Chief People Officer - South Asia

GroupM is WPP’s media investment group and the world’s leading media investment company with a mission to shape the next era of media where advertising works better for people. The company is responsible for more than $60 billion in annual media investment, as measured by the independent research bureau COMvergence. Through its global agencies Mindshare, EssenceMediacom and, Wavemaker. GroupM’s portfolio includes Data & Technology, Investment and Services, all united in vision to shape the next era of media where advertising works better for people. GroupM leverages a unique combination of global scale, expertise, and innovation to generate sustained value for clients wherever they do business. Discover more at www.groupm.com.  

Role Summary and Impact

GroupM South Asia is experiencing rapid business growth and transformation, including leveraging AI to enhance our operations, product offerings, and operating model. As part of this evolution, we are strengthening our client-centric approach and organizational agility. We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Chief People Officer (CPO) to lead our People Team and drive our People strategy across South Asia (primarily India and Sri Lanka). This critical leadership role will be responsible for aligning our people strategy with ambitious business objectives, fostering a high-performance culture, and ensuring we attract, develop, and retain top talent. The CPO will be a key member of the South Asia leadership team, providing strategic guidance and driving impactful change at this pivotal junction of our journey.

Location:  Mumbai, India with the ability to frequently to travel to our multiple offices in India and Sri Lanka

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic HR Leadership: Develop and execute People strategies aligned with GroupM's business goals in South Asia, aligned to regional and global people goals. Provide strategic guidance to senior leadership on talent acquisition, development, retention, compensation, and employee relations. Anticipate future talent needs and proactively build talent pipelines. Champion the adoption of AI and other technologies to transform the People function and improve HR processes. Drive the adoption of the new people operating model across the South Asia region.
• Strategic Talent Acquisition & Workforce Management: Lead innovative talent acquisition efforts to attract top talent. Drive strategic workforce planning to anticipate future talent needs. Oversee the resource management function to ensure efficient allocation of talent. Develop and implement employer branding strategies to enhance GroupM's reputation as an employer of choice.
• Employee Engagement: In line with the future focus & vision of One GroupM, cultivate a positive and inclusive work environment, develop and implement effective employee communication strategies, and drive initiatives to enhance employee engagement & workplace culture
• Org Development & Growth:  Lead organizational design and change management efforts, including those related to AI implementation and the new people operating model. Oversee performance management, ensuring fairness and driving excellence. Identify and develop high-potential employees and champion succession planning. Oversee the design and delivery of impactful learning and development programs across the employee lifecycle, including programs to upskill employees on AI and related technologies, and to support the adoption of the new people operating model.
• Budget Management: Oversee the People function’s budget, ensuring effective resource planning, cost control, and alignment with business priorities.
• Compensation and Benefits: Support the development and administration of competitive compensation and benefits programs, ensuring compliance and effective communication.
• HR Operations Leadership: Drive operational excellence by leveraging data-driven insights and HR technologies to optimize people strategies, enhance efficiency, and continuously improve employee experience
• Employee Advocacy: Act as an advocate for employees, ensuring fair treatment and opportunities and manage employee relations effectively ensuring compliance with local laws

Skills and Experience

At GroupM, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. It’s what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each other. In this role it will be critical to embody GroupM’s core values:

• Be Extraordinary: Lead Collectively to Inspire Transformational Creativity.
• Create an Open Environment: Balance People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust.
• Lead Optimistically: Champion Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise.

 In addition to the above, the ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Degree in HR, Psychology, or a related field.
• 15+ years of progressive generalist HR leadership experience, with a preference for candidates from the advertising, professional services, or technology industries.
• Proven ability to analyze HR data to identify trends and insights, and leverage business and commercial acumen to make data-driven decisions aligned with organizational goals
• In-depth knowledge of India and Sri Lanka employment laws.
• Experience leading HR & business transformation initiatives, including the adoption of AI and automation, implementing new people operating models, and a strong understanding of AI's impact on the workforce and the skills needed for the future.
• Strong project management and change management skills, with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and drive successful outcomes.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and coaching abilities, with the ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels and effectively communicate complex information.
• Resilience and adaptability to thrive in a fast-paced, matrixed environment, demonstrating the ability to remain effective under pressure and adapt to changing priorities.

Life at GroupM & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. GroupM employees can tap into the global GroupM & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include competitive medical insurance, group retirement plans, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.    

GroupM provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race; color; sex; gender identity; sexual orientation; religious practices and observances; national origin; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; status as a protected veteran or spouse/family member of a protected veteran; or disability.

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

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