MediaCom worldwide chairman and CEO Stephen Allan has decided to step down from the top role after 12 years.
Allan has worked within GroupM, WPP's media investment arm, for 38 years.
He will be succeeded by MediaCom's current global chief operating officer (COO) Nick Lawson.
Lawson will take over the global CEO role on July 1, following a transitionary period.
Allan was appointed as global head of MediaCom in August 2008.
He was previously CEO of GroupM UK, and prior to that spent many years as CEO of MediaCom UK.
During his tenure, MediaCom has become a top-four media agency worldwide.
Under his global leadership the agency has won many of the industry’s most prestigious awards and went on to be the first to win all six major agency network of the year awards including Cannes Lions.
Allan says the decision to step down was a difficult one after 38 years with the agency but he is looking to apply all his has learned to a new challenge.
"I have had the privilege and pleasure to work with so many talented and kind people who taught me so much and who will always be my friends. Together we amassed an unbelievable portfolio of clients and as an agency reached heights that seemed impossible when we started out," Allan says.
"I have been so fortunate to have had the support and loyalty of countless people who’ve worked alongside me, many for two or three decades. Whilst I am incredibly sad to be leaving my ‘family’, I couldn’t be happier to hand the reins over to Nick who is a world-class leader, knowing that the MediaCom I will always love is in very safe hands.”
GroupM global CEO Christian Juhl thanked Allan for building MediaCom up to become one the world's leading media agencies.
“Steve’s commitment to his people and the organization is unmatched. We wish him the very best in this next chapter and recognise that after more than 25 years in a leadership role he is ready for a new challenge," Juhl says.
"We appreciate the foundation Steve has built for the next generation of leaders at MediaCom.”
Juhl says Lawson has demonstrated that he is both an "influential and energetic leader" who has been commited to MediaCom for more than two decades.
“He is the perfect example of someone who brings to life our vision of making advertising work better for people," Juhl says.
"I am excited to have him as a close partner as we look at our future agency offering and consider how to create an environment where technology paves the way towards better work experiences for our people and impact for our clients.”
Lawson started his career with the agency as a media planner at The Media Business Group in 1991, he has risen through the ranks to lead the business, firstly as CEO of MediaCom UK in 2006, as CEO of EMEA in 2008 and most recently as COO worldwide in 2019.
During the tenures of his previous CEO roles he has led the agency to be leaders both locally and regionally, topping client satisfaction tables and agency ranking tables alike.
“I am honored to have been asked to take over as the global leader for MediaCom,” Lawson says.
“This agency inspires me every day – our amazing people, the outstanding work they do, the trust our clients place in us, and the opportunities that lie ahead. I’d also like to take the opportunity to personally thank Steve for his leadership, mentorship and friendship – big shoes to fill!”
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