Guy Marks gets top job as PHD Global CEO
By Ibidunni Banjoko
PHD Worldwide, one of the Omnicom Media Group (OMG) core media agencies, has appointed Guy Marks to replace Philippa Brown as the CEO, which will take effect on the 1st of October 2023.
Marks has been serving as CEO of OMG’s Europe, Middle East & Africa region.
Commenting on the appointment, Florian Adamski, OMG global CEO said: “Mark is one of our industry’s most entrepreneurial leaders, with an approach that transformed first OMD’s and subsequently Omnicom Media Group’s offering in EMEA over the past six years.”
“By enabling our agencies to quickly identify, adapt and respond in real time to the challenges of a dramatically changing consumer marketplace, he’s unlocked growth for our clients and made OMG the number one media agency group for net new business in the EMEA region for the year-to-date, according to the most recent COMvergence reporting.”
Adamski added, “The fact that – at the same time – he was also one of the network’s key people coordinating Omnicom’s boots-on-the-ground Ukrainian relief and rescue efforts tells you everything you need to know about both his character and his leadership skills.”
Brown, who has served as PHD’s global CEO since 2019, is stepping down following almost four decades in the media industry – including 16 years in leadership positions with OMG to focus on non-executive advisory roles at both the corporate and advocacy levels.
While commenting on Brown’s contributions, Adamski said, “After leading the agency through the Covid crisis, she brought PHD back stronger than ever, earning Media Network of the Year honors at the 2021 Cannes Festival; winning Diageo, Chanel, Unilever, and most recently, the $300 million Grupo Bimbo account.” He also credited her effort to launch OMG’s Talent Management Community, an initiative offering professional career development at the company.
In 2022, PHD was ranked number two globally for net new business gains – second only to sister OMG agency OMD – adding $902 billion in incremental billings in 2022, per COMvergence.
Marks joined OMG in 2014 following Omnicom’s acquisition of Mobile5, the global UX, design and tech consultancy service that he co-founded. As CEO of OMG EMEA, he helped establish Omnicom’s Transact connected commerce and retail media consultancy in the region, and co-architected the expansion of OMG’s TRKKN analytics and cloud consultancy from five European countries to 20 markets across APAC, EMEA, and North America.
On his part, Marks said: “The thread that can be pulled through all my professional experience is driving growth through transformation, an agency that was born from a transformative concept of media as a strategic tool – my priority will be assuring that every PHD account team around the world have the talent, tools, technology and collective commitment to excellence they need to deliver the transformative ideas, solutions, and service that drive growth for our clients, our agency, and our people.”
Marks will be headquartered in London, reporting to Adamski. His successor as leader of OMG EMEA is expected to be named next week.
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