ad: Annual 2024 Now Open For Entries!
*

Top Hires of the Week

Published by

MRM//McCann

MRM//McCann, the global customer experience marketing agency, announced yesterday that EVP, managing director of MRM//McCann Detroit, Jill Cooley, will be promoted to the global role of EVP, worldwide account director. Also, award winning agency executive, Tamy Harms, who was recently president of WPP's POSSIBLE in Cincinnati, has been appointed to the role of president for MRM//McCann Detroit. Cooley will be working on the General Motors account, and will also help further collaboration and integration with Commonwealth//McCann on its global Chevrolet business. Cooley, who has over 20 years of cross-functional marketing experience along with a unique breadth of perspective on the business, having worked on both sides of the industry, has been serving as MD at the agency's Detroit office since 2012. Whilst there, she's earned a stellar reputation for both herself and the office, which was named as a “Top Workplace in Michigan” by Detroit Free Press and a “Great Rated” company by Great Places to Work. Cooley's diverse background tackling everything from strategic planning to event marketing, and the success of the communications campaigns she led for General Motors, are all factors that MRM feel drive “A holistic and passionate view of the customer's entire brand experience.”

*

EVP, managing director Jill Cooley, will be promoted to the global role of EVP, worldwide account director

She'll continue to work on the General Motors account with agency chairman Bill Kolb, who said that in her new role, Cooley is “Another key piece to the team that is helping drive General Motor's growth and reputation of being the leading automaker.” He adds that she has “An outstanding track record of both agency and client experience,” and is confident she will “Bring passion for the business to this new role.” Both announcements were made by agency CEO Michael McLaren, who said of Cooley's promotion; “Jill is a smart, strategic thinker with the ability to deliver great work and build strong, lasting relationships with clients and throughout every level of our organisation.” He praises her relentless pursuit of “Opportunities to expand the General Motors business and bring new marketing and technology solutions” to clients, and is confident that “With her proven experience,” they will “Continue to nurture and grow this critical client relationship.”

Tamy Harms, who was recently president of WPP's POSSIBLE in Cincinnati, has been appointed to the role of president for MRM//McCann Detroit

Harms, meanwhile, led top-ranked clients for POSSIBLE such as Procter & Gamble, J.M. Smucker and Build-A-Bear, and has countless industry awards under her belt. She has also held senior executive positions at Digitas, where she led the Detroit office, and has worked for esteemed agencies such as Carlson Marketing Group, McCann Erickson and Leo Burnett. McLaren said they are delighted to have Harms on board, and says that “As an industry leader with wide ranging integrated communications experience, she is a well-known and respected client partner.” He has no doubt that she “Will make a tremendous contribution” to the agency.

Proximity

*

Nick Baker has been named as new planning director on the Proximity agency's Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland business. He'll develop new strategies for the freshly rebranded banking group, reporting to joint head of planning Darren Burnett. He joins the agency from VCCP Me, where he served as head of communications on accounts for Channel 4 and More Than. Prior to his time at VCCP, Baker worked on the Sky account at SapientNitro. He will be taking up the new role at Proximity in January 2015.

Nick Baker has been named as new planning director on Proximity's Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland account

Burnett said that Baker is an “Award-winning planner and incisive thinker,” with the right approach for the agency, and is “Confident he’ll be playing a key role” in the Lloyd Banking Group account. Baker himself, meanwhile, is “Absolutely delighted to be joining Proximity, and excited about “Contributing to its continued growth in the future. He adds; “There is a huge opportunity to place one-on-one communications at the heart of Lloyds marketing strategy, so I look forward to what is no doubt going to be a year of transformation in 2015.”

Memac Ogilvy

*

Paul Shearer has been appointed as the new chief creative officer at Memac Ogilvy, bringing with him from Enter (HMDG) UK 25 years of industry experience. His mandate covers the Middle East and Africa, which spans 15 offices. He takes the role from Ossama El-Kaoukji, who will move into a consultant role at the agency, supporting Shearer from a “Cultural understanding” viewpoint as he settles into the role.

Paul Shearer has been appointed as the new chief creative officer at Memac Ogilvy

Memac Ogilvy CEO Edmond Moutran, said that Shearer “Prides himself on understanding clients’ business and the global alignment that is required for creative success,” and that he “Always surprises his clients and teams with his ideas and has won some of the most prestigious global awards in the industry.” Shearer adds that he is thrilled to be able “Spearhead creative operations as CCO at Memac Ogilvy,” and believes the network “Has an incredibly rich history within the advertising industry,” and a roster of talent that is “Second to none.”

Gravity Road

*

Creative content agency Gravity Road has announced Katie Lee as its first managing director and partner after a series of new business wins. She will working alongside creative department leader Pete Connolly, who recently joined the agency himself from Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, to secure even more business for the fledgling company. The company was founded just three years ago, but has already grown to include 50 members of staff and has won clients such as Sainsbury's, Cadbury and ITV.

Gravity Road has announced Katie Lee as its first managing director and partner

Company co-founder Mark Eaves, said the agency's model is different, in so much as they're “Not trying to recreate a traditional agency.” He does say, however, that the backgrounds of himself and co-founder Mark Boyd, mean they recognise the “best bits of big agencies,” and for them Connolly and Lee “Are the embodiment of that.” Lee adds that “Gravity Road is an entirely new breed of agency built for the future.,” and she “Really excited about being a part of their next stage of growth.”

Benjamin Hiorns is a freelance writer and struggling musician from Kidderminster in the UK.

Comments

More Leaders

*

Leaders

Inspiring Female Leaders: An Interview with RAPP CEO Gabrielle Ludzker

Gabrielle Ludzker is not just any CEO. The current head honcho at customer experience agency RAPP has spent her career breaking away from the traditional corporate CEO stereotype. and leads to inspire rule breakers. Gabby is an inspirational rule...

Posted by: Benjamin Hiorns
ad: Annual 2024 Now Open For Entries!