Speaking from a management conference in Beijing, Buhlmann said Aegis Media's efforts would focus on China and India, and other emerging economies such as Vietnam, a market in which Aegis has yet to launch.
"Seventy-five per cent of our business is in Europe. We've grown profits by 50 per cent in the last three years while ad spend has gone up by just 13 per cent. We've wiped the floor with the competition in a slow-growth market. But there's more opportunity for us to grow in Asia-Pacific, particularly in China and India, too, further down the line," he said.
"My knowledge of Asia is pretty thin, but I intend to change that very quickly."
Digital, which contributes to a quarter of Aegis Media's revenues, would also be a focus of his new role, he said. Outdoor, too, would receive further investment in the region.
Buhlmann was promoted from CEO of Aegis Media Europe, Middle East and Africa following the abrupt departure of Mainardo de Nardis last week.
He added: "I can't comment on how my style is different to Mainardo's. That's for other people to comment.
But my brief is the same. To lead the our organisation of 10,000 people, and make sure that our entrepreneurial, collegiate culture remains in tact as we grow."