How Bharat Thakrar Built A $70 Million Advertising Empire In Kenya
Bharat Thakrar is the founder and former CEO of WPP Scangroup, East Africa’s largest integrated marketing communications company.
His journey in advertising began early, influenced by his father, who was the commercial director at Skyline Advertising Agency, the largest agency in Kenya at the time.
As a child, Thakrar would accompany his father to work, studying for his exams in an empty office while sneaking into the studio to watch artists create advertisement lettering by hand—a skill he quickly began to practice himself.
His schooling took him to boarding school in India, where his creative interests flourished.
He produced the school’s monthly newsletter, served as film secretary, and designed colorful posters to promote screenings, blending his artistic and technical talents.
The Journey of Bharat Thakrar
These early experiences revealed his passion for telling stories through pictures and words.
Returning to Kenya for his ‘A’ levels, Thakrar initially prepared to pursue medicine in the United States, following his father’s wishes.
However, a temporary role at his father’s agency exposed him to the advertising world, where he excelled in market research and creative projects.
Recognizing his talent, the agency encouraged him to remain in advertising. In 1982, Thakrar founded Scanad, his first advertising agency.
He grew the business through organic expansion and strategic acquisitions into Scangroup—a marketing communications powerhouse listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange with a market capitalization exceeding $70 million.
In 2013, he ceded a controlling stake to WPP, a British multinational, rebranding the company as WPP Scangroup.
Thakrar remained CEO and the largest individual shareholder until 2021, when he resigned from the position after more than four decades in the industry.
His Tenure As a Scangroup CEO
Over a period of ten years, the company paid out dividends totaling more than KSh6.9 billion to over 20,000 shareholders, including its majority shareholder, WPP.
Throughout his 40-year career in the advertising industry, Thakrar’s companies have produced some of the region’s most iconic campaigns, including Tusker Milele, Niko Na Safaricom, and Stori Ibambe, earning multiple industry awards.
Following his resignation, Scangroup shares fell 2.48% to Ksh 5.50 on the Nairobi Securities Exchange.
Thakrar also served on the Audit and Risk Management Committee until December 31, 2009.
He holds a Diploma in Advertising and Marketing from the Communications and Marketing Foundation in the UK. He has more than 30 years of experience in advertising and communications, having previously worked with McCann Erickson in Kenya.
As the founder shareholder of Scangroup, he played a pivotal role in shaping the company into a regional marketing powerhouse.
