Publicis hires WPP exec as EMEA chief operating officer

Publicis Groupe has bolstered its Europe, Africa and Middle East leadership team by appointing Demet Ikiler from rival holding company WPP as chief operating officer for the region.

Ikiler was formerly a member of GroupM’s global leadership team, holding the title of CEO of GroupM EMEA, and was WPP Country Chair for Turkey. Her career has included spells at Mindshare, Zenith and Saatchi & Saatchi. She is also a board member at the United Nations Global Compact, the UN’s voluntary initiative based on CEO commitments to implement universal sustainability principles, leading its diversity and inclusion chapter. Ikiler was named among the “Women to Watch– Global Leaders” in Turkey by Ad Age and MediaCat in 2013.

In her new role, Ikiler will report to Publicis Groupe EMEA CEO Loris Nold, and she will also hold a position on the Publicis Groupe management committee.