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Tag: WPP

  • JWT CEO Gustavo Martinez steps down, Tamara Ingram to replace him

    JWT CEO Gustavo Martinez steps down, Tamara Ingram to replace him

    MUMBAI: WPP has released an official notice announcing that  JWT CEO and chairman Gustavo Martinez, who recently made headlines for being accused of “an unending stream of racist and sexist comments”, has stepped down from his role, and will be replaced by Tamara Ingram who is currently the chief client team officer at WPP.She will step into Martizen’s shoes as the CEO of the company.

    The company statement read: “By mutual agreement, Martinez has resigned in the best interest of the J. Walter Thompson Co. George Rogers succeeds Ingram as WPP’s Chief Client Team Officer with immediate effect, in addition to his current duties as WPP’s Global Business Development Director.”

    Tamara Ingram has led the P&G business at WPP since joining the company in 2004; she was previously group CEO of McCann Worldgroup, and her promotion to chief client team officer in 2015 made her one of the most powerful women in advertising.

    According to the WPP statement, she will be replaced in that position immediately by global business development director George Rogers, who will occupy both roles.

    The move comes a week after Erin Johnson, chief communications officer at JWT, filed a detailed 28-page lawsuit in New York on March 10 claiming, among other things, that Martinez made multiple “racist and sexist slurs.” The suit details numerous incidents, and names other senior executives at the agency that allegedly witnessed the claims or were told by Ms. Johnson that they happened.

  • JWT CEO Gustavo Martinez steps down, Tamara Ingram to replace him

    JWT CEO Gustavo Martinez steps down, Tamara Ingram to replace him

    MUMBAI: WPP has released an official notice announcing that  JWT CEO and chairman Gustavo Martinez, who recently made headlines for being accused of “an unending stream of racist and sexist comments”, has stepped down from his role, and will be replaced by Tamara Ingram who is currently the chief client team officer at WPP.She will step into Martizen’s shoes as the CEO of the company.

    The company statement read: “By mutual agreement, Martinez has resigned in the best interest of the J. Walter Thompson Co. George Rogers succeeds Ingram as WPP’s Chief Client Team Officer with immediate effect, in addition to his current duties as WPP’s Global Business Development Director.”

    Tamara Ingram has led the P&G business at WPP since joining the company in 2004; she was previously group CEO of McCann Worldgroup, and her promotion to chief client team officer in 2015 made her one of the most powerful women in advertising.

    According to the WPP statement, she will be replaced in that position immediately by global business development director George Rogers, who will occupy both roles.

    The move comes a week after Erin Johnson, chief communications officer at JWT, filed a detailed 28-page lawsuit in New York on March 10 claiming, among other things, that Martinez made multiple “racist and sexist slurs.” The suit details numerous incidents, and names other senior executives at the agency that allegedly witnessed the claims or were told by Ms. Johnson that they happened.

  • GroupM appoints Rohit Suri as Chief Talent Officer

    GroupM appoints Rohit Suri as Chief Talent Officer

    MUMBAI: GroupM has appointed Rohit Suri as the chief talent officer for their South Asia operations effective from 1 February. He will be based in Mumbai and report to Group M South Asia CEO CVL Srinivas and GroupM APAC chief talent officer Angela Ryan. Suri takes over from Gaurav Hirey, who is now based in Singapore with Millward Brown, another WPP company.

    Speaking on Suri’s appointment Srinivas said “We are at an exciting stage in our journey to build a data centric digitally charged Agency network of the Future. We are delighted to welcome Rohit to our team. Given his vast experience across different markets and the several interesting initiatives he has championed in his career we are sure he will add a lot of value to our business and take our strong talent management practice to the next level”

     “I am very excited to take this step in my career and join the world’s largest media investment group,” Suri says. “GroupM has embarked on an exciting journey which places talent management at the core. I look forward to leveraging my experiences in total rewards and innovative talent management practices in India, APAC and Europe for the growth of GroupM’s business.”

    Partnering with the leadership teams, he will be responsible for building out talent initiatives regionally, to ensure all GroupM talent have exceptional career experiences and development, while maximizing their full potential. He will also be a part of the GroupM South Asia, and the GroupM APAC Talent Executive Committees.

  • GroupM appoints Rohit Suri as Chief Talent Officer

    GroupM appoints Rohit Suri as Chief Talent Officer

    MUMBAI: GroupM has appointed Rohit Suri as the chief talent officer for their South Asia operations effective from 1 February. He will be based in Mumbai and report to Group M South Asia CEO CVL Srinivas and GroupM APAC chief talent officer Angela Ryan. Suri takes over from Gaurav Hirey, who is now based in Singapore with Millward Brown, another WPP company.

    Speaking on Suri’s appointment Srinivas said “We are at an exciting stage in our journey to build a data centric digitally charged Agency network of the Future. We are delighted to welcome Rohit to our team. Given his vast experience across different markets and the several interesting initiatives he has championed in his career we are sure he will add a lot of value to our business and take our strong talent management practice to the next level”

     “I am very excited to take this step in my career and join the world’s largest media investment group,” Suri says. “GroupM has embarked on an exciting journey which places talent management at the core. I look forward to leveraging my experiences in total rewards and innovative talent management practices in India, APAC and Europe for the growth of GroupM’s business.”

    Partnering with the leadership teams, he will be responsible for building out talent initiatives regionally, to ensure all GroupM talent have exceptional career experiences and development, while maximizing their full potential. He will also be a part of the GroupM South Asia, and the GroupM APAC Talent Executive Committees.

  • WPP’s Grey acquires US-based mobile app developer ArcTouch

    WPP’s Grey acquires US-based mobile app developer ArcTouch

    MUMBAI: WPP’s wholly-owned operating company Grey has acquired ArcTouch, Inc – a full-service mobile app development company in the United States.

     

    ArcTouch’s gross revenues were approximately $14 million as of 31 December, 2015. The company employs 97 people and is based in San Francisco with an office in Florianopolis, Brazil. It was founded in 2008.

     

    ArcTouch’s developers, designers and mobile strategists transform ideas into engaging apps for telephones, tablets, wearable devices, televisions, homes and cars. The company has completed over 250 projects for Fortune 500 companies, leading consumer brands, innovative startups, media and entertainment companies and world-class marketing and design agencies.

     

    This acquisition continues WPP’s strategy of investing in important markets and fast growing sectors such as mobile and digital. WPP’s digital revenues were $6.9 billion in 2014, representing 36 per cent of the Group’s total revenues of $19 billion. WPP has set a target of 40-45 per cent of revenue to be derived from digital in the next five years.

  • WPP’s Grey acquires US-based mobile app developer ArcTouch

    WPP’s Grey acquires US-based mobile app developer ArcTouch

    MUMBAI: WPP’s wholly-owned operating company Grey has acquired ArcTouch, Inc – a full-service mobile app development company in the United States.

     

    ArcTouch’s gross revenues were approximately $14 million as of 31 December, 2015. The company employs 97 people and is based in San Francisco with an office in Florianopolis, Brazil. It was founded in 2008.

     

    ArcTouch’s developers, designers and mobile strategists transform ideas into engaging apps for telephones, tablets, wearable devices, televisions, homes and cars. The company has completed over 250 projects for Fortune 500 companies, leading consumer brands, innovative startups, media and entertainment companies and world-class marketing and design agencies.

     

    This acquisition continues WPP’s strategy of investing in important markets and fast growing sectors such as mobile and digital. WPP’s digital revenues were $6.9 billion in 2014, representing 36 per cent of the Group’s total revenues of $19 billion. WPP has set a target of 40-45 per cent of revenue to be derived from digital in the next five years.

  • WPP’s Possible to acquire majority stake in German digital agency

    WPP’s Possible to acquire majority stake in German digital agency

    MUMBAI: WPP’s global digital agency Possible Worldwide has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Conrad Caine GmbH, a full service digital agency headquartered in Munich, Germany.

     

    Founded in 1998, Conrad Caine delivers digital strategy, user experience, asset creation, campaigns and CRM to its clients. Conrad Caine employs 140 people at its headquarters in Germany, and other offices in Pelotas, Brazil and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

     

    Conrad Caine’s revenues for the year ended 31 December, 2014 were approximately €8.5 million with gross assets of approximately €3.6 million as at the same date.

     

    This acquisition continues WPP’s strategy of investing in fast growth markets, new media and digital, including data and the application of technology.

     

    WPP’s digital revenues were $6.9 billion in 2014, representing 36 per cent of the Group’s total revenues. WPP has set a target of 40-45 per cent of revenue to be derived from digital in the next five years. WPP companies in Germany generate revenues of approximately $1.3 billion and employ around 7,000 people (including associates). On this basis, Germany is WPP’s fourth largest market after the US, the UK and China.

  • WPP’s Possible to acquire majority stake in German digital agency

    WPP’s Possible to acquire majority stake in German digital agency

    MUMBAI: WPP’s global digital agency Possible Worldwide has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Conrad Caine GmbH, a full service digital agency headquartered in Munich, Germany.

     

    Founded in 1998, Conrad Caine delivers digital strategy, user experience, asset creation, campaigns and CRM to its clients. Conrad Caine employs 140 people at its headquarters in Germany, and other offices in Pelotas, Brazil and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

     

    Conrad Caine’s revenues for the year ended 31 December, 2014 were approximately €8.5 million with gross assets of approximately €3.6 million as at the same date.

     

    This acquisition continues WPP’s strategy of investing in fast growth markets, new media and digital, including data and the application of technology.

     

    WPP’s digital revenues were $6.9 billion in 2014, representing 36 per cent of the Group’s total revenues. WPP has set a target of 40-45 per cent of revenue to be derived from digital in the next five years. WPP companies in Germany generate revenues of approximately $1.3 billion and employ around 7,000 people (including associates). On this basis, Germany is WPP’s fourth largest market after the US, the UK and China.

  • WPP’s Cohn & Wolfe acquires majority stake in Brazil’s Grupo Maquina

    WPP’s Cohn & Wolfe acquires majority stake in Brazil’s Grupo Maquina

    MUMBAI: After acquiring a majority stake in India’s Six Degrees PR and Alphabet Consulting in September last year, WPP’s Cohn & Wolfe has made its second recent acquisition. The agency has now acquired a majority stake in Brazil’s public relations agency Grupo Maquina.

     

    Maquina Cohn & Wolfe, with 240 employees across offices in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia, has the combined talent and experience to meet demand for global integrated marketing services from Brazilian companies and multinational companies alike. 

     

    Maquina was founded in 1995 by Maristela Mafei. Today, Maquina is known for its digital and integrated communications work across numerous industries, including finance, education, consumer technology, retail, entertainment, government and tourism. The agency has specialty divisions focused on digital, video content, branding, advertising and package design services.

     

    “Latin America has become a very important region for our clients and Brazil is a critical market for Cohn & Wolfe. After working with many good agencies, we were most impressed with Maquina’s excellence in digital and integrated marketing. They have an impressive client base and an equally impressive leadership team. We share values, including creativity, entrepreneurship and focus on client service, which will ensure a strong and long-lasting partnership and joint success,” says Cohn & Wolfe CEO Donna Imperato.

     

    Mafei will remain director-general of Maquina Cohn & Wolfe, reporting to Imperato. Marcelo Diego and Daniella Camargos will continue in their roles as co-CEOs, reporting to Mafei. They will keep their positions as partners with Maquina Cohn & Wolfe.

     

    The agency’s roster of both public and private sector clients includes Credit Suisse, EY, Zara, Xerox, Carrefour, L’Oréal, Nextel, MetLife, Bridgestone, GP Investments, Embratur, BRMalls, Qualicorp, Hypermarcas, Raízen, BRF, Grupo Estacio, Insper and Gafisa.

     

    “We recently celebrated our 20th anniversary and I couldn’t be more proud of the accomplishments of our remarkable teams and the work they have done for our trusted clients,” says Mafei. “What I envision for our next 20 years can be achieved by becoming part of the Cohn & Wolfe family. This partnership will bring unmatched strengths globally that will benefit our current multinational clients and attract many more here and throughout Latin America. We will continue to provide the best of our culture, but will now be associated with one of the largest agencies in the world.”

  • Courtside to invest $35 million for sports focuses start-ups; gets WPP backing

    Courtside to invest $35 million for sports focuses start-ups; gets WPP backing

    MUMBAI: WPP has lent its backing to Courtside Ventures – an investment fund, which will help finance technology and media start-ups with a focus on sports. 

     

    The fund will invest $35 million to support innovative technology disrupters across sports and media that have the potential for broader applicability across other markets. 

     

    Bruin Sports Capital, the media, sports, marketing and branded lifestyle venture launched in 2015 by George Pyne inked a strategic partnership with Courtside Ventures. Along with WPP, the venture is backed by anchor investor Quicken Loans founder and chairman and majority owner of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers Dan Gilbert.

     

    Courtside Ventures will leverage the expertise of its experienced team of sports, digital and marketing executives: Pyne, who will serve as non-executive chairman, is founder and CEO of Bruin Sports Capital, whose firm’s operational experience and 25 year track record of building successful platform businesses across multiple industries will provide Courtside Ventures with unique knowledge and connections in the sports industry. 

     

    Gilbert will lend his insight as an internationally recognised entrepreneur and investor in today’s leading digital and technology start-up companies. These experiences, combined with WPP’s collective worldwide network and global reach across industries will allow Courtside Ventures to establish steady access to innovative deals and a long term source of capital from a diversified and experienced group of investors to accelerate, expand and amplify Courtside’s investments.

     

    Its partners will include Interplay Ventures venture partner and NYVC Sports co-founder Deepen Parikh, Krossover founder and CEO Vasu Kulkarni, and Brian Hermelin, managing partner and co-founder of Rockbridge Growth Equity and Detroit Venture Partners, two investment arms within Gilbert’s portfolio of companies. 

     

    Courtside Ventures’ Advisory Board will include long-time sports media entrepreneur Bedrocket Media Ventures founder and CEO Brian Bedol, and veteran sports media executive and Sports Media Advisors founder & CEO and former head of the media divisions at IMG and the National Hockey League Doug Perlman. The company will have operations in Detroit and New York City. 

     

    “This powerful partnership’s unparalleled pedigree in sports, marketing, and technology enables Bruin Sports Capital to be at the forefront of digital innovation. Courtside Ventures is well positioned to recognize and take advantage of the important role sports plays within the changing dynamics of today’s media landscape,” said Pyne

     

    “The fact that yet another venture capital firm will be operating in Detroit is more evidence that the city is becoming one of the most innovative and exciting entrepreneurial places in the country. The intersection of sports and technology will be located in downtown Detroit,” added Gilbert. “Courtside Ventures will enable entrepreneurs to harness the power and appeal of sports while creating significant value for fans and investors.”

     

    “Sports remains a fundamental interest for our clients, the media and our people. So, we are delighted to participate in Courtside, particularly with Dan Gilbert and George Pyne. The icing on the cake is the Detroit location, home of our largest client, Ford,” said WPP founder and CEO Martin Sorrell. 

     

    It may be recalled that last year, WPP launched ESP Properties, a commercial and creative advisor to sports and entertainment rights holders.

     

    WPP already works with a large number of premium sports organizations and properties across its operating companies, including the IOC, FIFA, UEFA, Premier League, La Liga, F1, Manchester United, City Football Group, NASCAR, NBA, PAC-12, the NFL and retired Brazilian football legends Ronaldo, via a partnership in 9ineSports & Entertainment and Pelé, via a partnership between GroupM and Legends 10, the exclusive global agent to Pelé. This new investment in Courtside Ventures will allow WPP to widen and deepen those relationships on behalf of its clients.

     

    With Courtside, Bruin Sports Capital participated in a second successful fund raise since last year, and this latest major deal allows Bruin to continue diversifying and expanding its portfolio of platform businesses. In 2015, Bruin acquired experiential marketing agency Engine Shop, and On Location Experiences, which recently acquired Jon Bon Jovi’s Runaway Tours, launching Bruin’s presence into the global sports and entertainment hospitality industry.