SINGAPORE — After an impressive 30-year career in advertising in India, Tarun Rai, Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives at Wunderman Thompson APAC, has announced his retirement.
In his long advertising career, Tarun has held various roles at Wunderman Thompson. He joined the company as a young Account Executive in 1988 and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a Managing Partner at JWT by 2002. After a stint in Media, Tarun returned to JWT as Group CEO for South Asia, where he diversified the organization’s capabilities and fostered stronger collaboration between the agency and clients. Under his leadership, the agency onboarded great national and international brands. Following the merger between Wunderman and JWT, Tarun was appointed Chairman and Group CEO for South Asia, guiding the organization through the pandemic.
At the beginning of last year, Tarun assumed the role of Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives across the APAC region.
Throughout his three-decade career, Tarun adeptly navigated the industry’s many changes. He said, “I owe my career to Wunderman Thompson, which provided me with countless opportunities to grow. I am thankful to the leaders of Wunderman Thompson and WPP who placed their trust in me. It was an honor to lead exceptional teams in different roles and work with outstanding professionals who made my job both easy and enjoyable. I am also indebted to all our clients with whom I have partnered over the last three decades. Their friendship and support allowed us to build some of the most powerful brands in the country. It has been an incredible journey — exciting, fulfilling, and rewarding.”
“We would like to thank Tarun for his leadership and contributions to Wunderman Thompson and the industry over the past thirty years. His guidance in India has been instrumental in our agencies’ success, and we wish him a happy retirement,” shared Ewen Sturgeon, CEO, International, Wunderman Thompson.
