Vikram Sakhuja moves from Group M to Madison as equity partner and CEO

The senior Group M hand Vikram Sakhuja is joining Sam Balsara’s homegrown Madison Media Group, including OOH, as equity partner and the group CEO. Sakhuja will be responsible for the media and out-of-home business of Madison World and will work closely with Balsara.

After joining Group M’s Mindshare in 2002 as its director, Sakhuja quickly scaled  ranks to become South Asia CEO of Group M by 2006. His last assignment was the global strategic development officer of Group M, the media agencies group of Martin Sorrell’s conglomerate, WPP. He had also held the office of Maxus’ worldwide CEO.

An alumnus of IIT Delhi and IIM Calcutta, Sakhuja has over 28 years of experience, spanning advertisers such as P&G and Coca-Cola, a broadcaster (Star TV), before his stint with Group M.

Sam Balsara, chairman & managing director, Madison World, said:  “I am delighted to have Vikram (Sakhuja) come on board and partner us in  Madison. I know Vikram...over the last 20 years, first as a client, then a media partner and finally, as a formidable competitor.  I am confident that he will be able to contribute significantly to our clients’ business.”

Sakhuja said: “I am truly excited at the prospect of returning home to India and in an entrepreneurial capacity. It is also a privilege to now partner a person who initiated me into media in my client days. Media has never been more exciting, and I look forward to further strengthening an already iconic agency brand. ”

The current CEO of the Madison Media Group, Gautam Kiyawat, will relocate to Singapore owing to personal reasons. Balsara says, “I would like to place on record Gautam’s (Kiyawat’s) substantial contribution to Madison Media in the three years that he has been with us, especially in the area of growing our people and working as a team. I thank him for his contribution  and wish him all the best in his future endeavours”.

Madison Media Group has accounts such as Godrej, Mondelez, ITC, Marico, McDonald’s, Raymond, Piramal Healthcare, TVS, Levis, Domino’s, BhartiAxa, Max Life Insurance, Asian Paints, Pidilite, Tata Salt, Acer, Lafarge Cement, Crompton Greaves, Times Television Network, Indian Oil, Enamor Lingerie, Gowardhan Dairy, Viber, Lenskart, Metro Cash and Carry, Café Coffee Day.  The gross billing of Madison Media is about Rs 3,000 crores.