Sir Martin Sorrell has raided his former company for S4 Capital’s first APAC chief
The mogul is expected to name Michel de Rijk, the former global chief growth officer of GroupM’s Performance Media Group (PMG), as chief executive of S4C’s Asia-Pacific operations.
Sky News reported S4C would announce the hire tomorrow (22 November). Sorrell later confirmed the news to The Drum.
It is the first role the chief has given to a WPP alumni.
De Rijk, who was based with WPP in Singapore, departed PMG last month. He stated on LinkedIn that he would be staying in the APAC region for his next role.
He previously held the chief executive role at Xaxis Asia Pacific, another WPP company.
S4C reported revenue growth of almost 45% to €29.3m (£26.2m) and a gross profit boost of to 32% to €20.4m (£18.3m) earlier this month.
The company is rumoured to be eyeing a digital company as its next acquisition.
The news comes just four months after S4C swept in to acquire Dutch digital production agency MediaMonks from under WPP.
Victor Knaap, MediaMonks’ chief executive, said at the time: “Obviously it was the hardest business decision we needed to make but, on the other hand, it just happened because Sir Martin [Sorrell] moved faster, was more aggressive and had a more ambitious plan for everyone.”