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GroupM names Demet İkiler as new EMEA CEO

GroupM names Demet İkiler as new EMEA CEO

Demet İkiler has been appointed EMEA CEO of GroupM, WPP’s media investment wing, after seven years as WPP country manager and GroupM CEO in Turkey.

She replaces Dominic Grainger, who transitioned to WPP as CEO of specialist communications in September last year. İkiler, who takes on the role with immediate effect, will lead GroupM’s operations in the EMEA region while continuing to oversee the success of all WPP business in Turkey.

She joined the group in 2000 as CEO of Mindshare Turkey, before becoming CEO of GroupM in the country in 2011. İkiler later took on the additional role of WPP country manager in Turkey in 2013. Previously, she has also worked at agencies including Zenith and Saatchi&Saatchi.

According to GroupM, İkiler is passionate about sustainability, gender equality, and diversity and inclusion, and is also VP at the United Nation Global Compact, leading the diversity and inclusion chapter..

“Demet has been an incredible asset to both GroupM and WPP for 20 years, helping to rapidly grow GroupM in the Turkish market during her time as CEO,” said Christian Juhl, GroupM’s global CEO.

“Her openness to the pace of change and understanding the benefits of an emerging global technology and services capability makes her the type of leader we look for at GroupM. She has a tremendous passion for our clients, our people and the advertising industry, with the goal of making advertising work better for all people.”

In her new role, İkiler will split her time between Istanbul and London. Commenting on the news, she said is “excited and honoured” to lead the EMEA region and looks forward to working with GroupM’s senior leadership team and partners across its agencies to “capture a new era of growth” for its clients.

GroupM’s agencies include Mindshare, MediaCom, Wavemaker, Essence, m/Six and Xaxis. The EMEA business operates in 27 markets and manages $18 billion in media investment billings.

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