OgilvyAction, the brand activation arm of the Ogilvy Group announces the appointment of Richard Woodward as business development director.

Woodward is a long-serving member of the OgilvyAction network. He returns to London from the Middle East where he relocated in 2007 to set up the OgilvyAction office in Dubai (part of the Memac Ogilvy network).

Over four years Woodward built the agency from scratch to 35 people with revenues in excess of $4 million, making it the largest brand activation agency in the Middle East. Through his stewardship, OgilvyAction gained a reputation for outstanding thinking and creativity, becoming the most awarded brand activation agency in the region, picking up significant international awards including Effie and Lynx awards.

Woodward joined OgilvyAction in 2002 based in London as business director to establish and manage the agency’s BAT (British American Tobacco) Global Travel Retail account. In this role he was responsible for a worldwide team of 24 across four regions.

Andrew Reeves, COO at OgilvyAction says: “Richard has enormous drive and a real passion for OgilvyAction and the role that activation plays in the modern marketing mix.”

“We are fortunate to have someone with Richard’s mix of skills heading up our business development function. Because of the range of positions he has held, he understands OgilvyAction on every level. But much more than that, he has an instinctive vision and real drive to make a success of the role. His track record leaves us in no doubt that he will deliver fantastic commercial results, proving to clients and prospects that OgilvyAction can add enormous value to their businesses.”