London, UK: Ocean Group CEO Tim Bleakley has announced a new company wide structure including the appointment of Phil Hall as chief executive officer of Ocean Outdoor UK.
The changes support Ocean’s continued investment in its premium digital out of home (DOOH) portfolio, technology and people, reflecting the company’s growth and expansion, new contract wins and the evolution and roll out of enhanced services for landlords, partners, agencies, advertisers and OOH audiences.
Assuming new Group positions under the existing leadership of Bleakley, CFO/COO Stephen Joseph and CMO Richard Malton, are Catherine Morgan who becomes managing director of Ocean Labs, the company’s tech, innovation and through the line creative solutions division which expands across all territories. Steve George, previously joint UK managing director, becomes Group chief development officer, responsible for the roll out of shared knowledge and best practise in new DOOH asset development across the seven countries where Ocean operates. David Tait, who developed Ocean’s hugely successful DeepScreen™ 3D product, is promoted to head of studio and design across the group. And UK head of marketing and events Helen Haines takes a group position as head of brand and events, reporting to Group CMO Richard Malton. Tim Bleakley said: “The streamlined Group structure supports the next leg of the Ocean voyage and most pleasing of all allows those people at the forefront of the post 2019 recovery to grow and evolve. We have three talented and focussed growth led country CEOs and brand extension discipline in Labs and Studio to drive innovation and creativity and deliver for our partners. Importantly, we can share knowledge and best practise across the Group swiftly and effectively.”
Phil Hall is promoted from joint UK managing director to Ocean UK CEO, joining Ocean’s other country CEOs, Anders Axelsson, CEO of Ocean Nordics and Xavier Tilman, CEO of Ocean Netherlands. Phil Hall said: “I’m delighted and very proud to be given the opportunity to lead the UK business for Ocean Outdoor. We’re a company with a clear vision, great landlord and buy-side partners and a fantastic team. “Ocean will continue to deliver innovation for advertisers in an unmissable, mass, brand-safe environment. It’s a privilege to be at the helm for what I believe is the most exciting growth phase for Ocean and our stakeholders.”
Recent DOOH contract wins across the territories include the iconic Battersea Power Station in London, Westfield Mall of the Netherlands and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield’s (URW) Fisketorvet Mall in Copenhagen.
Other key appointments
Kees Wilbrink recently joined Ocean Netherlands as chief commercial officer. In the UK, Angela Green becomes director of commercial systems to develop Ocean’s internal and external capabilities with a full overhaul of systems. Following Steve George’s move to Group, Tom Ballantine steps up to assume his UK responsibilities as head of development. Other UK promotions include Matt Wilson who becomes head of design and Chardex Pavier is promoted to UK financial controller – commercial. A new UK marketing director will be appointed in due course.
About Ocean Outdoor
Ocean Outdoor is a leading operator of digital out of home (DOOH) advertising across the UK, Northern and Continental Europe. The Group’s network of 4,000+ screens covers seven countries and 351 cities, with its technological capabilities delivering the most impactful and measurable DOOH brand and advertising experiences.
Ocean’s portfolio comprises of some of the most iconic locations, such as the Piccadilly Lights and the BFI IMAX. The company also works closely with high-profile landlords, including Landsec, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW), the BFI, Nuveen and the Canary Wharf Group, as well as major city councils on the development of its network.
To date the Group’s growth has been driven by tender wins and the rollout of new locations, as well acquisitions that complement the existing portfolio. Since 2018, Ocean has completed seven acquisitions, which has enabled it to expand its footprint into the Netherlands, the Nordics and Germany. In 2022 Ocean Outdoor was acquired by its largest shareholder, Atairos.
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I wonder what direction ocean are going in now with a lot of their plant being took over last year by wildstone developments, here in the UK anyway. they seem to have left some of the sites in a bit of a mess after the take over so it’ll be interesting to see what comes next for ocean here.