Nick Walsh launches Migrate to help the global independent agencies thrive in the Middle East

First-of-its-kind consultancy that establishes, positions, and scales specialist independent agencies in the region.

After two decades shaping some of the world’s biggest brands at WPP, Nick Walsh has announced the launch of Migrate, a specialist consultancy designed to help global independent agencies land, expand, and thrive in the Middle East.

Migrate exists to unlock growth for world-class independents — by offering a smarter, faster and lower-risk path into the region’s complex but opportunity-rich landscape. From business setup and commercial strategy to talent acquisition and RFP guidance, Migrate provides an end-to-end solution for agencies looking to scale in one of the most dynamic communications markets in the world.

“Independent agencies are more in demand than ever — but expanding into the Middle East can be treacherous if you go it alone,” said Nick Walsh, Founder of Migrate. “From regulatory hurdles to cultural nuance, there are challenges at every turn. Migrate is designed to remove those barriers, accelerate growth, and give the best independents the local edge they need to win here.”

The launch of Migrate comes at a time when the Middle East’s advertising and marketing market is experiencing record momentum, with KSA, UAE, and Qatar driving investment in everything from creativity to technology. Yet despite the boom, more than 60 percent of agencies entering the region fail to take hold, often due to a lack of local knowledge, connections, and operational readiness.

“The reality is that too many great agencies fail to break through here — not because of the work, but because they didn’t localize their launch,” Walsh added.

A gap in the market

The Middle East is currently dominated by legacy global networks consolidating their reach and influence. At the other end of the spectrum, local SMEs bring cultural relevance but often lack international experience.

Migrate bridges this gap. It offers clients global polish of a network with on-the-ground savvy of a local partner, enabling independent agencies to compete at the highest level from day one.

Fronted by Walsh, Migrate is backed by a number of industry heavyweights, with expertise in legal, compliance, HR, media, operations, and more. This breadth of knowledge and experience enables Migrate to offer clients everything from business set up, to recruitment, to brand introductions and prospecting, to procurement registrations to positioning, creative governance, RFP management, and more.

From WPP to Founder

Before founding Migrate, Nick Walsh spent 20 years inside WPP, holding senior leadership roles across London and MENA. Most recently, he served as Chief Client Officer for VML MENA. Prior to that, he was CEO of VMLY&R, successfully leading the business through a number of mergers. He held leadership positions at both Geometry and Ogilvy, steering both to major global awards, including Cannes Lions.

Widely regarded as one of the region’s most trusted client partners, Walsh’s experience building network capabilities and nurturing new market launches has shaped the model Migrate now offers to others.

Source: Migrate

  Middle East, Migrate, Nick Walsh