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Tag: Michael Houston

  • WPP merges AKQA and Grey into new AKQA Group

    WPP merges AKQA and Grey into new AKQA Group

    NEW DELHI: WPP has amalgamated its agencies AKQA and Grey to form a new network model, AKQA Group. With heightened demand for digital transformation and technology-driven capabilities, the combination will create a powerful new proposition for clients as a leading creative solutions company with a worldwide footprint, the group mentioned in a note.

    The new group will be led by AKQA founder Ajaz Ahmed, who will become the CEO and Grey Worldwide CEO Michael Houston, who will be the global president and COO.

    The AKQA Group will launch with the AKQA and Grey brands, which will be integrated over time into a single company based on client and market needs. The management team and creative leadership will be announced in the coming weeks, comprising leaders from AKQA and Grey.

    It will have 6,000 people in more than 50 countries and a blue-chip client roster that includes more than half of the Fortune 500’s top 20. It will provide a full range of brand experience capabilities across all communications platforms, strengthening the skills and services of both companies for clients.

    Ajaz Ahmed said: “Our goal is to expand horizons, combining the curiosity, ambition, imagination and pioneering spirit of a startup with the reach of a global enterprise. This is an unparalleled opportunity for AKQA and Grey to bring our shared assets to life into a modern, creatively-led company, building upon our inspiring and useful work to create value for our clients, people and communities.”

    Michael Houston said: “This exciting new partnership begins with what consumers expect, clients value, and brands need. Forming a new company that can deliver culture-driving ideas through technology at speed and scale is a potent proposition for our clients, large and small, and will allow us to offer the most powerful creative solutions in the industry.”

    WPP CEO Mark Read said: “Our clients want outstanding creativity, powered by technology expertise and delivered at a global scale. This new company is designed precisely to meet those needs and is another important step forward in building our future-facing offer for clients.”

  • NIRVIK SINGH PROMOTED TO GLOBAL COO ROLE AT GREY GROUP

    NIRVIK SINGH PROMOTED TO GLOBAL COO ROLE AT GREY GROUP

    Michael Houston, Worldwide CEO of GREY group, today announced the appointment of Nirvik Singh as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Grey Group, a new global position.

    A thirty-year veteran of GREY group and having started his career in GREY India, Nirvik Singh has served as Chairman and CEO of Grey Group Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa since 2016, a post he will retain, headquartered in Singapore.

    As COO, Singh will lead the development of Grey's borderless integrated marketing model; identify acquisition targets and new capabilities to enhance the agency's best-in-class offering and build its future-facing digital, social, shopper marketing and design practices.

    "For three decades, Nirvik has been a prime mover in Grey's growth and development in Asia, and most recently, in the Middle East and Africa," Michael Houston said.  "I know he will bring the same single-minded dedication and achievement to his expanded responsibilities.  He will work closely with me to broaden our reach and resources for the future."

    Singh has played an instrumental role in forging the Grey network's comprehensive offering across the regions.  His trademark business acquisitions have strengthened Grey's presence earning him widespread recognition as the key accelerator of strategic growth in multiple countries including: India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, South Korea, Philippines, Thailand and Nigeria.  Together, with a first-class management team, he has built a culture of innovation with an award-winning creative and new business performance.

    "I am looking forward to implementing Grey's global strategic plans and working with diverse talents and teams from across the different regions.  We have seen success in pulling in our collective resources for our borderless strategy, which encompasses agility and seamless creativity," Nirvik Singh said.  

    He continued, "There are ample opportunities to leverage the agency's centers of excellence and promote collaboration across all our offices.  We are always thinking of how best to serve our clients, and I am excited and motivated to be a part of this journey."

  • Grey Group’s Nirvik Singh gets expanded role

    Grey Group’s Nirvik Singh gets expanded role

    MUMBAI: Grey Group Asia Pacific’s chairman and CEO Nirvik Singh has got an additional role. Additionally, Singh will also oversee the company’s business in the Middle East and Africa. In his newly elevated role, he will continue to work closely with Grey Group chairman and CEO Jim Heekin and Grey Group global president Michael Houston.

    Under his leadership, Grey Group APAC was featured among the leading communications networks and his trademark business acquisitions has been instrumental in the development of Grey’s digital and shopper offerings in the region. He has played a monumental role in the growth and development of the network’s comprehensive offerings across Asia.

    “Nirvik has been a prime mover in our dynamic growth and development in Asia. He has been relentless in building our geographic footprint with premier acquisitions, accelerating our offerings in a host of disciplines including digital and shopper and raising the creative bar. He has won every major professional award in Asia. I know he will bring the same single-minded dedication and achievement to his added responsibilities,” said Heekin.

    Singh is a 27-year industry veteran of the global advertising and marketing agency headquartered in New York City. His highly-regarded business acumen has led to numerous additions to Grey network including; RC&M (Rural Communications & Marketing services) in India, Yolk (Interactive & Digital media network) in Singapore, DPI (Shopper), Star Echo (Marketing Services) and ArtM (Integrated Communications) in China, Vinyl-I (Creative Digital agency) in South Korea and nudeJEH (Advertising & Digital agency) in Thailand, etc.

  • Grey Group’s Nirvik Singh gets expanded role

    Grey Group’s Nirvik Singh gets expanded role

    MUMBAI: Grey Group Asia Pacific’s chairman and CEO Nirvik Singh has got an additional role. Additionally, Singh will also oversee the company’s business in the Middle East and Africa. In his newly elevated role, he will continue to work closely with Grey Group chairman and CEO Jim Heekin and Grey Group global president Michael Houston.

    Under his leadership, Grey Group APAC was featured among the leading communications networks and his trademark business acquisitions has been instrumental in the development of Grey’s digital and shopper offerings in the region. He has played a monumental role in the growth and development of the network’s comprehensive offerings across Asia.

    “Nirvik has been a prime mover in our dynamic growth and development in Asia. He has been relentless in building our geographic footprint with premier acquisitions, accelerating our offerings in a host of disciplines including digital and shopper and raising the creative bar. He has won every major professional award in Asia. I know he will bring the same single-minded dedication and achievement to his added responsibilities,” said Heekin.

    Singh is a 27-year industry veteran of the global advertising and marketing agency headquartered in New York City. His highly-regarded business acumen has led to numerous additions to Grey network including; RC&M (Rural Communications & Marketing services) in India, Yolk (Interactive & Digital media network) in Singapore, DPI (Shopper), Star Echo (Marketing Services) and ArtM (Integrated Communications) in China, Vinyl-I (Creative Digital agency) in South Korea and nudeJEH (Advertising & Digital agency) in Thailand, etc.