength, she says, lies in turning complex brand challenges into simple, impactful strategies, while building teams that thrive on collaboration and innovation.

The résumé backs the claim. Since joining Propagate India in October 2023 as vice president, she has led digital-first growth and integrated brand solutions for global and Indian clients, including Beiersdorf (Nivea and Eucerin), Ferrero and Diageo. She has driven agency expansion by aligning creative, media and strategy with measurable business outcomes, and has partnered with chief executives and marketing leaders on complex brand challenges through innovation, data and storytelling.

Before that came a stint at grapes, first as senior business director from April 2021 and then as vice president from April 2023. At WYP Worldwide, where she was business head from December 2019 to April 2021, she led the digital wing and moved brands from being mainline-only to truly integrated marketers. She spearheaded integrated campaigns for Tanishq, Ajio, Future Generali, Rohan Builders, John Players and Nanhi Kali, tying long-term brand strategies to annual marketing budgets and business outcomes, and managed a team of more than 15 across business, strategy, media and partnerships.

The longest stretch of her career was at Chimp&z Inc, where she spent over six years. Kapoor joined as one of the first two employees and helped scale the company from a boutique set-up into an agency of more than 200 people. She partnered with leadership to build operations and grow revenue across creative, media, production, influencer and search engine optimisation (SEO) services, and established the Gurugram branch, which grew to over 25 employees and secured marquee retainers such as Delhi Daredevils, Amway and Religare Health Insurance. Along the way she rose from senior business manager to business director to digital integration lead, leading integrated planning for banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), entertainment, FMCG and beauty brands.

Her early career at Jack in the Box Worldwide saw her work as an engagement planner and business manager on marquee accounts such as Pepsi, 7Up and Red Bull. She contributed to award-winning campaigns including Pepsi IPL 2013, Oh Yes Abhi!, Pepsi Atom and Pepsi Shot60, and to new business wins including Pepsi, 7Up, Nivea, Audi, Pantaloons, KidZania and Swarovski.

What excites Kapoor most is the intersection of creativity, technology and business outcomes: campaigns that do not just win attention but move the needle for brands and categories. “Always curious, always evolving,” she believes in pushing boundaries to keep brands relevant in an ever-changing digital ecosystem.

She thanked the leaders who trusted her with bigger opportunities, in particular Prachi Bali for her support and trust, and Paritosh Srivastava for his guidance and leadership. Most of all, she credited her team, who make the wins worth celebrating. Onwards and upwards.