Mumbai: Wunderman Thompson has appointed Shamsuddin Jasani as chief executive officer for South Asia, effective 1 November.

Jasani will report directly to Wunderman Thompson International CEO Ewen Sturgeon. "We are pleased to have Shams join our Wunderman Thompson leadership, and believe he is the natural successor to continue propelling our South Asia business forward,” said Sturgeon.

The development comes on the back of chairman and group CEO - South Asia Tarun Rai moving into a new role as executive director of strategic initiatives, APAC.

Jasani is a veteran of the industry, having launched Isobar in India in 2008 and growing it from a two-person team to over 300-strong across South Asia. Under his leadership, his team has been recognised as one of the top digital agencies under the Brand Equity Agency Reckoner and won multiple awards including 'Digital Agency of the Year India' for three times. Jasani was also awarded 'Digital Agency CEO' by Media Ace and has been featured on Impact Magazine’s 'Digital Power 100' list, two years in a row.

“It’s a great honour, but an even greater responsibility, to join such an iconic brand as Wunderman Thompson, with an amazing legacy. I am really excited to not only continue this legacy but to take it to greater heights with the combination of creative, data, commerce and technology," Jasani commented. "I believe at Wunderman Thompson we have all the ingredients to be the partner of choice for the growth and transformation of brands and business in India.”