Julius Minnaar resigns; Mark van Dijk appointed as the new CEO

Dentsu Aegis Network today announced that CEO Julius Minnaar has decided to resign from the company. Mark van Dijk, currently Chief Client Officer Dentsu Aegis Network Netherlands, has been appointed to the position effective 1 January 2020, with Julius Minnaar supporting the transition process for the remainder of the year.

Julius Minnaar has been with the company for almost nine years. In this period the company has undergone a successful transformation to a strong digital profile and welcomed numerous large clients resulting in significant growth. In addition, the network grew from 160 to 750 employees thanks to the successful acquisitions and integrations of multiple companies. Julius Minnaar is leaving the company at his own request.  

Julius Minnaar, CEO, Dentsu Aegis Network Netherlands:

"In recent years I have enjoyed working with my team and our clients. Dentsu Aegis Network has grown into a company that is at the forefront of the Dutch market in the field of media innovations. We were also the first to roll-out integrated partnerships with our clients."

"It was a privilege for me to work with talented and ambitious colleagues for almost nine years. The exponential growth of our company has only been possible thanks to the great teamwork within the management team where we have always had a common goal in mind."

Lars Bo Jeppesen, CEO, Dentsu Aegis Network, Nordics, Central & Eastern Europe:

"I have worked together with Julius for many years and Julius has always been a popular people leader with his strong interpersonal skills and his experience from the Dutch media industry. Julius has been very successful in developing our Dutch agency group to a respected market leader - both in the eyes of our clients and people. Without any doubt I want to express sincere gratitude for Julius' efforts and wish him all the best with his new challenge."

Dentsu Aegis Network today announces the promotion of Mark van Dijk to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dentsu Aegis Network Netherlands per 1 January 2020. Mark van Dijk progresses to the role from that of Chief Client Officer, Dentsu Aegis Network Netherlands, which he was appointed to in November 2018. Van Dijk was previously Managing Director for iProspect Netherlands for six years. Mark van Dijk possesses a unique combination of commercial acumen, people focused leadership and strategical strength.

Lars Bo Jeppesen, CEO, Dentsu, Nordics, Central & Eastern Europe:

"You are always in a good position when your plan B is as good as your plan A! This is genuinely how I feel about the management shift in the Netherlands, that said with the highest respect for Julius' merits. I have known Mark for many years and Mark has the rare combination of a strong client centric approach, best of the best digital skills and a well-deserved respect and trust across the Dutch organization. Our business as well as the industry is undergoing a digital transformation these years with an increased demand for data & technology focus, marketing automation and client centricity, and I am confident Mark will be a very capable leader on that journey."

Mark van Dijk, CEO, Dentsu Aegis Network Netherlands:

"I am proud of what we have achieved in recent years under the leadership of Julius Minnaar and I look forward to leading the further growth of Dentsu Aegis Network in the Netherlands as CEO. We want to buildout our leading position in data-driven and technology-led solutions for media, creative and CRM and will therefore continue our focus on the integrated partnerships with our clients. The way all our talented and ambitious colleagues work together every single day to deliver on that promise is, I feel, quite unique and forms the foundation for our future growth.”