Chris Riley leaves Ogilvy after more than 25 years to join mobility industry
After Riley’s departure, co-CEO for Ogilvy Asia Kent Wertime will take on the additional role of group chairman for Ogilvy Singapore and Malaysia.
Chris Riley, group chairman of Ogilvy Singapore and Malaysia, is leaving the company after more than 25 years to join transportation tech company Glydways as chief commercial officer.
Riley joined Ogilvy Hong Kong in 1995 and had several roles in the agency group, including managing the 'experience' business in Hong Kong, leading the growth of IBM across 147 markets, and for the last six years as Ogilvy Singapore's CEO and group chairman for Singapore and Malaysia.
In 2021, US-based ad, marketing, and PR mammoth Ogilvy moved its global operation to a new structure and is now built around five businesses, with regional and local leadership for each. In Singapore, the firm added more than 20 new hires to its creative team.
Enricko Lukman
“One lesson Ogilvy has taught me is always to innovate and that is why my curiosity led me to Glydways,” Riley said in an interview with Marketing-Interactive.
Founded in 2016 by engineer and entrepreneur Mark Seeger, Glydways was started to create affordable mobility across the world. The brand specializes in the design, manufacture, installation, and operation of public transportation systems with personal "Glydcars" moving in dedicated lanes.
“With autonomous electric pods, Glydways provides a great public transit experience at a fraction of the current development costs, with a great carbon footprint. It is at prototype stage now with great momentum and a bright future," added Riley.
After Riley’s departure, co-CEO for Ogilvy Asia Kent Wertime will take on the additional role of group chairman for Ogilvy Singapore and Malaysia, and a new Singapore CEO will be named shortly.
Wertime said, “I’ve worked closely with Chris for over two decades and would like to thank him for his many contributions to Ogilvy. He has been a true example of Ogilvy at its best."
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Leighton Cosseboom
