Dentsu Inc. launches Dentsu Aegis Network

Rohit Ohri gets additional role of CEO, Dentsu Asia Pacific South, while Ashish Bhasin takes charge as Dentsu Aegis Network South Asia CEO.

Dentsu Network and Aegis Media have combined to form Dentsu Aegis Network on January 1, 2014.

With this new structure, Rohit Ohri, currently executive chairman of Dentsu India Group, has been given additional responsibilities of CEO, Dentsu APAC South.

Meanwhile, Ashish Bhasin has been appointed as chief executive officer of Dentsu Aegis Network South Asia. Bhasin was earlier designated as chairman, India and CEO, Southeast Asia at Aegis Group.

Japanese advertising giant Dentsu had acquired Aegis Media in July, 2012 in a deal that valued the British media buying company at US$4.9 billion. As per the corporate communication authorities, the two agencies have been merged to form Dentsu Aegis Network. Together, the agency networks are present in 110 countries worldwide with over 22,000 dedicated specialists.

Nick Waters will lead Dentsu Aegis Network in Asia Pacific as the chief executive officer and will be responsible for the management of the business and the development of network, specialist and local brands across the region.

He says, "With our brand and leadership structures confirmed we have the opportunity to develop the Dentsu Aegis Network, and our client base, by delivering a wider range of distinctive products and services across the region. The new Dentsu Aegis Network has a unique position in the market, and with this brings the opportunity to grow our clients' businesses with our own."

The Dentsu Aegis Network will be headquartered in London. Carat, the Dentsu agency brand, iProspect, Isobar, Posterscope and Vizeum will work together for the first time under the operating model of one P&L per country alongside growing multi-market specialist and local brands.

With over 5,500 employees in China including associates, full integration in China will begin in 2015. Until then, Aegis Media and Dentsu Network will continue to work in parallel, managed by Phil Teeman, CEO, Aegis Media China and Motohiro Yamagishi, CEO, Dentsu Network China.

KF Lee will take the role of chairperson, Dentsu Aegis Network China, working across the two businesses. Motohiro Yamagishi will additionally lead the Dentsu agency brand across North Asia.

Luke Littlefield will lead Dentsu Aegis Network Australia and New Zealand as CEO and Rob Hughes will lead Dentsu Aegis Network North Asia. Meanwhile, Dick van Motman takes leadership as CEO for the group in Southeast Asia.