Nick Walsh is the CEO of VMLY&R Middle East & North Africa, leading a network of offices from Dubai, which serves as a hub for the wider region. He was chosen to lead the group following the integration of VMLY&R, VMLY&R COMMERCE, Group Partnership and GTB in the summer of 2022, forming the region’s largest fully connected brands agency.
Nick encapsulates the modern breed of CEO, empowering a broad leadership and enabling the growth of a fully integrated agency that builds connected brands. His leadership experience throughout the evolution of new media and communication formats has culminated in the 2022 MENA leadership appointment, a region he has called home for fifteen years.
Prior to this role, Nick was the founding leader of Geometry MENA, overseeing the migration of G2 and OgilvyAction, which launched in 2013. Under Nick’s leadership, Geometry experienced unprecedented growth and recognition. He was also recognized as one of the most influential and powerful advertising and media leaders 2022 with Communicate Magazine – part of AdAge.
Geometry MENA was crowned the number one creative agency in the Geometry Global network for four years in a row, winning awards at every major international show. He scooped up accolades at Cannes Lions, Effies, Dubai Lynx, The Loeries, the Drum Awards, and earned the first ever WPP Global Extraordinary Award for Commerce for Unilever Handle on Hygiene 3.0.
Having worked with WPP and the Ogilvy group in London and Dubai for over 15 years, he has seen rapid progression, becoming one of the youngest leaders in the global network. He is a pioneer in the brand and customer experience space and regular writer and speaker on connected brands, commerce, and experiential.
He has been fortunate to experience the best international training under WPP. A particular highlight was being selected as one of 10, globally, to attend the group’s Worldwide Management Conference where he was named one of the network’s ‘Leaders of the Future’.
Nick’s client management experience spans a spectrum of sectors including FMCG, Pharma, Government, Automotive, Tech, Banking, Travel and Tourism, and Telco.
He is personally exhilarated by the diversity that Dubai offers. He lives in the Emirate with his wife and three young children and is proud to call the UAE home. He can be found holidaying in Australia and spending weekends at the beach – or watching Crystal Palace and trying to improve his golf handicap.
