Indiantelevision.com Team

(25 July 2008 3:00 pm)

MUMBAI: WPP has named Miles Young as global CEO of the Ogilvy Group. Young, who is currently chairman of Ogilvy & Mather (O&M ) worldwide Asia Pacific, will succeed Shelly Lazarus, who has been with the company for 11 years.

Lazarus will remain chairman of The Ogilvy Group. The changes will come into effect from 1 January 2009.

WPP CEO Sir Martin Sorrell said, "Lazarus has taken Ogilvy from a strong position, both geographically and functionally, to a superb position. She'll be an extremely difficult act to follow and we are delighted she will continue to focus, as Chairman of The Ogilvy Group, on developing Ogilvy's client relationships. Young brings to the role of CEO a deep understanding, not only of European and Asian markets, but also of the role that new technologies - and integrated thinking - bring to our business."

Meanwhile, Tim Isaac will succeed Miles Young as chairman of O&M Asia Pacific. At O&M, he has been responsible for the agency's global clients, for the Singapore office, the Thailand office, and currently heads up the agency's ASEAN region.
Isaac will operate with Tham Khai Meng as co-chairman.

Simultaneously, Paul Heath is designated to the new post of chief executive officer. Heath originally joined O&M as a graduate trainee in 1987 and then rejoined Ogilvy in Asia in 2003. Most recently he was tasked with leading the agency's advertising network.

Miles Young said, "Together with Khai, Isaac and Heath will provide the leadership to push our brand to even higher levels. In the past five years, we've more than doubled the size of the business, to revenues of over $500 million. This structure is designed to anticipate and drive and not just respond to the opportunities of growth."