The head of Team Detroit, the agency that manages WPP Group’s global Ford business, is moving to New York to steer global business development for WPP.
George Rogers, CEO of Team Detroit, will assume his new role next week and continue to report to WPP CEO Martin Sorrell, according to an internal email from Sorrell.
The move reflects Rogers’ success at marshaling multiple disciplines to serve global companies. Team Detroit itself is an amalgam of a half-dozen WPP shops: JWT, Ogilvy & Mather, Young & Rubicam, Wunderman, MEC and Mindshare. The rollup launched in 2006 with Rogers, the former CEO of JWT Detroit, at the helm. Ford is WPP’s largest global account.
Team Detroit is based in Dearborn, Mich., where Ford is headquartered, and now employs more than 1,400 staffers. Beyond Ford, its accounts include Sports Authority, Carhartt and Scotts Miracle-Gro (communications planning).
Rogers, 50, also has contributed to successful WPP multi-unit pitches, including Johnson & Johnson in 2008 and Mazda last year. On the flip side, he was part of WPP’s unsuccessful bid for Burger King’s U.S. account this year.
WPP is seeking Rogers’ successor at Team Detroit. In the meantime, WPP global client director Satish Korde will lead the agency, according to Sorrell’s memo.  |
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