WPP Creates COO Role

WPP Group, parent of research agencies including Millward Brown, Research International and many others, has created a new role, Chief Operating Officer, for Tro Piliguian, formerly North American Chairman of Ogilvy & Mather.

Piliguian, who has been described in the press as an 'heir-apparent' to CEO Sir Martin Sorrell, was born in Egypt and moved to Montreal in his youth. In 1981 he was co-founder there of an ad agency, Academy, which sold to Ogilvy & Mather in 1990. He became Chairman of the firm's Canadian operations within a few years and until now has served as North American Chairman. His duties as North American CEO were handed to Bill Gray and Carla Hendra in the summer.

Piliguian will not be replaced as O&M chairman. He is said to prefer a low profile, telling Advertising Age in 2000 'I'm not a shy person, but I like to keep out of the limelight. I'd rather push those people in the day-to-day out there.'

WPP is online at www.wpp.com . Thanks to AdWeek, AdAge and WARC for some of the above..

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.