Sam Hawkey Is Appointed CEO of Digitas EMEA

Sam Hawkey is returning to Publicis Groupe as CEO of Digitas EMEA.

This major appointment reflects the continued investment in UK-based, regional leadership across clients and capabilities.

As CEO of Digitas EMEA, Sam will be charged with accelerating the agency network’s growth across EMEA. Digitas partners with clients and truly operates at the intersection of media, performance, data, CRM and experience. Digitas has been delivering a superior performance both in its key markets and overall across EMEA.

Campaign’s head of agency of the Year (Creative/Advertising) 2022, Sam will report to Demet Ikiler, currently COO of Publicis Groupe EMEA, when he joins in 2024.

Loris Nold, CEO of Publicis Groupe EMEA said, “Sam is an incredible talent and it’s great to have him back. He is a forward-thinking leader who values talent and creativity and understands how to connect different skillsets for the benefit of clients. Digitas is already growing fast, including in the UK led by Jennifer Berry, and there are clear opportunities to expand and accelerate further across the region. Digitas is an agile agency that crosses multiple disciplines, partnering with our creative and media agencies. Sam has digital in his bones, and an entrepreneurial spirit which makes him perfectly suited for this role.”

Sam joins Digitas after two years leading AMV BBDO. He was at Saatchi & Saatchi for the previous nine years, becoming CEO in 2020 after working his way up through the ranks of the agency he joined as an account manager. Before joining Saatchi & Saatchi, Sam was at Glue Isobar. He started his career in e-commerce, digital builds and CRM at Dial Media Group.