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Grey names new leadership team
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Agnes Fischer is amed US CEO and Samira Ansari joins as US Chief Creative Officer.
Agency Grey announced new executive and creative leadership for its US studios.
Agnes Fischer has been elevated to US CEO while Samira Ansari has been appointed US Chief Creative Officer, marking a powerful creative homecoming for this internationally awarded and commercially impactful leader. This move will bring Grey’s New York and Cincinnati studios under one unified leadership team to accelerate growth and opportunity for Grey’s clients and creative talent.
Fischer who will report to Laurent Ezekiel, Global CEO Ogilvy Group most recently served as CEO of Grey New York. Since taking the helm in January, she swiftly diversified the agency’s client roster, most recently with the additions of Mary Kay and The Almond Board of California (ABC). Her tenure also saw the creation of an award-winning Super Bowl spot for Georgia-Pacific's Angel Soft. Fischer's impressive 20-year career spans some of the world's most celebrated agencies, including leadership roles at BBH USA, Droga5, and Anomaly. Her experience spans P&G, JPMorgan Chase, Google, and the award-winning Truth campaign for The New York Times, and more. A true business partner, she combines patented client dedication with an unwavering focus on bringing together teams that deliver creative ideas that are both brilliant and demonstrably effective.
In her new role, Ansari will shape the creative vision across Grey’s U.S. studios, driving work that is culturally sharp, globally resonant, and famously effective. Ansari joins Grey from Ogilvy New York, where she served as Chief Creative Officer of the network’s flagship office for two years. During her tenure, her creative leadership was instrumental in securing $40M in new business wins and generating significant recognition for the office. Achievements included the agency ranking among the top three creative agencies globally at the 2024 Cannes Lions Festival, driving Coca-Cola to win its first Grand Prix in a decade with Recycle Me, and helping Nestlé's Sanpellegrino earn its first-ever Lion for With Love, Italy. A globally recognised creative, Ansari has shaped some of the world’s most iconic brands across continents and categories. Her portfolio includes the Sports Emmy-winning work on McEnroe vs. McEnroe for Michelob Ultra in 2023, as well as the Michelob Ultra Courtside collaboration with the NBA and Microsoft, stemming from her time working with Gabriel Schmitt when they were at FCB.
Fischer commented: "Working with Samira is a masterclass in creativity, leadership, and bringing big ideas to life. She represents modern thinking and ways of working, leads with ideas that are social at their core, leans into AI as an enabler, and generally represents the future of creativity. Samira has already had an incredible impact on our teams working with our sister agency at Ogilvy New York, and I’m confident she’ll take our Grey U.S. studios to new heights."
Ansari said: “My time at Ogilvy has been career-defining, and I’ll miss the brilliant humans who made every day magic. But heading to Grey feels like a true homecoming. I grew up creatively in those halls during the Tor Myhren era, and the place still hums in my memory. Now I get to return and partner with the trailblazer Agnes Fischer and my friend and former boss, Gabriel Schmitt; one of the most wildly prolific creative leaders I’veever worked with. I’m looking forward to building momentum, growth, and making famously effective work for our clients. As Gabriel would say… LET’S GOOOOOOO!”
Gabriel Schmitt, Global Chief Creative Officer for Grey, noted: "Bringing Sami back to Grey is more than a move; it's like getting the band back together. She was my very first hire as when I became co-CCO at FCB NY and there she led some of the most famous work in the world. Sami is a creative force, a new business magnet, and someone who understands Grey's DNA from her earlier days here. With Agnes and Sami at the helm, this team is built deliver for our clients and help further shape the future of our industry’.
Ezekiel, concluded: “These appointments truly underscore the strength of talent we cultivate across Ogilvy Group whether at Ogilvy, Grey, David, Ingo, thjnk or the broader WPP network. We are committed to fostering environments where exceptional leaders like Agnes and Sami can step into expanded roles, driving significant impact for our clients and our agencies. Grey has had an excellent run and I have immense confidence in the partnership between Agnes and Sami, and I'm excited to see the Famously Effective ideas they deliver together.”
Fischer and Ansari will strategically harmonise Grey’s client, creative, and strategy functions to maximise value for U.S. clients. Their combined leadership will give clients seamless access to the agency’s best talent, deploying breakthrough creativity that drives measurable impact and competitive advantage. Their focus on seamlessly executing across today's always-on ecosystem, encompassing Shopper, UX, Design, and the full consumer journey, will deliver integrated solutions that drive business outcomes for clients.
