"This new initiative is a key part of our agenda for Grey's future growth and competitiveness," says Houston.
Leo Rayman, CEO of Grey London, has been promoted to CEO of Grey Consulting, a new global position.
Rayman was promoted in July 2016 and has aimed to oversee its continued creative and new business momentum. Key milestones include the win of M&S – its 'Paddington Bear Christmas' campaign – and Grey's 'Valenstein & Fatt diversity' initiative during the agency's centennial.
Rayman joined Grey London as head of planning in 2013 and rose to Grey Europe's chief strategy officer in 2015. Along the way, Grey has won the IPA Effectiveness Company of the Year, EuroEffie Agency of the Year and the Marketing Society Grand Prix two years running as well as showings at Cannes.
Earlier in his career, he served as head of planning at adam&eve, founded a social media division at DDB and launched strategic planning at Weber Shandwick Europe.
"Leo has spent nearly two decades becoming one of the most forward-looking practitioners of strategic planning. That experience, combined with his successful track record for business innovation, while leading Grey London, makes him a huge asset to our global network," adds Houston.
"Our practice will go beyond traditional consulting," Rayman says. "We will combine analytical rigour with lateral creative thinking and an understanding of how to make things happen to accelerate growth for clients."
Grey Consulting's offering will rest on three pillars, consisting of business and brand design, innovation and digital transformation to provide answers to the questions clients are now asking.
Suresh Nair, who has served as the strategic leader of the global Grey network since 2005, has also been appointed as chief creative intelligence officer.
In this new global role, Nair will be responsible for growing and operating Grey's data and analytics capabilities, embedding the intelligence organically in Grey’s creative process. He will work closely with Rayman and WPP partners.
For more information, visit www.grey.com. You can also follow Grey Group on Facebook or on Twitter.