Group M, a member of the WPP conglomerate, has revealed that starting in 2024, its agencies EssenceMediacom, Wavemaker, MSix & Partners, and Mindshare will no longer manage their individual budgets.From the outset, Group M has consistently operated under a country-level profit and loss model. However, a significant change is underway, marking the first instance where budgets and resources will be assigned on a country-by-country basis. Christian Juhl, the Global Chief Executive, recently announced this transformation within Group M. Under the new structure, agency heads will maintain their responsibility for client growth and profitability, but they will now have additional time to concentrate on strategic initiatives and the creation of efficiencies across the entire group.Since assuming the role of CEO in October 2019, Juhl has been dedicated to streamlining Group M's operations, aiming to transform the group into something resembling a software company. In this envisioned structure, technology is centralized to provide individual agencies with improved access.As part of the restructure, EssenceMediacom (including EssenceMediacom X in the UK) will be established, and Group M's global performance marketing division, Nexus, will undergo reorganization into two distinct groups: expert practices and media solutions. These changes are intended to provide support to the client-facing agencies.It's noteworthy that Group M's restructure aligns with a similar process undertaken by rival agency Publicis Groupe, which has also transitioned to a model where the UK serves as a platform for divisions across Europe.

DUBAI: Amer El Hajj has joined GroupM, WPP’s media investment group, as MENA CEO.El Hajj will be leading GroupM’s operations in the MENA region, while serving at the company's MENA Executive Committee. He succeeds Ravi Rao. With over two decades of experience in the media and advertising industry, El Hajj brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his new role at GroupM. He has held senior leadership positions across the MENA region, including as the Chief Investment Officer for Publicis Media. El Hajj will be in charge of strategy and operations across the region for GroupM and its agencies Wavemaker, Mindshare, EssenceMediacom and mSix&Partners along with its cross-channel organisation GroupM Nexus.Josh Krichefski, GroupM EMEA and UK CEO, said: “MENA is one of the key areas of focus and opportunity for us across EMEA, a region containing significant individual market nuance. Amer’s proven track record of revenue growth, team upskilling and business transformation over such an impressive career in market aligns well with our business goals for the MENA region as well as EMEA as a whole. He’ll play a critical role in helping our clients achieve the business growth goals they are looking for and we’re excited to have him join us.”Amer El Hajj said: “When you think of what the next era of media looks like, there’s no better place to help shape that than at GroupM. I’m really looking forward to working with Josh, his team and our leadership throughout MENA to introduce our business strategies and simplified offerings across our agencies, GroupM Nexus and Choreograph to our clients to help them achieve the sustained business growth they expect from us.”