Simon Pugh
Summary
Thought leader and innovator with a focus on delivering meaningful growth for clients through both marketing transformation and digital innovation, by combining unique capabilities across media, data and technology. Experience leading global brands and running regional offices within agency holding companies including Dentsu International, Omnicom, Publicis Groupe & GroupM. Personable style and EQ skills developed managing C-Suite clients and high performing teams.
Looking for opportunities to leverage my global experience with an ability to connect and integrate core capabilities to help businesses succeed in the next era of marketing services. Ideally the role will have influence and scope to challenge current structures or process to deliver different and better business performance and growth for the organisation and clients.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Client Officer
EssenceMediacom – GroupM
02.2022 - 09.2023
- As the CCO & Essence MD, my focus was on shifting a highly successful legacy operation to a business that was built for the future ,intrgfollowingJoined the business during extreme change, responsible for stabalizing the business including Reporting to the Publicis Groupe CMO, I was recruited as part of the core team to lead the Groupe’s response to TCCC’s Creative, Media and Marketing Transformation agency review, architecting and building the agency of the future in the process
- Key member of the EXCO, responsible for delivering on the merger of the Essence and Mediacom brands during 2022/23, establishing new process, ways of working and driving positive cultural impact
- Established Client Leadership as a craft, designed to deliver immediate impact on client satisfaction by setting the standards for client service, creating a community for our most senior leaders and upleveling the skills and expertise for future leaders
Global Client Business Leader/New Business
Publicis Groupe, The Coca-Cola Company
01.2021 - 01.2022
- Recruited to lead the Groupe’s response to TCCC’s $4bn Creative, Media and Marketing Transformation agency review, architecting and building a new agency model which helped to double Publicis revenues during the pitch process
- Helped design and implement a bespoke agency solution for TCCC creating new service models, architecting custom process and building data and tech solutions to deliver on TCCC’s marketing transformation requirements
- Tailored current and emerging Publicis capability and technology to meet TCCC’s unique go-to-market needs, connecting global category leadership to local sales and activation
- Successfully added new scope during the pitch process including “global charters”, creative assignments for Schweppes and Powerade and strategic projects including designing and implementing a global segmentation
- Partnered with agency leadership across Digital, Shopper, Design, Media and Creative to effectively and innovatively showcase capability, people and product through written submissions, presentations and workshops/demos
- Proactively sourced talent, designed agency org structures and aligned agency capabilities across global, regional and local scopes which included 164 countries and a media/marketing spend of $4Bn
President
PHD Media, Omnicom Media Group
03.2016 - 10.2020
- Doubled revenue in 3 years with new business billings exceeding $300M, building new agency capabilty and doubling headcount
- Managed 140 people across Los Angeles and San Francisco with gross billings of $500M+ and $20M+ in revenues
- Reshaped service offering to changing market, growing Performance and Data & Analytics capabilities to 40+ practitioners
- Achieved significant new business growth with range of innovative companies including HP, Allbirds, Square Inc, TikTok, Dolby and ServiceNow
- Global exec sponsor for the HP business, responsible for the 64-market transition to PHD including pitching and winning the China business
- Alongisde BBDO, built a bespoke agency model for HP connecting creative, data, social and media capability uniquely designed to leverage real time cultural insights to support messaging and media execution
SVP, Managing Director – Client President
Carat – Dentsu International, The Coca-Cola Company
01.2010 - 03.2016
- Responsible for delivering double digit organic growth, connecting and influencing over 20 Dentsu agency relationships
- Executive sponsor for all local market pitches, guiding responses to briefs, ensuring product consistency and alignment to TCCC connections process best practice
- POC for Dentsu global “charters” with a focus on key global associations including Olympics, FIFA and Copa America
- SVP, Managing Director – Global Microsoft Lead
- Successfully transitioned the $1.3bn business in 2 months, building a team over 300 people across 16 markets
- Led all SOW and MSA discussions across Global Consumer, Commercial, Product and Local Business Units
- Created integrated process alongside IPG, establishing new ways of working for the agencies and Microsoft Marketing & Media teams
- SVP, Group Director Americas - Diageo
- Pitched and won the NA Diageo business, successfully running the account for 4 years, during which time I delivered over $5M in organic growth, with the addition of LATAM and GBT initiatives for Smirnoff, Guinness, and Johnnie Walker
- Oversaw P&L, led contract negotiations and managed teams across the US, Mexico and UK
- Responsible for Diageo’s global partnerships with Facebook, Google & Apple
- Negotiated media firsts for the category including entry into live sports the PGA Tour, NBA and NHL Finals
Global Strategy Director
Publicis, Publicis Groupe
03.2007 - 12.2009
- P&G
- Key member of Brand Agency team collaborating on messaging and comms in partnership Saatchi and NAM clients
Business Director
News Corporation, Mindshare /Kinetic – GroupM
01.2003 - 03.2007
Senior Planner
DDB/OMD, Omnicom, McDonald’s
06.1999 - 06.2002
Planner Buyer
Carat – Dentsu International
07.1997 - 06.1999
- ETrade, Nissan
Education
Management Science
University of Manchester
Skills
- Highly experienced marketing & media professional, successfully managed global businesses delivering double digit growth and innovative, award-winning work for iconic international brands
- Advanced leadership skills aligning and engaging teams, driving creativity and innovation as well as building collaborative, cross functional relationships amidst rapid change
- In depth knowledge of the Consumer and B2B Tech space working with numerous global and local brands including Microsoft, HP, ServiceNow, TikTok, P&G, The Coca-Cola Company, Diageo, News Corp, Entain and Isuzu
- Effectively managed cultural and operational change while scaling business, simultaneously improving client satisfaction and talent retention
Timeline
Chief Client Officer
EssenceMediacom – GroupM
02.2022 - 09.2023
Global Client Business Leader/New Business
Publicis Groupe, The Coca-Cola Company
01.2021 - 01.2022
President
PHD Media, Omnicom Media Group
03.2016 - 10.2020
SVP, Managing Director – Client President
Carat – Dentsu International, The Coca-Cola Company
01.2010 - 03.2016
Global Strategy Director
Publicis, Publicis Groupe
03.2007 - 12.2009
Business Director
News Corporation, Mindshare /Kinetic – GroupM
01.2003 - 03.2007
Senior Planner
DDB/OMD, Omnicom, McDonald’s
06.1999 - 06.2002
Planner Buyer
Carat – Dentsu International
07.1997 - 06.1999
Management Science
University of Manchester
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