Vladimir Tkachev, a proven regional executive of the international group has been named CEO. To ensure a smooth leadership transition, Sásdi will be a part of the transition process until the end of December.
Helga Sásdi to hand over the management of Publicis Groupe Hungary and see the transition through until the end of 2023. The country’s largest multinational communication company marks a new chapter next year with an internationally recognized top executive.
Helga Sásdi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Publicis Groupe Hungary and co-lead of Publicis Le Pont, will step down from her positions at the end of 2023: Vladimir Tkachev, a proven regional executive of the international group has been named CEO of Publicis Groupe Hungary, while Konrad Dorabialski will assume the responsibilities as the sole CEO for Publicis Le Pont. To ensure a smooth leadership transition, Sásdi will be a part of the transition process until the end of December.
Helga Sásdi joined Publicis Groupe Hungary in 2016 as a leader of Saatchi & Saatchi. She was then promoted to CEO of Publicis Groupe Hungary, and subsequently named the co-lead of Publicis Le Pont, which brings together the group’s centers of excellence across Hungary, Poland, and Czech Republic. Sásdi has played a key role in developing the business of Publicis Groupe Hungary over the past 6 years. Working alongside her leadership team, the company has almost doubled in size and became one of the most open and welcoming workplaces in the country.
“I have had a wonderful time in the Publicis family, which would not have happened without the fantastic team I have worked with. Along with the Group’s national and international management, I am very grateful to all my current and former colleagues for the achievements we have made together and the atmosphere that prevailed in Irányi Street. After more than 25 years of continuous work, I felt it was time for a change – in the coming period I would like to focus on my family, building ‘We Are Open’ and making the most of the business experience I have gained over the years,” said Sásdi.
Sásdi will be succeeded at the helm of Publicis Groupe Hungary by Vladimir Tkachev, who has been a member of Publicis Groupe since 2006. He has held senior positions in Publicis Groupe’s management in Central and Eastern Europe in recent years and will retain his current regional responsibilities while leading the Hungarian office. The leadership transition process will kick off in September.
“Helga and I have been working together on various projects as part of the CEE Executive Committee team over the past 3 years. I have witnessed the fantastic work that Helga and the leadership team have done both in terms of business results and attracting brilliant talents from across the world. It is a privilege for me to take over the business with creativity at the core. Also, my primary goal will be to keep and further the company’s cultural and DEI values which will include the continuation of our partnership with ‘We Are Open’, the country’s largest organization supporting diversity in business. I am thrilled to build on the unique capabilities that our Hungarian office is globally recognized for, at the same time to leverage those capabilities for our local clients.” said Tkachev.
Sásdi’s responsibilities at Publicis Le Pont will be assumed by Konrad Dorabialski, who will now become the CEO of Publicis Le Pont across Poland, Hungary, and Czech Republic partnering with Tkachev to further scale and grow its international footprint.
“We have seen the Hungarian operation through growth and robust trajectory under Helga’s leadership. With Helga, we agree that we have a very capable local leadership and teams in place in Publicis Groupe Hungary and Publicis Le Pont today. We support Helga’s decision to take time off to turn the focus back to her family and personal aspirations and would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude for her achievements over the past 6 years including the most recent New York-based Ad Age recognition as one of its leading female leaders in 2023,” said Tomas Lauko, Chief Executive Officer, Publicis Groupe Central & Eastern Europe.
Continued Lauko, ”Vladimir is an experienced CEO with 20 years of leadership experience across creative, production, commerce, content and media offerings with a proven track record in digital first integrated capabilities leadership making him a natural successor to be entrusted with the leadership role at such an important organization as Publicis Groupe Hungary is. I can’t wait to see how this new chapter unfold and flourish in such a strategic market for our region.”