ADGEEK
The integration promise and operating costs of super-agencies
Tarun Rai examines whether larger agency structures deliver integration, alongside the challenges of selling brand value, owning IP and developing products, pitches and design capabilities.
The conversation
Episode 16 kicks off The Indian AdGeek in 2026 with a powerhouse guest: Tarun Rai, Co-Chairman of Start Design Group UK and former Group CEO South Asia at Wunderman Thompson (JWT).
In this wide-ranging conversation, Tarun shares:
* His first big break in advertising and the decisions that propelled him from Account Executive to Group CEO. * Lessons from seven years in publishing before returning to the agency world. * A candid take on whether the ‘Super Agency’ model has truly delivered seamless integration—or just created slower giants in the age of AI. * How leaders can sell intangible brand equity to CFOs obsessed with quarterly metrics. * Why agencies still struggle to own IP and build products, and what needs to change. * The three elements of a winning pitch deck (and the biggest mistakes agencies make). * His perspective on design vs advertising as CMOs shift budgets. * The skillsets agency leaders must double down on to stay indispensable in the next decade. * Leadership lessons from running both creative and media businesses. * His favorite podcasts and books that inspire him today.
This episode is a blueprint for anyone navigating the crossroads of advertising, design, and leadership in 2026.