Dentsu Aegis Network has reported 4.3 per cent organic growth in 2018, and 3.4 per cent in Q4. The Japan-based communications group is forecasting 3.9 per cent growth for 2019
Europe, the Middle East and Africa was the standout region in the fourth quarter, with 12 per cent organic growth – its best performance in three years – and 7.4 per cent across the year.
However, DAN admitted the UK business needs “re-energizing” and mentioned that a new leadership team that has been put in place to achieve this.
Euan Jarvie has just been promoted to CEO of UK and Ireland, from president of global clients for DAN Media. He reports to UK&I executive chairman Nick Waters, who recently over when former Mother founder Stef Calcraft left the post after less than a year in the job.
EMEA’s high growth was boosted by strong performances in southern Europe, particularly Spain and Italy, and in the Nordics countries of Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
In the Americas, DAN grew at 3.5 per cent in Q4 and 4.9 per cent across the year. APAC (excluding Japan) was down a huge -9.6 per cent in Q4 and -1.7 per cent for the full year. The poor performance was blamed on DAN being “underweight in the long tail of local small and medium enterprises” and tough comparables.
Jerry Buhlmann stepped down as CEO of DAN at the end of 2018, after nine years in the role. The group is now led by American Tim Andree, who joined the group in 2010.
Dentsu is planning changes to its corporate structure in January 2020, to create a “more open organisation.”This will include a simplification of the current set-up, which separates out the Japan-based businesses (Dentsu) from the rest of the world (Dentsu Aegis Network) whose agencies include agencies include Carat, Dentsu, iProspect, Isobar, McGarryBowen, Merkle, Vizeum and Gyro.
