Wunderman Thompson Germany CEO Elected President of German Advertising Association

The German Advertising Association (GWA) has named Larissa Pohl, CEO of Wunderman Thompson Germany, as president. She is the first female to be appointed president of the GWA and takes over from Benjamin Minack who has been president of the GWA for the last four years. 

Larissa has spent the last four years as vice president and head of diversity, equity & inclusion at the GWA, giving her a unique insight into the areas of focus for the association. Under her leadership, Larissa aims to prioritise talent and technology, both of which have become increasingly important within the German agency landscape.  

Of the appointment, Larissa says: “In Germany, just like the rest of the world, technology is fast becoming a key factor for success as clients increasingly look for new solutions. Furthermore, agencies have been struggling for years to maintain their image and recruit young talent. The pandemic has exacerbated this, and the current job market is becoming noticeably more difficult for both employees and employers to break through. Over the next couple of years, my mission is to help agencies unlock the potential of technology and give them the tools to understand how to create an attractive working environment across all sectors to attract new employees and inspire existing ones. I’m delighted to take on the role as president in this well positioned and dynamic association and look forward to reimagining the image of agencies across Germany.”  

Outgoing president Benjamin Minack added: “Larissa is one of the most distinguished players in our industry. I have a lot of respect for her analytical prowess and her ability to integrate all areas of a business to drive tangible results. Her deep knowledge of the economics of our industry and her vision for the future of agencies make her truly inspiring. As vice president, she’s clearly demonstrated her ability as a driving force throughout the GWA, so I’m convinced she’s the perfect person to continue to raise the profile of the association and steer it into the future.” 

Larissa Pohl has been elected for a legislative period of two years, effective immediately.