Santosh Padhi, Shreekant Srinivasan and Ayesha Ghosh move on from W+K India

Santosh Padhi, known in the industry as Paddy, has announced his departure from Wieden+Kennedy (W+K) after an impactful two-and-a-half-year journey, alongside managing partner Ayesha Ghosh. Together, they opened W+K's Mumbai office in early 2022 and led the creative and business operations across both the Mumbai and Delhi offices, working with some of India’s most prominent brands.

Under their leadership, W+K created memorable campaigns for brands such as Jio 5G, Jio Fibre, Hero Vida, Jockey, Casio G-Shock, Jindal Steel, Hero Cycles, and more. The duo's combined efforts led to over a dozen new business wins, reinforcing W+K’s reputation in the Indian market while nurturing a robust creative culture.

Reflecting on his time at W+K, Paddy shared, “I came into the W+K family with lots of excitement, having 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 produced beautiful work for brands. The freedom and autonomy the global team gave us was something I will always cherish.”

However, after years of steering W+K's creative vision in India, Padhi expressed a desire to explore new horizons: “Unfortunately, like most senior creative individuals, my heart is calling for something beyond this. I have to depart in search of a new love.”

Ayesha Ghosh, who joined W+K shortly after Padhi, echoed his sentiments while also reflecting on the successful journey. “The last 2.5 years have been quite exhilarating. From stepping into this legendary agency, setting up the Mumbai office, stabilizing the Delhi office, and delivering great results, it was satisfying to see the impact of our leadership. I am proud of the passion and hard work of our employees, and every interaction with the global W+K team has opened my mind to new ways of thinking.”

Ghosh added, “I've been meaning to pause for a while, dedicate more time to yoga, and spend time with my family. As for what comes next, I’ll see what the universe throws my way.”

W+K issued a statement expressing their gratitude: “We are grateful to Paddy and Ayesha for their efforts in establishing the Mumbai office and infusing it with new energy and clients. We wish them all the best as they move on from the agency and take their talents into the world.”

Shreekant Srinivasan, who led W+K Delhi, also played a key role in driving the agency’s growth and creative success in the capital. His resignation, alongside Padhi and Ghosh’s, signifies a new chapter for the agency.

Also Read: LIA 2024: Santosh Padhi in Branded Content & Branded Ent Jury