Ogilvy gets Deloitte's Andy Main as global CEO

Ogilvy has announced the appointment of Andy Main as global chief executive officer.

 

Main was global head of Deloitte Digital and a principal at Deloitte Consulting prior. He will succeed John Seifert who announced his exit in April. Main will take over by the end of July.

 

Seifert said, “I am so grateful to have spent the past 41 years with Ogilvy. I have been supported by so many generous colleagues and clients. It’s been a wonderful life. Andy’s personal and professional experiences could not be more relevant for the ongoing transformation of Ogilvy and WPP at a moment of extraordinary change and opportunity in our industry. My partners and I are very excited to have someone of Andy’s character and accomplishments join Ogilvy and lead our global creative network into the future (our founder would approve… and be incredibly proud that another Scot is at the helm). I will partner with Andy through the rest of the year to ensure a seamless transition for our people and clients.”

 

Main said, “Ogilvy is a name synonymous with creative and strategic excellence and I am honored to become the company’s next CEO. We have a great opportunity to help clients deliver sustainable growth by using Ogilvy’s creative genius to transform not only brands but entire businesses. We must also be a company with a clear culture of belonging where talented people from under-represented groups are championed and supported throughout their careers, and given the chance to reach the very highest levels of the organisation. Ogilvy will play its full part in implementing WPP’s clear and unequivocal commitment to anti-racism—with the recognition that we will be judged not by our words, but our actions. I look forward to working with the fantastic people at Ogilvy and the wider WPP team.”

 

Mark Read, CEO, WPP, said, “Andy is one of our industry’s most admired leaders. He has demonstrated the effectiveness of blending creative, technology, and consulting services. His belief in the power of creativity to transform businesses and the importance of people and culture in organizations aligns closely with our vision for WPP and our agencies. John Seifert joined Ogilvy as a summer intern in Los Angeles in 1979 and for the subsequent 41 years has dedicated himself to the success of the business. I would like to thank him for his tremendous leadership.”

 

Main began his career with Andersen Consulting and moved to Deloitte Consulting in 1999.

 

The announcement was made on David Ogilvy's 109th birthday. The agency's Mumbai office celebrated the occasion with a poster.