Over the past two decades, China and our clients have experienced a tremendous amount of growth and development, and Ogilvy has been there every step of the way….
1972
Ogilvy opened its Hong Kong office as a portal poised to tap into the Greater China market.
1979
Following along with economic reform, Wenhui Bao, a Shanghai newspaper announces the reintroduction of commercial advertising in a January editorial. Following quickly on this announcement, Ogilvy ran the first watch advertisement in Mainland China on March 15, for Rado Watches.
1985
Cathay and Ogilvy created a joint venture company, and Ogilvy Taiwan was born as the first 4A agency in Taiwan.
1991
With all eyes on China, TB Song (today’s Chairman, Ogilvy Greater China) officially set up the Shanghai office of Ogilvy China with a team of 20. Our very first clients included big internationals like Unilever and Volkswagen, whom we still serve today.
1992
Ogilvy solidified its dedication to China with the opening of its Beijing office.
1993
Ogilvy moved to the industrial heart of Southern China to open an office in Guangzhou.
1995
Ogilvy brought its Public Relations arm to China, while the practice was still in its infancy.
1997
Ogilvy China helped Volkswagen launch Santana in China, and it soon became one of China’s best-selling models. The campaign slogan, “With Santana, there is no fear wherever you go” was used for nearly a decade.
1999
Ogilvy Interactive was established in Beijing. IBM, who we still serve today, was our first client. In 2002, the agency evolved into OgilvyOne and has become China’s leading digital agency, as noted by Forrester Research in 2015.
2004
Ogilvy China wins its very first Cannes Lion with a digital work for China Mobile M-Zone.
2005
Ogilvy not only supports big brands, it looks to foster local artists and the growing creative industry. To show off talent in the office and around the city, Beijing established their first in-house permanent art exhibition, ‘O Gallery.’ Paintings, photographs, sculptures, avant-garde furniture and 3D installations fill the walls and spaces.
2006
Redworks, which focuses on content creation and production, is established. It will later become H&O in 2015.
2006
Ogilvy China acquired Century Harmony to establish Neo@Ogilvy in China. Neo@Ogilvy is now one of the top digital media agencies in China.
2008
Ogilvy China acquired Dawson to further expand its retail activation capabilities. Today it has evolved into Geometry Global, the largest retail activation force in China.
2009
Ogilvy launched Portfolio Night in China, working to target young local talent, and encourage young creatives to follow their dreams and ambitions.
2011
David Ogilvy would have turned 100 years old this year! He would have been happy to see that Ogilvy would also be celebrating its 20 year in the Middle Kingdom…
2012
Ogilvy China won Ogilvy Asia’s first Grand Prix at Cannes with “Coke Hands.”
2012
Ogilvy created a joint venture with Yindu, and Yingdu Ogilvy was founded to extend Ogilvy’s regional footprint and better serve local clients.
2013
social@Ogilvy officially enters China.
2014
As Internet of Things emerged in China, Ogilvy China established K1ND (pronounced One Kind) in Beijing. This innovation unit help companies take their physical products and create connectivity that fits in our new digital frontier.
2014
Ogilvy acquired XMKT to further extend the capabilities of retail activation and customer events. XMKT later became part of Geometry Global.
2014
Ogilvy was awarded Greater China Creative Agency of the Year, and Greater China Digital Agency of the Year by Campaign.
2015
All China Ogilvyers met in Sanya in our first national get-together. This was a celebration of our scale and diversity!