Adrian J Cotterill, Editor-in-Chief
Ocean Outdoor has introduced a new leadership structure to manage its UK business as the Group expands into continental Europe. The changes support a new Ocean Group structure, with the UK division led by the appointment of new co-managing directors.
Ocean has hired Phil Hall, chief commercial strategy officer of Mediacom, who joins as co-managing director UK. He will work alongside newly promoted co-MD Steve George who is currently chief development officer. They will take joint responsibility for the UK business.
Phil Hall leaves MediaCom after an 18 year stint and will now oversee Ocean’s UK commercial operations. Steve George takes responsibility for the franchise and development functions in the UK. These two joint Managing Directors will lead the UK operating group, reporting to Ocean’s Group unit.
Ocean CEO Tim Bleakley said the new leadership team allowed Ocean COO and CFO Stephen Joseph and CMO Richard Malton to assume Group wide roles as the company assimilates its recent Dutch acquisitions and steps up its international growth ambitions.
Tim Bleakley told us “It’s been a pivotal few months in which management has overseen both our launch as a public company and three strategic acquisitions. Our entry into the mainland Europe market is testament to the strength of the Ocean brand and the growing international demand for Ocean’s unique DOOH formula. However, UK growth remains a key part of our plans and Phil brings a wealth of experience and insight that will help us and the industry evolve at what is an exciting stage for the digital out-of-home medium. His media pedigree and standing alongside Steve George’s proven entrepreneurial talent is an exciting leadership axis.”
Joining the UK operations group board will be chief revenue officers James Harrison and Nick Shaw; Catherine Morgan, director of Ocean’s rapidly expanding creative technology and innovation division Ocean Labs; Joseph Arshed, who becomes chief asset and contracts officer; Marc Keenan MD Ocean Scotland; newly promoted head of UK finance Kapil Kansara; Angela Green, head of commercial systems; head of UK marketing and events Helen Haines; and technical operations director John Kilfeather.
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