• by Richard Whitman , Columnist, April 8, 2022

Amsterdam-based digital marketing agency Dept has named Jerry Buhlmann, former CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network, Non-Executive Chairman.

Buhlmann brings over 40 years of experience in the media, marketing and advertising sectors to the agency and will work with Global CEO Dimi Albers and other senior executives and directors on the company’s global growth strategy.

Buhlmann was the CEO of the UK’s media-focused holding company Aegis Group and led negotiations and eventual sale of the group to Tokyo-based Dentsu in 2013 for and estimated $5 billion.  He then led the Dentsu Aegis Network, the holding company’s international operation as CEO until stepping down in 2018.

But he’s been keeping busy. He currently serves as Chairman of Croud Ltd, a private equity-funded digital agency, and Chairman of Hybrid, a digital higher education marketing specialist. In addition, he is a senior independent director at automotive distributor and retailer Inchcape PLC and also a director at financial and corporate PR firm Tulchan Ltd, and at creative agency Serviceplan Group. He’s also a senior advisor to corporate consultant OC&C and an angel Investor and advisor to a number of businesses within the digital marketing and e-commerce segments. 

Founded in 2015, Dept has grown from 150 people in The Netherlands to more than 2,500 people in 30 offices worldwide working with brands including Google, Meta, Diageo, Samsung, eBay, Amazon, Patagonia, ASOS, Philips, KFC, and more.

Over the last twelve months Dept has acquired several agencies including data science and software engineering agency Raybeam, digital marketing agency Feed, and creative studio Hello Monday.

The group also recently unveiled its first operations in Asia Pacific, headed by former Havas Group APAC CEO Vishnu Mohan.