Miles Young to step down as Ogilvy CEO, North America head takes over

Seifert, a 37-year veteran of the company, will retain his role as CEO and chairman of Ogilvy & Mather North America and will continue to be based in New York.

In his new post, Seifert will partner with Tham Khai Meng, worldwide chief creative officer, who will also become co-chairman of the Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide board.

Young also announced an expansion of responsibilities for two of O&M’s regional directors. Paul Heath, chairman and CEO of Asia-Pacific has been named executive director for global business development, and Paul O’Donnell, chairman and CEO of EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) will take on the post of executive director for agency transformation. 

Seifert, 58, has helmed Ogilvy's North America business for the past seven years. He is credited with “reinvigorating” the region via substantial revenue growth and strong talent recruitment. Prior to leading North America, Seifert was responsible for a portfolio of 25 global clients, totaling nearly $1 billion in revenue. He has worked throughout the agency’s network in client leadership and general management positions in the US, Bangkok and Singapore.

Young will stay on in a non-executive role and will continue to work with Ogilvy and parent company WPP on key clients. As has been previously reported, Young will be joining his alma mater, Oxford University, as Warden.

“David Ogilvy has been my hero since I joined the agency as a summer intern in 1979,” Seifert said. “I am blessed to have colleagues who are my dearest friends, and clients who put so much trust in our work for them. I want to thank both Miles and [WPP CEO] Martin [Sorrell] for their confidence in giving me this extraordinary responsibility. I will never take it for granted, and do all I can to live up to what David Ogilvy expected from every leader of this amazing company.”

Young called Seifert an "exemplary Ogilvy citizen". “His values and the brand’s values are indistinguishable," Young added. "And if you talk to his clients you will find a fan club united in admiration of him.”