GroupM appoints Jon Thurlow as APAC chief operating officer | M&M Global

GroupM appoints Jon Thurlow as APAC chief operating officer

GroupM has promoted Singapore office chief executive Jon Thurlow to the newly-created role of chief operating officer of GroupM Asia Pacific.

Thurlow will report to GroupM Asia Pacific chief executive Mark Patterson and will be replaced in August by Puneet Arora, who is currently CEO of GroupM’s Philippines business.

In his new guise, Thurlow’s responsibilities will span data and analytics, IT, GroupM Knowledge and AdOps.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, GroupM has formed a partnership with Networked Insights, an agreement that allows the media group’s staff to use the latter’s Kairos marketing analytics platform, which uses real-time data gleaned from social networks.

Irwin Gotlieb, GroupM’s global chairman, said: “GroupM’s technology stack and data investments enable us to continuously set the bar higher for insights-driven strategic media management.

“Real-time social data represents an enormous opportunity for brands, but technology must artfully enable insights based on what audiences are saying – and not saying. Networked Insights provides real rigour and discipline, and we have fully integrated it into our technology stack. We believe the combination provides us with real competitive advantage.”

Commenting on Thurlow’s appointment, Patterson said: “It’s a big new role and a very important one encompassing several key areas of growth for our group in the region.

“It’s important we have a senior, experienced and capable leader to champion and manage these connected areas of the business. Jon has done a terrific job in leadership and change management in Singapore, and I am very confident he will be able to drive further change and progress quickly and effectively in these areas too.”

GroupM also announced yesterday that it had acquired a majority stake in directComm Marketing Group in Turkey.

Ben Bold

Contributor

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