Dentsu Creative EMEA Names Leadership Team as it Positions for Growth

DENTSU CREATIVE EMEA has named its leadership team, following the launch of the new global network at Cannes Lions in June.

Former Isobar global managing partner, Sven Huberts, has been named president experience, while former adam&eveDDB Group MD Fiona McArthur, has been appointed chief growth officer. Joining COO Ete Davies and CSO Patricia McDonald, they will report to EMEA & UK CEO, James Morris, who completes the line-up.

DENTSU CREATIVE EMEA is the fastest growing region in the network, with over 2500 people in 29 markets, including centres of excellence in Brand, Experience, Entertainment and Earned Attention.  The new leadership team will draw on their diverse backgrounds to drive forward its ambition to be the number one creative network in the region, with the most diverse people and product, delivering modern creativity with the power to transform brands and businesses.

Sven Huberts is a highly successful and ambitious energiser, who thrives at the forefront of digital and experience innovation. For more than a decade, he has led Isobar to market strength and numerous agency accolades. As MD of APAC, he delivered consecutive high double digit growth and achieved regional digital agency of the year three years running. Then, leading a new growth strategy across EMEA, he saw the agency named Campaign’s EMEA Digital Innovation Network of the Year and reach Gartner Magic Quadrant Leader status annually.

Most recently, as global managing partner, he repositioned the business, resulting in its highest ever TRR and employee scores within a year; rebalancing leadership teams to achieve gender parity in key markets including India and China, and becoming recognised as one of Fast Company’s 100 Most Innovative Workplaces. Taking on the position of EMEA President Experience, he will be responsible for driving DENTSU CREATIVE’s ambition to be leaders in digital experience and innovation. An expert in the field, he will ensure its product is both world-class and at the forefront of developments for clients. 

Fiona McArthur has spent most of her career in integrated communications at DDB in agency and client leadership roles. With a proven ability to drive award-winning creativity and client profitability, as well as long-standing client partnerships, she has overseen the growth, development and direction of its biggest agency brands and accounts. Most recently group managing director at adam&eveDDB, she led the collaboration and growth across the DDB UK Group and was an active sponsor of Inclusion & Diversity.

She was also responsible for the Mars Petcare business globally, driving CX and product innovation, winning creative awards across the portfolio as well as for the iconic Skittles Pride work, which is now in its 6th successful year and continues to scale globally.

Fiona joined dentsu at the end of last year as UK Integration Lead. In readiness for the launch of DENTSU CREATIVE, she has focused on building teams and client-centric networks across dentsu’s creative, media and CXM capabilities. Now as Chief Growth Officer of DENTSU CREATIVE EMEA, she will lead the growth strategy across the region and ensure clients benefit from its investment into the most diverse talent and creative product in the industry.

"We have the most extraordinary tool kit at DENTSU CREATIVE. We can credibly do or make anything”, said Fiona McArthur, chief growth officer DENTSU CREATIVE EMEA. “We have the strategic and executional talent and expertise to deliver a truly innovative, genuinely boundary-less solution to each and every client business challenge. It’s a great opportunity to work in an environment where there really is no limit to what we can leverage in the service of creativity. I'm excited to help realise and fuel the potential that sits in this business."

Sven Huberts, president experience DENTSU CREATIVE EMEA added, “I am incredibly excited to lead the progression of our experience offering across EMEA. With the web evolving, we will see more change in the coming decade than in the preceding 100 years put together. This will result in a big shift in how brands and businesses are built and how the customer experiences them. Experience, Virtual & Innovation will be critical. I believe we can help our clients make a positive impact that is relevant now and for everything the future holds. Our ability to bring the best specialists together from different disciplines across Brand, Entertainment, Earned & Experience is a superpower that truly differentiates us.”

James Morris, CEO DENTSU CREATIVE EMEA & UK concluded, “This is a powerhouse of a team. Ambitious, entrepreneurial and modern creative leaders, equally brilliant with our clients and our people. I have no doubt that together we will harness our potential in EMEA and build the number one creative network in the region.”