R/GA Appoints Former Huge CFO Urvashi Shivdasani to Top Finance Role

R/GA today announced the appointment of Urvashi Shivdasani as its new global chief financial officer.

An experienced finance executive with over two decades of cross-industry expertise, Urvashi will partner closely with CEO Robin Forbes and the global leadership team to evolve the agency’s financial strategy, ensure operational efficiency, and help drive the implementation and success of a more flexible and output-oriented commercial agency model.

Her appointment marks the first global C-suite hire since R/GA’s return to independence as a privately owned company following the new partnership between R/GA’s management and private equity firm Truelink Capital.

This move comes at a critical juncture for the industry where traditional payment models are increasingly outdated, and the rise of AI and the focus on efficiency necessitate a fundamental rethink of how agencies price their work.

Urvashi will play a crucial role in strategically implementing R/GA's newly established $50 million Innovation Fund.

R/GA global CEO Robin Forbes said, “Urvashi’s extensive experience and strategic acumen will be invaluable as we chart R/GA’s course as an independent agency and activate a new commercial model based on outcomes and not hours. Her track record of driving financial success and operational excellence will be critical as we continue to invest in innovation and new ways of working."

Urvashi said, “I’m thrilled to join R/GA at this pivotal moment in its history. The agency’s commitment to innovation and its bold vision for the future was an incredibly compelling opportunity, and one I can’t wait to be involved in. I look forward to partnering with Robin and the leadership team to continue to build a growth organisation for the long term that drives creativity and innovation for our clients."

Urvashi joins R/GA from Huge, where as global CFO, she led all aspects of finance and operations including accounting, FP&A, real estate, commercial finance, resource management, and information technology, and played a critical role in the successful sale of the company to private equity. Prior to Huge, she held senior finance roles at Ralph Lauren and Discovery Communications.

She holds a BA in Economics from the University of Delhi and an MBA from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.