Dentsu Aegis Appoints Stef Calcraft, UK & Ireland Executive Chairman to Further Strengthen Leadership Team

- Stef Calcraft has been appointed as Executive Chairman of UK&I and will join the Dentsu Aegis EMEA Executive team early January 2018.

- This key leadership appointment further strengthens Dentsu Aegis’ ambition to become a 100 per cent digital economy business by 2020 and its vision of innovating the way brands are built.

- Founder of Mother Advertising Group, Stef brings an unparalleled breadth of industry experience and an entrepreneurial mindset, spanning all aspects of advertising from brand, creative, media and social & content.

LONDON – Dentsu Aegis Network, today announces the transformational appointment of Stef Calcraft as Executive Chairman of UK&I, a move that will continue to drive the organisation's ambition to be a 100% digital economy business by 2020, focussing on data, creativity and content.

The role, which reports into Giulio Malegori, CEO, Dentsu Aegis EMEA, will continue the transformation of the UK&I business leveraging all aspects of creativity, media, digital, data and content. This transformation will be driven by building from the extensive talent already in the business, as well as mobilising the existing strategy of growth through M&A.

Jerry Buhlmann, CEO, Dentsu Aegis Network, said:

“The appointment of Stef Calcraft as Executive Chairman for Dentsu Aegis UK&I reflects his experience, seniority and the importance of the market. Stef will lead the business into the next period of growth in the context of a transforming digital economy. His exceptional and unique track record of building globally recognised entrepreneurial businesses in our industry sets him apart as the outstanding candidate. His energy, drive and outstanding leadership will galvanise a highly talented UK&I business to further success.”

The UK&I remains a key growth market for Dentsu Aegis with digital ambitions, a talented leadership team and a strong capability pool with 4,500 people - serving over 800 clients across 23 media, technology, data and creative agencies. This business has outperformed the peer group, growing both organically and having made a number of significant acquisitions in recent years, including mobile first agency Fetch, content marketing specialist John Brown Media and more recently an investment in Gleam Futures, the digital first talent management agency.

Giulio Malegori, CEO, Dentsu Aegis EMEA, commented:

“The UK is the biggest market across EMEA and the third biggest market for our business and the appointment of Stef is pivotal to drive the UK&I growth agenda. Stef’s reputation speaks for itself, and with his unique experience and passion Stef will be a tremendous asset to Dentsu Aegis Network. Leading the UK&I business with a strong cultural alignment, proven delivery and an inspirational approach to leadership which will further energise our business. Stef brings an incredible track record for delivery, he will lead the transformation of the UK&I business through data driven solutions for our clients, designed to succeed in the digital economy. “

Stef Calcraft, Executive Chairman, Dentsu Aegis UK&I, commented:

“We are entering a uniquely exciting new age for brands where value creation through direct audience building will only be limited by our collective imagination, inventiveness and intimacy with the world around us. Those that lean forward will thrive like never before. The vision, ambition and clarity of purpose of Dentsu Aegis is defining in its simplicity and positivity, which attracted me immediately. With the breadth of talent and resource singularly focussed on creating positive change, I am delighted to be joining the team.”

Dentsu Aegis is at the forefront of the industry in its shift to people-based marketing, and an unwavering commitment to its digital ambition and vision to ‘innovate the way brands are built’ which has resulted in a number of strategic hires and acquisitions that have seen it outperform its peer group for the sixth consecutive year.

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For further information contact:

Dani Jordan
Chief Communications Officer
Email: Dani.Jordan@dentsuaegis.com
Mobile: +44 7342 076 617

Notes to Editors:

About Dentsu Aegis Network

Part of Dentsu Inc., Dentsu Aegis Network is made up of ten global network brands - Carat, Dentsu, Dentsu X, iProspect, Isobar, mcgarrybowen, Merkle, MKTG, Posterscope and Vizeum and supported by its specialist/multi-market brands. Dentsu Aegis Network is Innovating the Way Brands Are Built for its clients through its best-in-class expertise and capabilities in media, digital and creative communications services. Offering a distinctive and innovative range of products and services, Dentsu Aegis Network is headquartered in London and operates in 145 countries worldwide with more than 38,000 dedicated specialists.