Dubai Stars - Rise To The Top The Brutal Truth About Dubai’s Agency World | Nick Walsh | Anthony Joseph
Nov 22, 2025
In this discussion, Nick Walsh, a seasoned entrepreneur and founder of Migrate, shares his transformative journey from CEO at WPP to launching his own agency in Dubai. He contrasts the fast-paced, multicultural work culture of Dubai with London's, emphasizing the creative advantages of diverse talent. Nick dives into the future of marketing, highlighting how agile independent agencies will outpace giant networks, and the growing role of AI. He also reflects on the importance of resilience, the challenges of leadership during crises, and the potential of MENA's advertising landscape.
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From Ogilvy Exec To Independent Founder
- Nick walked into Dubai in January 2008 as an Ogilvy exec and stayed 18 years building leadership roles across major agencies.
- He became CEO of Geometry and VML before leaving to start Migrate to help independents scale in MENA.
Multicultural Teams Drive Creativity
- Dubai agencies are more multicultural than London's, providing a creative advantage if harnessed correctly.
- Nick believes real creativity happens when 30–40 nationalities work together under aligned culture and purpose.
A Box That Didn't Fit The Letterbox
- Early in his career Nick shipped a direct-mail box that didn't fit VIP letterboxes and nearly ruined a campaign.
- He survived the mistake and learned that relentless attention to detail matters in agency work.