• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, May 7, 2019

PHD Worldwide CEO Mike Cooper has been elevated to the newly created position of Group CEO, APAC and EMEA.

As Group CEO, Cooper will be responsible for assuring service standards across OMG agencies Hearts & Science, OMD and PHD in markets outside the Americas. He’s also tasked with driving tech, product and practice innovation in his region.  

Cooper will hit the ground the running, having spent the better part of the past two decades building OMG agencies in APAC and EMEA.  He established OMD’s footprint in Asia-Pacific and helped lay the foundation for the agency’s global expansion.

Since returning to his native UK as CEO of PHD Worldwide in 2007, he has grown PHD from a small group of agencies in APAC and EMEA into a global network serving many of the world’s biggest brands. 

“Mike’s proven talent for creating and expanding best practices across vastly different local markets has been critical to OMG’s global growth strategy,” stated Omnicom Media Group Chairman and CEO Daryl Simm.  “His record, and the respect he has earned from clients and agency teams …speak to his energy, commitment and professionalism.”

Cooper’s  executive team will include current OMG EMEA Chief Financial Officer Peter Poelzlbauer, who has been promoted to Group CFO, OMG APAC and EMEA, OMG APAC CEO Tony Harradine, stationed in Singapore and, all EMEA-based senior leadership.  

Cooper’s promotion follows word that his long-time colleague Colin Gottlieb is stepping down next month from his roles as CEO of Omnicom Media Group EMEA and Chairman OMD Worldwide. He will remain an advisor to the company into 2020.

Cooper’s appointment is effective July 1.  He will remain based in London, reporting to Simm.