Izabela Albrychiewicz Named CEO, GroupM Poland; Pawel Gala named Wavemaker Poland CEO

Poland, 21 February 2019 – GroupM, WPP’s world-leading media investment group, named Izabela Albrychiewicz CEO in Poland. Previously Wavemaker Poland’s CEO, Albrychiewicz is succeeded at Wavemaker by Pawel Gala, formerly Managing Partner. The two will work closely to expand the value of GroupM and Wavemaker for marketers seeking growth with Polish consumers.

Albrychiewicz is now charged with ensuring the absolute best client services from all GroupM agencies and specialists operating in Poland, and she is responsible for driving the strategy and profitability of the group in the region.

“An inspiring leader, Izabela’s expertise and vision will benefit all of our clients in Poland,” said Dominic Grainger, GroupM EMEA CEO. “This new appointment demonstrates our ambition to strengthen our client-offering to include, not only trading expertise, but market-leading innovation and client solutions across areas such as brand safety and advanced television. Izabela is well placed to lead on these advances after building Wavemaker Poland into a strong, diversified agency helping clients seize growth at the intersection of media, content and technology. We saw what she could do at Wavemaker; I look forward to her future accomplishments in her new expanded scope.”

“GroupM is hugely impactful in the Polish media market, investing every third advertising dollar on behalf of top advertisers. We’ll grow this business further while developing technologies for more efficient and effective data-enabled media planning and buying,” said Albrychiewicz. “I want GroupM to be the first-choice partner for marketers, and also a more valuable partner for media sales departments – to inspire their development of more innovative advertising offers.”

“To achieve these goals, I need the best team, Albrychiewicz continued, “I worked closely with Pawel at Wavemaker, and I’m confident he’s the right person to continue the Wavemaker’s evolution with transformative client solutions that deliver standout growth.”

“Having spent the best part of my career with Wavemaker, learning from Iza, I am honoured to be taking on this new role,” said Gala. “Clients increasingly require services beyond media planning and buying, and I’m looking forward to creating more vibrant, next-generation solutions to delight our clients and grow their businesses. I’m excited about the future for Wavemaker Poland and our amazing team here.”

About Izabela Albrychiewicz

Albrychiewicz, joined MEC in 1999 as Media Director, moving to Managing Director in 2009, and then became CEO in 2011. She was instrumental in the creation of Wavemaker following the merger of MEC and Maxus in January 2018. The company has sustained the position of number one agency in terms of billings in Poland for the last 10 years, in addition to winning a winner of the EFFIE contest winning 56 awards over the last seven years as well as Agency of the Year title five times. Albrychiewicz began her career at Zenith Media and sits on several Boards including the IAA, Marketing Communication Association SAR, Super Brands Council and the Women Entrepreneurship Foundation. In 2015, she was the first woman to be named ‘Adman of the Year’ by Press Magazine.

About Pawel Gala

Gala joined MEC as a Media Assistant in 2000 working his way up through the agency via several roles including Media Planner Buyer, New Business Director and Managing Partner New Business, before becoming Managing Partner of the newly created Wavemaker in 2018. He has been responsible for areas including marketing, PR, internal communication and talent management, as well as developing and managing several hundred successful new business pitches. Gala is a member of the jury in leading industry award competitions including EFFIE and IAB Mixx Awards, member of organizational committees of EFFIE, Media Trendy and lecturer in Brand Strategy School at Polish Association of Marketing Communication.

The changes will take place from the start of April and both will retain close contact with clients to ensure a smooth transition.