Wertime will officially retire at the end of June, stepping down from his roles as co-CEO of Ogilvy APAC, Global Chief Operating Officer of Ogilvy, and Global Chief Executive Officer of Ogilvy One.

He joined Ogilvy in 1999 as CEO of Ogilvy Interactive Asia Pacific and went on to hold a series of regional and global leadership positions over nearly three decades. Throughout his tenure, he oversaw multiple responsibilities across the network and played a key role in the agency’s digital transformation efforts.

“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to help lead this incredible agency across both its global and regional frontiers. I have had the honor of working alongside some of the most brilliant minds in our industry worldwide,” Wertime said. 

“I want to thank Chris, my partner of ten years, for a shared journey in Asia Pacific filled with trust, mutual respect, and plenty of laughs. My deepest gratitude goes to our clients and the entire Ogilvy family globally and in APAC. I leave with absolute confidence in the talent, character, and ambition of this global network as it steps into its next chapter.” 

Alongside Wertime’s retirement, Reitermann will also step away from his role as co-CEO of Ogilvy APAC to focus exclusively on his position as CEO of WPP Greater China.

Reitermann said, “Leading Ogilvy APAC alongside Kent has been an extraordinary journey. Our partnership has been built on deep trust and friendship, and I could not have asked for a better partner to navigate the highs and challenges of this dynamic region. As I transition to focus entirely on driving WPP’s growth and integration in Greater China, I am incredibly proud of what we have built together.”

“I know the APAC region is in great hands with Kyoko and our regional leadership team, and I wish Kent nothing but happiness in his retirement.” 

Wertime and Reitermann have jointly led Ogilvy APAC since 2016, overseeing the network through a period marked by digital acceleration and evolving market dynamics across the region.

Wertime’s departure also leaves vacancies in his global positions as Ogilvy’s chief operating officer and chief executive officer of Ogilvy One, with successors yet to be announced.

In the interim, leadership responsibilities previously shared by Wertime and Reitermann will be assumed by the regional leadership team, which will work with local market leaders and Ogilvy’s global headquarters to maintain continuity across the network.

Commenting on the changes, Laurent Ezekiel, Global Chief Executive Officer of Ogilvy, said, “Kent is a true Ogilvy giant. Over his 27 years with the agency, he has demonstrated a rare combination of vision, sharp commercial acumen, and steady leadership. From pioneering our early digital transformation in Asia to simultaneously holding three of the most demanding roles in our global network, Kent’s impact on our business and our clients is immeasurable. We are immensely grateful for his dedication, his wisdom, and the incredible legacy of mentorship he leaves behind. We wish him the absolute best in a very well-deserved retirement.” 

Laurent added, “We also want to thank Chris for his outstanding leadership as Co-CEO of APAC alongside Kent. Under their joint stewardship, our APAC network has flourished as a creative and economic powerhouse. While Chris moves away from his Ogilvy regional role, we are thrilled that WPP Greater China will continue to benefit from his exceptional leadership, focus, and drive.”

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Ogilvy One has named Kent Wertime as its global CEO. Roberto Fara continues to serve as Ogilvy Spain’s chief creative officer in addition to taking on a larger role as Ogilvy One’s global creative experience lead. Other notable hires include Mauro Caggiano (LATAM), Jason Davey (AUNZ), Ravi Pal (CTO), Ab Gaur (APAC & CEO of Verticurl; global chief data & tech officer, Ogilvy), Rajesh Midha (NoAm), and Clare Lawson (EMEA & chief client officer). 

Wertime has been with Ogilvy for almost 25 years. He led Ogilvy One in Asia before moving on to take on various leadership positions. He will continue to serve in his current role as Ogilvy APAC’s co-CEO. 

Devika Bulchandani, global CEO of Ogilvy, said, “When David Ogilvy first started talking about direct marketing decades ago, he recognized that some of the most effective marketing isn’t just directed at your target audience, it speaks to them on a personal one-to-one basis. Now we take that to a new level with a fresh leadership team for Ogilvy One and a commitment to designing relationships based on ideas that create enduring value exchanges between consumers and our clients’ brands.” 

Speaking about his appointment, Wertime said, “Over the last decade, companies invested heavy in technology, but that alone is not the solution. In today’s hyper-commoditized world, brands need to design relationships that create differentiation and relevancy with their consumers. That’s where the exponential power of creativity plays a vital role.” 

He added, “Today’s consumers, choose their points of interaction with brands, from discovery to purchase, and dictate more of the relationship. With a deep understanding of brands and full dimensional view of consumers coupled with award-winning creativity and a strong data and technology backbone, Ogilvy One is uniquely positioned to design valuable relationships for brands that are impactful, relevant, and enduring.”

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