Y&R has appointed Andrew Dimitriou as its European president, with the former head of the WPP’s Colgate-Palmolive-dedicated Red Fuse unit taking on responsibility for Y&R agencies across the region’s various markets.

Dimitriou, who will remain based in Paris in his new position, will have responsibility for Y&R’s advertising, shopper marketing and digital client offerings. He will report to David Sable, Y&R’s global chief executive.

Australian Dimitriou has worked for Y&R for 16 years, holding posts including managing director of the agency’s Hill’s Pet Nutrition account.

Sable said: “Andrew is a true globalist and a thoughtful integrated marketer, no doubt because he is a creative and entrepreneurial thinker. He has shown his passion and commitment – for the business, for our clients and the agency – since his early days in new business here. He is the ideal person to take our European network forward.

“Over the past few years, our focus in Europe has been on deepening and strengthening our position in local markets, which has resulted in a new vitality and momentum market to market. This is the right time for Andrew to come in and leverage both our network’s individual and collective strengths.”

Dimitriou added: “I’m so pleased to take on this new role. We have strong leadership across the region, as well as real depth and diversity of expertise and experience, all of of which is adding up to some great, effective work. I am looking forward to building on the momentum that we are feeling across the region.”