Publicis Groupe Middle East announces Ajit Ramaswami, CEO of MSL ME, promotion to the role of Strategic Advisor and Corporate Practice Head for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. In this new capacity, Ramaswami will be focused on identifying and driving strategic initiatives that support MSL’s growth objectives across key thriving markets within APAC.

“For nearly two decades, Ajit has been the driving force behind the successful transformation and expansion of MSL across the Middle East,” said  Bassel Kakish, CEO of Publicis Groupe ME&T. "It’s an exciting time for him to be leveraging his deep expertise to unlock new opportunities in a dynamic new business landscape. I wish him the best in this new role, and I have every confidence that he will continue to propel the Publicis Groupe ‘Power of One’ vision forward across APAC and beyond.”

A communications veteran with 27 years of experience in the Middle East and India, delivering strategic communications to multinational and regional organizations across a diversity of industries including financial services, telecom, FMCG, technology, tourism, public affairs, and family businesses, Ramaswami joined MSL ME and Publicis Groupe in 2004 and was appointed CEO in 2008. During this time, he was instrumental in securing prestigious accounts for the agency including DU, Samsung, key P&G brands, and TAMM for the Groupe.

“Ajit is a seasoned and well-respected practitioner who knows how to drive transformative results for both the business and our clients,” said Margaret Key, CEO at MSL Asia, Middle East, and Africa. “Having worked together for the last few years, I know the value he will bring to this region, and I am excited to see how we can partner together to further accelerate MSL’s growth agenda.”  

Under his stewardship, Ramaswami has built MSL’s credentials as the go-to consultant for industry verticals such as Professional Services, Technology, Media, and Telecommunications while making significant advances in key growth areas in Healthcare, Automotive, and Utilities. He is credited for establishing a proprietary framework for Brand Resilience and C-Suite profiling and establishing the agency’s reputation as a Crisis & Incidence Management leader.  

“I’m incredibly proud of the past 19 years with Publicis Groupe ME and MSL for the Middle East, but I am also excited for the opportunity to tap into a dynamic and booming market such as Asia-Pacific,” said Ajit Ramaswami. "I am grateful to Publicis Groupe ME’s leadership for enabling a culture of opportunity where this has been possible and to our valued clients who have entrusted us as their partner over the years. Lastly, I am immensely proud of my exceptional team, who I know will continue to thrive and deliver exceptional client results.”