Dentsu Aegis global leadertakes charge of ZenithOptimedia UK agency group
ZenithOptimedia has hired widely respected industry leader Grant Millar to head up the agency group in the UK as Chief Executive Officer.
Reporting to Belinda Rowe, Global Managing Partner & UK Chairman, ZenithOptimedia, Grant will take lead responsibility for all of the group brands in the UK, which includes Performics (digital performance marketing) Newcast (branded content) and Ninah (analytics).
Grant joins ZenithOptimedia from Dentsu Aegis, where he was President, Global Clients, responsible for major accounts, such as Mondelez (including Cadbury) and MasterCard, following last year’s successful pitch, which he led. As part of his Global Clients role, Grant was responsible for driving the global P&L across Carat, Vizeum, Isobar, Posterscope and
the other Dentsu Aegis’ media and digital agencies. Prior to that, Grant was Global Brand Director at Carat, where he took charge of driving the network’s capabilities, enhancing brand reputation and leading development strategy in order to increase success in new business.
Grant is also well-known in the industry for the seven years he spent as Managing Director, Vizeum UK, where he was credited with leading the agency to numerous pitch wins, including IKEA, Innocent, AB InBev, 20th Century Fox, BMW and Pernod Ricard. During his career, Grant has also been Head of Planning & Media at BT, and a planner/buyer at Starcom MediaVest.
In his new role at ZenithOptimedia, Grant has been tasked with leading the development of the UK agency. He will take responsibility for driving business growth and enhancing the agency’s reputation within the market. He will take full control of the financial performance of the agency and will lead the ongoing programme to further develop both talent and culture at the Percy Street-based agency.
Grant will work closely with ZenithOptimedia UK Managing Director, Mark Howley, who will continue to take responsibility for the day-to-day management of ZenithOptimedia’s roster of clients and the operational running of the UK business. As part of his role, Grant will join the UK Management Board. Led by Belinda Rowe, this comprises: Mark Howley, Natalie Cummins, Managing Director, Optimedia; Tom Cijffers, Managing Director, Zenith; Charlotte Frijns, CFO ZenithOptimedia Worldwide & UK; Sean Healy, Global Communications Planning Director; Mark Waugh, Worldwide Managing Director, Newcast; Stefan Bardega, Chief Digital Officer; Fred Joseph, CEO, EMEA, Performics and Ian Liddicoat, Chief Information Officer, ZenithOptimedia; and Oliver Harwood-Matthews, Global Chief Business Development Officer.
Grant has played an active role within the UK media and advertising industry. He is a member of the IPA’s Media Futures Group, with personal responsibility for industry training; he is a past chairman of the Advertising Association’s Media Business Course, and has been on several awards juries, including Campaign and Media Week.
Belinda Rowe, Global Managing Partner & UK Chairman, ZenithOptimedia, said:
“Grant Millar is one of the key figures in the UK media industry and we are absolutely thrilled that he is now going to lead ZenithOptimedia in the UK. He has an amazing track record, with proven results in driving results for clients, new business and agency development.”
Grant Millar, CEO, ZenithOptimedia UK, said:
“ZenithOptimedia UK has an impressive array of capabilities and an equally impressive array of clients. I am delighted to be joining the agency at a time when it is breaking new ground in its strategic approach and integrated offering for brands.”
