Publicis Media strengthens UK investment team further with appointment of PMX CEO

Williams will be responsible for a trading and investment portfolio that exceeds £1billion of billings a year in the UK on behalf clients that include Mars, Asda, Visa and Belle.

He joins from Magna, IPG’s strategic media investment and intelligence unit, where he held the role of Global President. Before that Williams worked in senior roles for Publicis Groupe at VivaKi and Starcom Mediavest Group.

Williams will report to Amanda Morrissey, Publics Media CEO and takes up his role on 12 June.

Amanda Morrissey said: “Chris has impressive industry experience as well as a deep knowledge of our company. His blend of expertise and skills will ensure we continue the transformation of both the team and the PMX operation in the UK which will strengthen still further our investment opportunities for all current, and prospective, clients.”
Chris Williams, said: “I am thrilled to be joining Publicis Media and helping the UK team advance their innovative vision and strategy which is paying dividends with a string of impressive client wins as they bring their tenets of trust, talent, and transformation to life.

"The agencies and their client portfolios are world class and I can’t wait to get started in successfully driving performance for those clients via a PMX offering that is fuelled by data and technology.”

Meticulous planning is not just a characteristic of Chinese travelers; 1 in 4 Asians plan their purchase – while still at home and at the item level. And 1 in 3 affluent Asian consumers plan in even more in detail, deciding in advance the brand and the specific item they want to buy.

“Just because your brand made it to their shopping list, doesn’t mean the path to purchase has been cemented! Our data suggests that approximately 66% of affluent Asian travelers, change their mind and they end up not purchasing one or more brands that were in their list,” said Teo.

Approximately the same percentage of respondents – 65% - told us that they purchased a new brand – one they did not know before their trip.

Millennials are even more susceptible to discover a new brand vs the overall respondent. We can see that souvenirs and local food are topping the list of Item at the planning stage, but when consumers plan in detail, they tend to do so for Luxury Cosmetics, Accessories, Fashion. China is a big surprise here.

Traditionally, Chinese travelers have been (and are) very detailed planners. When compared to the rest of Asian Affluent travelers, we see the Chinese planning more on the Brand only level and they do so across the spectrum.

Across all of Asia, consumers are willing to spend beyond their budgeted expense.

The most profitable way in reaching luxury consumers is in upping the digital game with multiple opportunities to reach Asian travelers on-the-go with influential own-language content.