Dentsu Aegis Network has appointed Robert (Rob) Horler, CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network Northern Europe, to the role of CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network, USA, reporting to Nigel Morris, CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network Americas & EMEA.
In this newly created position, Horler will be responsible for developing, driving and executing Dentsu Aegis Network’s strategy across this key growth region for the business. Relocating to New York, he will take up his new role in April 2015 and will continue as a member of Dentsu Aegis Network’s global executive board.
Horler has enjoyed a long career to date at Dentsu Aegis Network, joining the business as managing partner of Carat Interactive in 2000. In 2002 he was promoted to managing director of Carat Interactive before going on to found Diffiniti, which became one of the largest standalone digital media agencies in the U.K. In 2009, Diffiniti was integrated into Dentsu Aegis’s iProspect network as part of the global strategy to bring together search and digital performance.
After steering the integration, Horler was appointed as managing director of Carat UK in May 2009, before being promoted to the role of CEO for Aegis Media UK in January 2011 and then to CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network Northern Europe, in February 2013. In addition to his responsibilities as CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network Northern Europe, Horler is also chairman of Dentsu Aegis Network in the U.K. and oversees the global development of Dentsu Aegis’s iProspect and Data2Decisions brands.
Commenting on Horler’s new appointment, Nigel Morris, CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network Americas & EMEA said: “In the global context, the U.S. economy continues to show its strength, resilience and innovation, with its advertising spend now exceeding its 2007 pre-recession peak. For Dentsu Aegis Network, the U.S. has been a great success over the last five years and it will be a key driver of our future growth. With the significant momentum we have in the market, as a group and across all our agencies, by having a dedicated CEO we will take the business to the next level. With his proven track record of delivering growth for our business, his experience and expertise in the digital economy and his deep understanding of our operating model, Rob was the standout candidate following an extensive internal and external global search.”
Following Horler’s appointment as CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network USA, Thierry Jadot, CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network France will take on responsibility for the oversight of Dentsu Aegis Network Netherlands joining the existing cluster made up of Dentsu Aegis Network, France, Belgium and MENA. Similarly, Tracy de Groose, CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network U.K., will take on additional management responsibility for Dentsu Aegis Network, Ireland, and will join the Dentsu Aegis EMEA executive board. Horler will retain his global executive responsibility for the ongoing global development of Dentsu Aegis’s iProspect and Data2Decisions brands.
Dentsu Aegis Network USA is headquartered in NY and employs approximately 4,500 staff across 20 locations in the U.S.
