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← Back to IdeasSocial.Lab Strengthens Leadership Team to Drive Continued Growth
Berlin, June 17, 2026 – In a clear signal of its dynamic momentum, Social.Lab – the social-first agency that is part of Ogilvy Group Germany – is setting the course for its next phase of growth. Fueled by strong business performance and its expanding role as the central social hub for Mastercard in Europe, Social.Lab is investing in the expansion of its leadership team: effective July 1, Niclas Müller will join as Managing Director and Andreas Ristau as Executive Creative Director. Together with Head of Operations Christian Rottmann, they form the new leadership trio that will continue to advance the agency's successful trajectory.
With this strategic expansion, Social.Lab is deliberately bringing together the capabilities that will be critical to its next stage of development. Niclas Müller joins from DOJO and contributes extensive expertise in modern brand management. At the same time, the agency is reinforcing its creative excellence with Andreas Ristau, who moves within Ogilvy Group Germany from sister agency loved. With his experience at the intersection of brand communications, creativity, and digital storytelling, he will further sharpen Social.Lab's creative profile.
This investment in the leadership team underscores Ogilvy Group's strategy to position its social-first agency as a leading force in the market. With a roster that already includes prominent clients such as MSD, Lidl, BAT, Google, and Mastercard, Social.Lab is ideally positioned to grow its business further.
"For me, the future of brand communications lies not in producing more output, but in creating more meaning," says Niclas Müller. "Social is where it's decided whether brands are simply broadcasting or genuinely sparking something. It's precisely this kind of effective communication – strategically clear, creatively outstanding, and culturally resonant – that drives sustainable growth. I'm really looking forward to it."
"The best social ideas don't behave like advertising. They become part of culture, conversations, and communities. Our ambition is to deliver outstanding creativity that does exactly that – and, in doing so, strengthens brands for the long term," adds Andreas Ristau, Executive Creative Director.
Christian Rottmann, Head of Operations, concludes: "Expanding our leadership team is a natural consequence of our success and a clear investment in the future. With Niclas and Andreas, we're bringing on board exactly the expertise we need – not just to maintain our successful course, but to accelerate it. As a trio, we're perfectly set up to ignite the next stage."
The combined expertise of the new leadership trio ensures that Social.Lab can offer clients seamlessly integrated and effective social-first communications that meet the demands of today and tomorrow.
Press office Social.Lab Germany
Ogilvy GmbH, Darmstädter Landstraße 112, 60598 Frankfurt
Phone: +49 172 6878986 | presse@ogilvy.com | LinkedIn: Social.Lab Germany