Edelman has named a new India CEO and APAC Head of Digital. Bhavna Jagtiani has been elevated from Chief Operating Officer, India to now serve as the firm’s CEO for its India operations. Kunal Arora, Managing Director for India Digital and APAC Studio Lead, takes on an expanded role of Head of Digital, APAC, now overseeing the firm’s Digital offering across the region. Both Jagtiani and Arora will continue to report to Rakesh Thukral, Edelman’s CEO for APAC, with the appointments taking immediate effect.Over her 22-year tenure with Edelman, Jagtiani has grown alongside the firm, having started as an Account Executive to eventually leading integrated teams across India and briefly in Hong Kong. In her most recent role as COO, India, she enhanced operational efficiencies in the market, fostered a strong organisational culture, and strengthened and expanded client mandates, both locally and regionally. As CEO, Jagtiani will now oversee the business strategy and ensure continued market performance in terms of delivering on strategic growth and deepening client relationships, as well as the further enhancement of the firm’s capabilities to deliver award-winning, impactful solutions for its clients.As Managing Director, Digital in India for the past 10 years, Arora has built global client offerings in digital crisis management, social media and digital reputation. He has also managed the APAC expansion of Edelman Studio, the firm’s global production capabilities, bolstered by local expertise and AI enablement. In his new role as Head of Digital for the region, he will partner with leaders across the network to scale the firm's digital operations, which will include overseeing APAC Studio, deepening the team’s skills and capabilities, and ensuring that digital solutions are embedded across all client offerings.Speaking on the appointments, Thukral says: “Bhavna is an undisputed culture champion, having fostered a strong workplace community of collaboration and empowerment. Her leadership in India has been instrumental in driving consistent growth for the market. And Kunal has ensured we continue to integrate the best capabilities and innovation into our offerings, ensuring the firm is equipped to help our clients excel in a constantly changing landscape.“Having worked side-by-side with Bhavna and Kunal, I can personally say their commitment and ability to nurture client relationships and talent make them deserving of their new roles, and I look forward to what we will accomplish together next, in their new capacities.Our digital business in Asia and our India business have potential to grow, and I have no doubt that Kunal and Bhavna are the right leaders to partner with our teams and clients to achieve this.”

Edelman has announced two new leadership appointments in Southeast Asia. Delicia Tan, currently CEO for Hong Kong and Taiwan, will expand her role to include CEO of Singapore. This appointment follows Julia Wei's departure from Edelman at the end of February 2025 to pursue a new opportunity. Tan, who joined Edelman in Singapore in 2006, brings extensive experience leading integrated teams and serving major clients across Asia Pacific.In Thailand, Vorasit (Gigg) Turongsomboon has been appointed Managing Director. With over 16 years of experience, including a decade at Procter & Gamble and most recently serving as Managing Director of MSL, Turongsomboon will lead Edelman's Thailand operations and growth.Rakesh Thukral, Edelman’s CEO for Asia Pacific, expressed confidence in Tan and Turongsomboon's leadership, stating that these appointments strengthen Edelman's ability to provide top-tier communications solutions across the region. He also thanked Wei for her contributions. Both appointments are effective immediately.

Edelman has made the announcement that Rakesh Thukral will succeed Warren Fernandez as CEO for the firm’s operations in Asia Pacific (APAC). Fernandez will be stepping down from the role in order to pursue a new opportunity and will remain with the firm until the end of the year.  Thukral has a long-standing career with Edelman. As the current APAC Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of India, he has championed growth through a relentless focus on the firm’s clients, people and diversification of specialties and offerings across its portfolio. Speaking on the development, Ed Williams, Edelman’s President for International, says: “I am grateful for everything that Warren has done for the firm, and for his leadership both regionally and globally. He has broadened and sharpened the firm’s capabilities in APAC, and his decades of experience in the news and media sector has been hugely important to many of our clients. We sincerely wish him all the best with his next move."“The APAC region continues to present significant opportunity for Edelman and our clients, and therefore remains a key focus for us. Rakesh’s experience of partnering with global companies to enter the Indian market, and for Indian businesses to expand globally, will be invaluable to our clients across the whole region. He has a deep understanding of the business, political, and societal dynamics of the region, and I have confidence that under his leadership, our business will be well positioned”, continues Williams. Fernandez says: “I am grateful for having been part of the Edelman team and to have worked with some of the industry’s most talented and committed colleagues. A new opportunity has arisen which is hard to say no to; it is a role that plays to my longstanding interests in public policy, and where I will have the opportunity to engage on some of the significant political and geopolitical issues of the day."Thukral adds: “Over the past couple of years, under Warren’s and Ed’s leadership, Edelman has become known for its strong integrated offering and work in Asia. Our growing capabilities in this space have been recognized with Creative Effectiveness Lions at Cannes, and at PRovoke’s Global SABRE Awards earning the title of “#1 campaign in the World” for two consecutive years.  “We have a strong team across the region and great client relationships across sectors and markets. I look forward to working with our teams and clients to continue elevating our work, and ensuring our clients receive solutions that help them evolve and grow their businesses in these complex times.”  Thukral will report to Williams in his new role, and the appointment is effective immediately.