INNOCEAN Worldwide Europe GmbH today announced the appointment of Jay Rhee as its new President & CEO. Jay is charged with continuing to accelerate the growth of the company’s European operations with a strong focus on creative output to help INNOCEAN continue to expand its business offering into sectors outside of Automotive.
The announcement follows the recent appointment of Jeremey Craigen, based in UK, as Global Chief Creative Officer (CCO) to help INNOCEAN elevate the quality of its creative work. The new appointments serve to reinforce the company’s desire to grow its European operations and to put creativity at the centre of business development initiatives.
On his appointment, Jay Rhee said: “I’m really excited to be in Europe with INNOCEAN at a time when the company is experiencing such impressive growth. INNOCEAN is the world’s youngest global network; born in the digital age. The time is right for us to disrupt convention and tease creative boundaries to help expand our portfolio of Clients. And though we will continue to service Hyundai and KIA at a time when their ambitions are growing, our motivation and hunger to target new sectors is at an all-time high”.
Rhee has over 25 years of experience in global marketing and communications and joined INNOCEAN shortly after its Global establishment in Seoul, South Korea in 2005. He arrives at INNOCEAN’s European Headquarters in Frankfurt from his former base in Russia where he was President & CEO of INNOCEAN’s cluster of emerging market offices comprising Russia, India and Turkey. Rhee’s appointment coincides with a string of successful operational coups and new business wins for the company.
With 8 European offices in 8 markets and 250+ staff from almost 40 different nationalities, INNOCEAN provides thought leadership and 360˚ fully integrated Marcomms solutions to its European clients – from “Above the line” to “Space & Design” and a variety of disciplines in between.
About INNOCEAN Worldwide Europe (IWE)
INNOCEAN Worldwide Europe is an independent, challenger communications company first established in 2006 to provide 360° Marcoms services to Hyundai & KIA brands in Europe. In the last 9 years, it has enjoyed rapid expansion with offices in 8 European markets and now employs 250 staff ranging from 40 different nationalities. With annual billings of €500m, the company is Europe’s fastest growing communications network.
INNOCEAN has forged its creative reputation through best-in-class work in Automotive but is now ready to venture into new sectors; capitalising on demand from Clients for a highly integrated, collaborative and multi-disciplinary approach which defines INNOCEAN’s work.
INNOCEAN’s belief is that, in a difficult economic climate and fast changing market, Clients are growing increasingly frustrated with a traditional “silo-mentality” agency model which is still largely characteristic of the advertising industry. INNOCEAN employs multi-skilled teams with expertise from “above-the-line” to “space & design” – and for a range of services in-between.
The company’s ethos is built on its Hyundai Motor Group legacy of radical innovation and integration across the value chain, offering diverse services in-house that puts the customer at the heart of all brand conversations. IWE adopts a focused consumer engagement model, dedicated to creating timely consumer connections to ensure a more fluid integration of ideas during the customer journey and across multiple touch-points.
IWE is part of INNOCEAN Worldwide, a Global Communications Network with 3 Regional Headquarters, 22 offices and more than 1,400 employees in 17 countries. Since its Global HQ was established in Seoul, INNOCEAN has won over 60 International awards during 2011 and 2012, including 5 Cannes Lions.
