Lidstone was previously chief executive of ad agency Havas Worldwide, where he instigated the integration of digital, PR and advertising during his six-year tenure, as well as evolving the agency's social, SEO and channel capabilities. WRG said Lidstone's appointment would bring a 'new dimension' to the agency, as it increasingly seeks to focus on placing brand experience at the centre of comms and engagement.
WRG said Lidstone’s background will be instrumental in making sure it remains at the cutting edge of experiential communications.
Ian Plummer, chairman of WRG, said:"WRG prides itself on staying ahead of the curve in the fast-paced world of comms. Our priority is finding the most innovative, exciting ways to engage audiences for our clients. We believe Russ is the right person to lead us onto the next level. He has an enviable track record and brings not just the experience of running an international agency and leading blue chip organisations, but a genuine enthusiasm and ambition to WRG.
Russ Lidstone said: "I’ve been an admirer of WRG and the way it works for some time now. It not only has a team of people across the world who are at the top of their game, but produces consistently great work for clients. It’s a privilege to take the reins in what for me is the dream job at such an incredibly exciting time in the experiential industry, with more brands now looking towards using immersive creativity to drive engagement."
Lidstone will divide his time between WRG’s headquarters in Manchester, its London office and its operations in Hong Kong, Philadelphia and Basel. WRG's cilents include Shell, Adidas and Google, as well as a number of leading healthcare companies.
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