Robert (Rob) Gilby has been appointed CEO APAC of Dentsu International, beginning September 5, 2022, according to a statement from the company.
“Rob is an extraordinarily well-rounded leader with a progressive attitude who truly understands the future of the industry and potential for growth, for our employees, our clients, and our business,” said Wendy Clark, CEO of Dentsu International.
Importantly, he made clear demonstrations of his long-term vision, values-based leadership style, and enthusiasm for creating diverse, high-performing teams, all of which are essential to the way we conduct business at Densu.
Rob will be in charge of bringing together the 11,600 brilliant individuals working in 18 markets throughout the APAC region to support Densu’s worldwide goal of being the most integrated network in the world. With the region’s transformation program yielding fruitful results and producing +4.7 percent organic revenue growth in FY2021 with momentum continuing into Q1 2022 and delivering 5.2 percent organic revenue growth, he has a strong platform for growth.
His hiring comes after the global launch of DENTSU CREATIVE, for which DENTSU CREATIVE India was won Global Agency of the Year at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity and dentsu was named Asia Pacific Regional Network of the Year.
This momentum, along with Rob’s regional expertise, comprehension of the evolving consumer behaviors of Asian consumers, and outlook on the industry’s future, is a growth-stimulating factor that will ensure the continued success of Densu’s APAC business.
Robert stated, “I have pulled to Densu’s appealing idea right away because of its rich history as the first holding company to have been founded in Asia. Being the region’s leader is an honor given that the world looks to the Asia Pacific region for leadership due to its predicted strong GDP growth, booming middle class, rapid digitization, and investment in domestic platforms that advance existing technologies. With these market dynamics combined with Dentsu’s unmatched human understanding and vision for horizontal creativity, brands have an exciting potential to succeed.
Rob has worked in the media and entertainment sector for 30 years and has spent more than 25 years in the Asia Pacific region. With vast experience in areas like Australia, China, India, Southeast Asia, and Singapore, he has a demonstrated track record of expanding profitable enterprises, including WarnerMedia and The Walt Disney Company.
He comes from Nielsen, where he served as President, of APAC, and was in charge of establishing connections with significant media owners, companies, and advertising agencies in order to supply audience insights throughout the media ecosystem. Prior to that, he held the positions of CEO and founder of Blue Hat Ventures, an investment and advisory firm with a focus on identifying and commercialising high-growth businesses in the Asia Pacific digital media sector.
At the Ministry of Communications & Information, the InfoComm Media Development Authority, and the Singapore Media Festival, he has served in advisory and non-executive board capacities.
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