Former Dentsu Aegis CEO Jerry Buhlmann Joins Croud

Digital marketing agency Croud has appointed former Dentsu Aegis Network CEO Jerry Buhlmann as Non-Executive Chairman.

Founded in 2011, Croud provides marketing strategy and consultancy alongside SEO, PPC, content, programmatic, paid social, creative and analytics services. Last year, the business launched its global marketing platform, Serpico, to provide in-house teams with expertise and technology. More recently, private equity firm LDC invested £30m in Croud, to support the existing management team's growth strategy.

Buhlmann, who joins with more than 30 years' experience in media and advertising, left Dentsu Aegis at the end of 2018. He began his career at Young & Rubicam, before moving to WCRS; then in 1989, he founded BBJ, later renamed Vizeum, and built the business before it was acquired by Aegis Media in 1999. At that point, he became CEO of Carat International, and he was promoted to the position of CEO of Aegis Media EMEA in 2003, then to global CEO in 2008. Buhlmann led the Aegis Group through its acquisition by Dentsu in 2013, and the transformation and disposal of market research company Synovate, which was acquired by Ipsos for £528m in 2011.

In his new role, Buhlmann will be working alongside Croud's co-founders Luke Smith and Ben Knight to further accelerate the agency's global growth. Commenting on the appointment, Smith said: 'Jerry is A-league when it comes to our industry and brings a wealth of experience to our business. With Jerry's support and guidance we can continue on our mission to become the world's finest technology and communications group over the next decade. We're privileged that Jerry has chosen to be part of our next phase and we're looking forward to having his wisdom and drive to continue our run of global growth'.

Web site: www.croud.com .