GroupM has appointed Sri Widowati as its new Chief Executive Officer for Indonesia, marking a milestone transition for the marketing veteran. She is set to officially begin the role on 16 June 2025, and made a Linkedin announcement describing the appointment as “a big move.”
Widowati, often referred to in the industry as ‘Wido’, brings more than 20 years of experience in marketing. Most recently, she was vice president of marketing at Danone Indonesia, where she spent four years overseeing both the Water and Infant Nutrition businesses. During her time at Danone, she led high-profile campaigns including the ‘Not All Water is Aqua’ and a number of data-led initiatives for the SGM infant nutrition brand.
Her move to GroupM comes at a significant moment for the company, which is in the midst of a global shake-up under parent company WPP’s new “single operating model”. The restructuring has resulted in sweeping job cuts across the region, with Indonesia seeing some of the largest impacts. Multiple senior positions have been removed across GroupM’s brands, including Mindshare, EssenceMediacom and GroupM Nexus, creating a notable leadership gap.
In a post on LinkedIn, GroupM Indonesia welcomed Widowati by stating that “We are excited to welcome Sri Widowati as CEO of GroupM Indonesia!
Clients are at the heart of everything we do, and Wido brings a sharp focus on delivering innovation that drives meaningful impact in one of the world’s most dynamic and forward-thinking market. With a strong foundation on the client side, she brings deep commercial insight and a proven ability to translate consumer understanding into market success.
Her passion for marketing innovation — shaped by leadership roles at Danone, Unilever, and Meta — reflects a rich understanding of the fast-evolving Indonesian landscape and what it takes to thrive in it.
Wido is known not only for her strategic acumen, but also as a people-first leader — respected, trusted, and committed to building strong teams and lasting partnerships.
We’re excited to welcome her as she leads the next chapter of growth for GroupM Indonesia. Welcome, Wido!”
After departing Danone in early 2025, Widowati took a short sabbatical during which she trained as a Pilates instructor and travelled through Australia and New Zealand. She currently also serves as an Independent Board of Commissioner of CIMB Niaga.
Speaking about her new role, she called Indonesia “one of the most dynamic media markets in the world.” She also added, “Change isn’t easy. It’s uncomfortable, often messy. But it’s also where progress happens, when we stop reacting and start shaping what’s next.”
