Ogilvy & Mather announced several key executive appointments that will support the next phase of leadership and creative excellence in O&M Asia Pacific, the region’s largest advertising and communications network with 39 offices covering 19 markets.
The following new roles and management changes take effect immediately: Paul Heath, currently CEO & Chairman of O&M Asia Pacific, takes up a new role as Worldwide Executive Director, Chief Growth Officer reporting to Worldwide CEO John Seifert.
In this role Mr. Heath will lead and manage a worldwide growth plan for securing new clients and managing a portfolio of clients across the globe. He will also support Mr. Seifert in the development and delivery of Ogilvy & Mather’s worldwide strategic plan.
Mr. Heath will continue as Chairman for Asia Pacific and will join the Board of the newly formed WPP AUNZ—the result of the recent merger between WPP and STW covering Australia and New Zealand—and represent Ogilvy’s interests in that market. He will transition with his family to New York over the summer.
Chris Reitermann, currently CEO of Ogilvy China and Kent Wertime, currently Chief Operating Officer of Asia Pacific have been appointed co-CEOs of the region. Mr. Reitermann and Mr. Wertime have been working closely with Mr. Heath as part of his leadership team for the last six years. As co-CEOs, they will have a joint mission of driving Ogilvy’s next phase of leadership, growth and creative excellence in Asia. Mr. Reitermann and Mr. Wertime represent important continuity in the Asia Pacific leadership team and will each assume responsibility for specified markets. Mr. Reitermann will remain based in China, and will also continue as China CEO, while Mr. Wertime will remain based in Bangkok, and be responsible for ASEAN and India.
In addition, Jerry Smith, currently Regional President, OgilvyOne Asia Pacific, will take over Mr. Wertime’s role as Chief Operating Officer of O&M Asia Pacific. He will be based in Hong Kong. Mr. Smith has also been a long-standing member of the Asia management team and brings a wealth of experience to his new role. He will continue to play a key role overseeing OgilvyOne and Neo@Ogilvy and will focus on key areas including expansion of Ogilvy’s global delivery network capabilities and driving strategic acquisitions for the region in high growth services. He will report jointly into Mr. Wertime and Mr. Reitermann.
Commenting on these new appointments, Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide CEO John Seifert said: “Our position as the largest agency in Asia Pacific and our stellar creative reputation in the region is owed in great part to Paul and his leadership team’s hard work over the past six years. I am very grateful that he will be partnering with me to achieve our global growth ambition. We are also incredibly fortunate to have continuity in leadership with the promotions of Chris, Kent and Jerry. I have no doubt they will continue to build upon our leadership position in the region.”
Mr. Heath said: “It has been a privilege to lead the region’s best network since 2009 and to work with a team of highly talented leaders across every market in Asia. I have stood on the shoulders of giants and couldn’t wish for a better set of partners. Ogilvy & Mather has always been the model of consistency and high standards, raising the bar and staying in front year after year. The new leadership team in Asia will come as no surprise to insiders and already has the full support of the network. They will no doubt continue to build our brand and business and creative product rapidly in Asia.”
