GroupM China Appoints Elvis Xu as MD of Search Marketing

GroupM, the world's leading media investment management group, appointed Elvis Xu as Managing Director of Search Marketing, effective 1 September, 2016. The announcement was made by Patrick Xu, CEO of GroupM China.

“Welcome Elvis back to GroupM China. He has impressed me with his in-depth insights of the China market and his rich experience in search strategies and tactics. We are indeed privileged to tap into his expertise and I look forward to seeing his contribution to the upgrading GroupM's search marketing business,” said Patrick Xu. “At his new position, Elvis will lead his team and continue driving the growth of the search marketing business at GroupM and its agencies, including Mindshare, MEC, MediaCom and Maxus.” 

Elvis had worked for the GroupM Search unit from 2013 to 2014, providing cutting-edge advertising solutions to clients. Prior to his return to GroupM now, Elvis was Deputy General Manager of Performics under ZenithOptimedia, responsible for the company's marketing business in Beijing, including SEM, SEO, programmatic buying, e-commerce performance marketing, etc. He had also a stint in search marketing at OgilvyOne and Omnicom Group. Years of work for 4A companies have given him rich experience in team management and customer service. He has provided service for many famous brands such as Apple, HP, Microsoft, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Standard Chartered, China Ping An, Reckitt, Unilever, China Mobile, Hyatt Hotel, Nature's Bounty and more.

Elvis, feeling invigorated on his return to GroupM, explained, “Search is not only a marketing channel, but also allows us to precisely analyse user intentions in order to focus our online/offline marketing activities. Although search is no longer a new thing, its combination with content marketing, e-commerce and programmatic buying makes search marketing attractive, providing opportunities to enhance the overall effectiveness of the brand. Our search marketing team is not only a service provider, a consultant and a partner to our clients, it is also media’s best ally.”

"Since early this year, GroupM has begun cooperating with adSage, a leading online advertising technologies and services provider,” Patrick added, “We seek to strength our competitive edge in search marketing, by further developing a range of skills required, from data analysis, SEM, and SEO, to media selection, interaction and user experience. Elvis' track record of success is evidence of his far-reaching capabilities, and I am confident that he will lead our team to provide innovative search marketing services of the highest quality.”

Elvis will be based in Beijing.

GroupM is the leading global media investment management company serving as the parent to WPP media agencies including Mindshare, MEC, MediaCom, Maxus, Essence as well as the programmatic digital media platform, Xaxis, each global operations in their own right with leading market positions. GroupM’s primary purpose is to maximize performance of WPP’s media agencies by operating as leader and collaborator in trading, content creation, sports, digital, finance, proprietary tool development and other business-critical capabilities. GroupM’s focus is to deliver unrivaled marketplace advantage to its clients, stakeholders and people.