Ogilvy Veteran One of Asia-Pacific’s Most Accomplished Leaders, Joins Key Grey Leadership Posts
Michael Houston, Worldwide CEO of Grey Group, announced that Adam O’Conor, one of China’s most accomplished advertising industry leaders, is joining the agency as Chairman and CEO of Grey Group Greater China.
O’Conor has served most recently as President, Ogilvy & Mather Group, Asia Pacific, Hong Kong, overseeing global brand management in the region, capping a stellar two-decade long career at the agency.
“Adam O’Conor brings a tremendous track record of success to his new role at the agency. As a key architect of the Ogilvy network in Asia, he has demonstrated vision and dynamism in building brands across all communications channels. He has an unparalleled grasp of what clients are looking for in a future-facing marketing partner.
“Most importantly, Adam is known to be a champion of creativity, which aligns perfectly with our Famously Effective ethos. His appointment is a clear signal of our ambitions to aggressively pursue growth and expand our reach and resources in China,” said Michael Houston.
“I have watched Grey’s transformation into a global creative powerhouse over the past decade and I am delighted to become a part of its leadership team for the future. Working closely with Michael Houston, we intend to take the agency’s China operations to the next level as a centre of innovation for our clients and growth for the network in the years to come,” said Adam O’Conor.
The agency’s Greater China operations, with 500 employees, encompasses offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Taipei, Taiwan. Its blue-chip client roster includes Procter & Gamble, GlaxoSmithKline, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Intel, Volvo, and HSBC.
The organisation includes such specialised companies as Easycom (ePR/social); Grey ArtM (activation/digital); Grey DPI (shopper marketing) and Grey Star Echo Group (marketing services). Grey Greater China has won Campaign Magazine‘s “Agency of the Year” and “Creative Agency of the Year.”
O’Conor came to Ogilvy Hong Kong, the network’s regional headquarters, in 2006, was promoted to Managing Director a year later and Group CEO in 2010. Under his leadership, the office’s billings and revenue more than doubled; it was awarded Marketing Magazine‘s “Agency of the Year” for five years running, and was crowned “#1 Creative Agency in Hong Kong” by Campaign Brief Asia.
Since 2016, he has led Ogilvy’s Global Brand Management Team serving a Who’s Who of more than 20 multinational brands in the region, representing a significant volume of revenue.
