NEW YORK, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Jim Heekin, Chairman and CEO of Grey Group, today announced that David Patton has been appointed President and CEO of Grey Group Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA), effective January 1st, 2010. Patton succeeds Carolyn Carter who has decided to retire after a distinguished 30-year career at Grey, having served as President of Grey EMEA since 2000 and CEO of Grey Group EMEA since 2002.
David Patton has served as Grey UK Group CEO, overseeing Grey London and Group companies, since September 2007 and has led its transformation. Earlier, at Sony Europe, he was responsible for award-winning integrated communications across 40 countries as Senior Vice President of Marketing Communications.
"David Patton is one of our most talented and dynamic leaders. Under his leadership, Grey London's resurgence has become a reality," Jim Heekin said. "He has built a first-class management and creative team who have expanded our digital capabilities, dramatically elevated our creative performance and won new business including Allianz, Samsung, Honda and the British Heart Foundation. I look forward to working with him to make Grey the most 'famously effective' agency network in EMEA."
David Patton assumes one of Grey's most important leadership roles, overseeing Grey Group EMEA comprised of 80 cities in 59 countries, a huge talent base and a growing blue-chip client roster.
In addition, Chris Hirst has been promoted to Grey London CEO. As Managing Director of Grey London since 2003, he has played a pivotal role in building the agency into one of the UK's most dynamic.
David Patton said, "It is a great personal honor for me to take on this new challenge. Grey is ascending, our brand has tremendous vitality and potential, and I, together with the superb team we've put in place, intend to build on its momentum and shape its future."
Grey London: An Agency On The Move
Calling it "one of the biggest turnarounds in 2008," Marketing magazine recognized Grey London as an agency that trumped all others for its ability to deliver 360 thinking. Campaign gave the agency its highest score ever (7 out of 9) and the highest of all WPP agencies in its report card this year. Grey London achieved the second highest pitch conversion rate in the industry, a testament to its ability to compete and win against the very best agencies in the UK.
Grey London's creative reputation has soared. High-profile work for Toshiba, Samsung, Women's Aid, Hugo Boss, Country Life and the British Heart Foundation has been widely publicized in the press, across the internet and honored with awards at Cannes, Clio and D&AD. The Toshiba commercial was voted one of Campaign's Top Ten of the Year. And the agency achieved the strongest effectiveness awards performance at the IPA, showcasing its superb strategy and planning expertise.
Carolyn Carter will remain with Grey through March 2010 to ensure a smooth transition.
Carter caps an accomplished tenure that included many key milestones which created a strong foundation for growth. Under her leadership, Grey agencies recruited world-class talent; took home a list of creative awards unmatched in their history, including the Euro Effie "Agency Network of the Year" honor four successive times; won high-profile new business such as Fortis and Allianz and delivered record financial performance.
Jim Heekin said, "Carolyn Carter has had an immense impact on Grey and our clients' success. She leaves with our sincere gratitude for re-engineering and energizing our network in EMEA and helping a countless number of Grey's best and brightest climb the ladder over the years. We wish her much happiness as she conquers new worlds."
About Grey Group
Grey Group ranks among the largest global communications companies and its total offering includes Grey (advertising) and G2 (activation marketing). Its parent company is WPP Grey "Famously Effective since 1917" serves a blue-chip client roster of many of the world's best known companies including Procter & Gamble, GSK, Diageo, Pfizer, Canon, 3M, Eli Lilly, Boehringer Ingelheim and Allianz.
Grey
CONTACT: Owen J. Dougherty, +1-212-546-2551, odougherty@grey.com
