Ogilvy Australia CEO David Fox Promoted to CEO of Middle East & North Africa
Ogilvy today announced David Fox will be promoted to the role of CEO for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, effective March 1. Based in Dubai, the new role encompasses responsibility for nine countries and 10 offices across the region.
The move to a new regional position follows six and a half years for Fox as CEO of Ogilvy Australia, having previously spent ten years in global client roles with Ogilvy in London.
Says Ogilvy Global CEO Andy Main: “As we work to ensure Ogilvy is the best partner for growth on the planet, it is essential that we have a bench of leaders who understand how to bring the best of Ogilvy to the table to drive value for clients. Foxy has proven to be one of those strong, capable leaders and I’m thrilled to have him taking on a new role as CEO in MENA.
“Under his leadership in Australia, Ogilvy made significant advancements in digital innovation, driven superior client value, and built a company culture recognised throughout the Ogilvy network. This resulted in Ogilvy Australia delivering excellent growth – growth that is profitable, sustainable and responsible. I’m confident that our operation in MENA will grow from a position of strength with Foxy at the helm and that Australia will continue building momentum as we make this transition.”
Under Fox’s leadership, Ogilvy Australia has grown significantly as a business, adding some of ANZ’s leading brands to its roster; attracting exceptional talent from across the globe; and in 2020 won more awards than ever before including APAC Effie’s Agency of the Year for the first time and best Ogilvy office to work in Globally. Notable work for Ogilvy Australia, ranked equal #1 Australian agency in Campaign Brief’s The Work 2020, included KFC ‘Mission Impossible’, ‘Secret Menu’ and ‘Viewer Verdict’, AAMI ‘Warning Spots’, BP ‘Run’, Whitelion ‘Deadly Instruments’, and Swinburne Online ‘Six Word Scholarship’.
Commenting on the move Fox said: “Leading Ogilvy Australia has been amazing, working with exceptionally talented people and fantastic clients. Together with my team we have always strived for ambitious outcomes for both our clients and the Ogilvy brand and nothing is more important to me than knowing Ogilvy Australia is in a very strong position.
“I want to especially thank my team, they are outstanding and I am confident the agency will continue to thrive under new leadership. I also want to thank our amazing clients for their support of both the agency and myself during my time as CEO. Ogilvy Australia is nothing without client support and in particular their loyalty and commitment to us during COVID has been phenomenal.
“This was a difficult decision, but you cannot hang around forever and it’s time for a change at the top. It’s been an extraordinary privilege to lead Ogilvy Australia and I will be forever supportive of its success. I am incredibly excited about my next step within the Ogilvy network and more than ever remain committed to our people, our clients, and the Ogilvy brand.”
WPP AUNZ CEO Jens Monsees said Fox left with the full blessing of the company’s leadership: “The Ogilvy business under Foxy’s leadership has been a mainstay and vital pillar of WPP AUNZ for many years. His ability to lead and inspire his team and clients with a world-class mix of creativity and technology remains outstanding.
“This move demonstrates again that we have the best creative talent pool in the region, assuring me we will soon be able to announce a strong successor from within our business. I wish Foxy all the best of luck and thank him for his great service and leadership throughout the years.”
An internal process to find a successor in Australia, led by Main, is currently underway and an announcement will be made in due course.
14 Comments
Undoubtedly the best CEO in the business.
Will be interesting to see who is chosen. Big shoes to fill
Dear Ogilvy,
I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.
He worked for them in London, pre M&C
What a loss to the Australian Ad industry. Anyone who is anyone knows that Foxy should have been made CEO of WPPAUNZ. Again sadly because of poor decisions we lose another great leader in our business. Good luck mate – what you have done at Ogilvy might never be truly recognised.
the last remaining great leader in WPP AUNZ leaving.
Foxy is what all CEO’s should be aspiring to be like.
He doesn’t just talk about being a ‘people’ person, he actually walks the talk. Just ask everyone that works with him. Approachable, likeable, smart, empathetic and self-deprecating.
Bloody legend. All the best for your future.
Time for the truth – all the people who actually have a point of view have left WPPAUNZ. What does that show? That it’s a regime who only wants yes people. What a joke. I worked with Foxy a year or so again and he’s the best in the business. He’s the best leader in WPPAUNZ and should be running it. It’s all down hill from here. Good luck Foxy – you deserve better than WPPAUNZ anyway.
An enormous loss for both Ogilvy and the business. Foxy is what all CEO’s should look to be, not to mention he has done a beyond exceptional job in looking after his people during COVID. I feel so lucky to have worked for Foxy once, I only hope I can do it again one day. Your new region is lucky to have you, hope they know that
The lengths you will go to get away from WPPAUNZ. Happy travels Foxy and best of luck.
A great leader with extensive experience in this market and years of loyalty to Ogilvy should have been given the WPPAUNZ gig.
Best of luck in MENA Foxy. You’ll be missed.
A great move for Foxy and well deserved – a great guy and leader HOWEVER – what happens now? The best leader leaves and what’s left is a bunch of mediocre people who will bring the place down. At least Foxy stood up to them. Now he’s gone what a mess this will become. Grabs popcorn.
Maybe they will have a female CEO – so the boys club ends.
What a loss to WPP AU NZ. As an ex staffer Foxy was the only leader in the group who got it and people go to him for advice and help navigating the mess currently being created at WPP AU NZ and that’s a huge mess. This will create a lot of unrest in the group and people will re-evaluate being at a company being run into the ground by people who really have no idea.