'Inspirational' Lazarus steps down from top Ogilvy spot after 41 years
Shelly Lazarus is stepping down after an amazing 41 years at Ogilvy & Mather.
Lazarus: "Outstanding leader:"
Lazarus kept her chairman role when Miles Young became global CEO in January 2009. Now that title goes to Young as well.
From July 1, Lazarus will simply be known as chairman emeritus.
Young described Lazarus as an "exceptional individual, an outstanding leader and an inspirational evangelist for branding."
"For 15 years she has guided the agency of David Ogilvy perfectly to the letter and the spirit of the agency," he added.
When WPP named Young to succeed Lazarus, she had run the global agency for 12 years, building "deep and lasting relationships with the marketing leaders at global corporations such as IBM and American Express," said Adweek.
She also drove collaboration among Ogilvy's different units, many of which share the same brands.
Before becoming CEO , Young ran Ogilvy's Asia-Pacific region. He joined what was then Ogilvy & Mather Direct in London in 1983.