Ajit Varghese to replace Vikram Sakhuja as Madison's Group CEO – Media & OOH

Economic Times

7 days ago

Madison Media has appointed former JioStar Head of Revenue – Entertainment & International, Ajit Varghese, as Partner and Group CEO – Media & OOH, succeeding Vikram Sakhuja in the role.As Partner and CEO, Varghese will have a stake in Madison. Sakhuja will continue as Executive Director, focused on building organisational capability, and will be based in New Delhi.
Varghese, a veteran of the media industry with over three decades of experience across Indian and international markets, returns to Madison after holding leadership positions at several global and digital-first companies.
Madison World Chairman Sam Balsara said, 'I am delighted to have Ajit join us back. Ajit has all the credentials to steer an agency like Madison into the future — substantial media agency experience at Madison and GroupM, both in India and abroad, then with a digital publisher, and finally with JioStar. Ajit, like Vikram, will join us as Partner and CEO with a stake in the business.' Ajit Varghese added, 'Coming back to Madison feels like returning home — but with a fresh purpose and a bigger mission. This is where my media journey began, and it's where I now hope to help write its next big chapter. The world of media is transforming at lightning speed, and Madison is uniquely poised to lead with its client-first thinking, independent spirit, and deep talent. I'm thrilled to partner with Sam and the entire team to shape the next phase — a future-ready and platform-powered Madison that delivers innovation, agility, and measurable business outcomes for brands. The ambition is clear: make Madison the most impactful and future-facing agency in the region.'
An alumnus of Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar, Varghese began his career in media planning at Madison Media, eventually serving as Chief Operating Officer of Madison Media Infinity for seven years. He went on to spend 13 years at GroupM, where he held senior roles including Managing Director – South Asia at Maxus, CEO – Asia Pacific at Maxus, and Global President of Wavemaker, based out of London.Following his tenure at GroupM, Varghese held executive leadership roles in the digital ecosystem, including as Chief Commercial Officer at ShareChat. Most recently, he served as Head of Revenue – Entertainment & International at JioStar, the joint venture between Reliance and Disney. In this role, he was instrumental in shaping strategy across TV media, digital, connected TV, branded content, and platform-driven brand narratives.