Yesterday, Monday 21st September 2014, Ogilvy & Mather CEO Miles Young promoted Christopher Graves, currently Global CEO Ogilvy Public Relations, to the role of Chairman at Ogilvy PR and Stuart Smith, currently Regional CEO EMEA, to Global CEO Ogilvy PR, effective immediately.
In making the announcement, Young said, "As the discipline of public relations continues rapidly to evolve and unlock big, fresh opportunities, we need to adapt our management structure accordingly. Chris soon celebrates his tenth anniversary at Ogilvy PR, having served five years as Regional CEO of Asia Pacific and five as Global CEO. Chris' public presence, his intellectual force and passion for innovation will make him a spectacular success in this new role."
A three-time WPP Atticus Award winner along with a phenomenal creativity get a promotion in Ogilvy PR
Graves, a three-time WPP Atticus Award winner, currently serves as a board member of the industry body The Council of Public Relations Firms, as a trustee of the Institute for Public Relations, and is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Beyond continuing his senior client counsel, he will concentrate on transformative aspects of the agency such as M&A, innovations in content marketing, new intellectual properties, and Social Media for Ogilvy.
Christopher Graves
Young noted that Smith, now in the role of Global CEO of Ogilvy PR, will lead the day-to-day operations of the firm.
"Chris and I are both incredibly pleased Stuart Smith will take on the role of CEO, Ogilvy PR. Stuart has transformed our EMEA PR operations. Under his leadership Ogilvy PR has seen phenomenal development in scale and creativity. We have entered new geographies in Africa and the Middle East, built a world-class social and content offering, hired transformative talent and been recognized as pan-EMEA Agency of the Year 2014 by The Holmes Report. Stuart is a champion of modern PR in an integrated environment and has forged strong relationships across Ogilvy & Mather. With clients, Stuart is at the forefront of helping big brands recognize the true scope of how PR can contribute in the integrated world of paid, owned and earned media and content," added Young.
We are incredibly fortunate to have both Stuart and Chris at Ogilvy PR
Continued Young, "In my view there has been no more exciting time in the business of public relations than now and we and our Ogilvy philosophy - expansive and inclusive - are uniquely poised to take advantage of it. We are incredibly fortunate to have both Stuart and Chris at Ogilvy PR do precisely that."
Smith will retain responsibility for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region and will relocate to Ogilvy & Mather's New York office early in 2015. He joined Ogilvy PR in 2010 as Global MD Corporate Practice, soon after he took over Ogilvy PR UK and Ogilvy PR EMEA. Since 2012 he has been responsible for Ogilvy PR EMEA. Smith has spent over 25 years in the industry in variety of WPP PR agencies and on the client side. He graduated from Oxford University (Christ Church) with a D.Phil. in Physical Sciences.
