Swetha Iyer to lead the APAC practice, strengthening presence in Southeast Asia and deepening global brand partnerships.

Elephant, one of India’s leading independent design and brand consultancies, has announced its expansion into Asia Pacific with the launch of a new hub in Singapore.

The APAC operations will be helmed by Swetha Iyer, who brings extensive experience from Why by Lonsdale (Singapore) and Landor (India), along with a long-standing association with Elephant. She specializes in design strategy and client relations, with a focus on driving impact for global consumer brands.

Founded in 1989, Elephant partners with major brands including Tata, Reliance, Himalaya, Emami, Marico, Coca-Cola, Domino’s, Revlon, L’Oréal, and Chicco. The consultancy has a team of over 70 strategists, researchers, and designers and is a founding member of The Design Alliance Asia, a network of independent design agencies collaborating for more than 25 years.

With its Singapore hub, Elephant aims to strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia’s FMCG and consumer brand sectors while continuing to serve existing regional clients. This move is part of its broader vision to harness cultural insights, creativity, and collaboration to drive growth across global markets.

“This is more than an expansion – we envision our APAC practice growing to match, or even surpass, our India operations in the coming years,” said Ashwini Deshpande, Co-founder & Director, Elephant. “Our strength lies in cultural sensitivity and agility, allowing us to collaborate with diverse talent across regions.”

Sharing her excitement, Swetha Iyer, Growth Director – APAC, added: “My association with Elephant has always been rooted in shared values and a passion for consumer brands. Leading the APAC practice from Singapore feels like a natural next step. The city’s position as a gateway to Southeast Asia makes it the ideal hub for bringing Elephant’s design vision to life on a larger stage.”