Joseph George (Joe), Group Chairman and CEO, MullenLowe Lintas Group, India and Regional President, MullenLowe Group South & Southeast Asia, has decided to move on from the agency network at the end of September 2017. After an uninterrupted stint of over 26 years with the company, where he played numerous Growth, Brand management, Client management and Leadership roles locally, regionally and globally, he now plans to pursue what he calls “his big dream”.
Alex Leikikh, Global CEO, MullenLowe Group, said, “Joe has made such a huge contribution to the MullenLowe Group network during his 26 years within the organisation that it really is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to him. During his recent tenure, Joe has led MullenLowe Lintas Group to huge success within India, across the APAC region and on a global stage. The agency has been credited with many firsts for India including, the best new business performer for 4 years in a row, the number one Creative Agency in the World by WARC 100 (twice), consecutive double-wins at 4A’s Jay Chiat Awards and runner up for AdAge International Agency of the Year 2015. On behalf of the entire MullenLowe Group network I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Joe who has built and led our business in India and South and Southeast Asia so successfully. He leaves behind a great team, legacy and business poised for even greater future growth.”
Joseph George joined Lintas India in 1991, and has been with the company throughout its journey of evolution; from Lintas India to MullenLowe Lintas Group today. Joe was appointed India CEO in 2011; and while continuing to be based in Mumbai, took on the additional responsibility of running the South Asia & Southeast Asia region for MullenLowe Group in 2016. He also serves on the Global Executive Committee of the MullenLowe Group network.
During his 6-year leadership, MullenLowe Lintas Group grew into one of the most powerful agency groups in India. Outperforming the industry right through this period, on business growth, organizational reputation as well as on creative output. It was also during this period that MullenLowe Lintas Group emerged as the most consistently dominant performer in Market Effectiveness across the world. He was also the chief architect of the launch of the 2 new Indian agencies from the MullenLowe Lintas Group – Mullen Lintas in August 2015 and the recently launched PointNine Lintas.
Speaking of this development, Joe said, “MullenLowe Lintas Group in India today is in the best shape it’s been in for a very long time. I couldn’t be moving on at a better time, and any happier or prouder with what the 1000 of us have managed to achieve these past years. Alex and I have worked closely over the past 8 months on the transition plan; and with the road map and the leadership in place for all three agencies of MullenLowe Lintas Group, I am confident that our agency network in India is ready to author its next chapter of success.”
On the India transition planning, Alex added, “One of Joe’s greatest strengths has been his ability to develop world class business and creative leaders. Those people will now step up to continue our progress and evolution in one of the world’s most dynamic and important markets.”
In his 18-month leadership of the South Asia & Southeast Asia markets, Joe focused on creating stronger and tighter management structures across the offices. He led IPG’s agency-acquisition in Sri Lanka and subsequently its overall transformation; the re-structuring of the MullenLowe Thailand and Vietnam operations, as well as putting in place the leadership and brand and business strategy for the MullenLowe Singapore office. Succession plans for Joe’s Southeast Asia responsibilities are in advanced stages of finalization, and will be announced by global CEO Alex Leikikh in the coming weeks.
Joe concludes on a personal note, “This agency has given me everything. Probably more than I deserve! 26 years can be a lifetime, but there’s an impatient excitement in me today to want to start all over again. Ironically and a tad illogically though, this urge to do so is because I have enjoyed every single day of my quarter century in this fabulous network”