• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, November 14, 2018

Jerry Buhlmann is stepping down as chief executive of Dentsu Aegis Network after nine years in the role. He will be succeeded by Tim Andree, executive chairman at DAN who is also an executive vice president of parent Dentsu and a member of its board of directors.

Dentsu confirmed that Buhlmann, 58, would “retire” and become a “special advisor” to the company in 2019.

Buhlmann joined Aegis Group in 1999 and was promoted to CEO in 2010. He led negotiations on behalf of Aegis during acquisition talks with Dentsu and a deal was completed in 2013.

After the acquisition he took on the role of CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network, which oversees the international operations of the Tokyo-based holding company.

Buhlmann began his career at Young & Rubicam in 1980.  In 1989 he co-founded BBJ media in the UK, which was acquired by Aegis in 1999. It was rebranded as Vizeum in 2003.  

“After nine years as CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network and before that Aegis Group plc, I am very proud of what the organization has achieved in that time," stated Buhlmann. The highlight for me has been working with a group of very talented people and the impact we have been able to make based on strong team work, a supportive parent company and a dynamic culture."

The company noted that revenues at Dentsu Aegis doubled from 2013 to 2017 to about $4.7 billion and are projected to account for over 60% of Dentsu’s annual revenues in 2018.

Stated Andree: “The remarkable growth and momentum of Dentsu Aegis Network is a credit to Jerry and the deep and broadly talented management team that has been cultivated. I have worked hand in hand with Jerry and the management team over the years and for this reason, the Dentsu Aegis Network management will move to the next stage with strong continuity and stability.”

Andree  joined Dentsu in 2006 as CEO of Dentsu America and two years later  was named Dentsu Inc.’s first non-Japanese Executive Officer.

In 2010, Dentsu consolidated its operations in the Americas, Europe and Australia by launching Dentsu Network West (DNW) and appointed Andree CEO.  In 2012, he was named Senior Vice President of Dentsu Inc., and President & CEO of the newly formed Dentsu Network, which consolidated operations outside Japan under one organization. He’s credited with growing the company both organically and through acquisitions such as mcgarrybowen, 360i and Mitchell Communications Group.

He also played a key role in orchestrating Dentsu’s acquisition of Aegis Group, the largest transaction in the company’s history.