ad: Annual 2024 Now Open For Entries!
*

Top 10 Hires of the Week

Published by

Publicis London

Publicis London has hired Phil Dowgierd as managing director of digital as part of its ongoing commitment to champion creative leadership and excellence within Publicis UK. Dowgierd joins from Tribal Worldwide Sydney where he was managing director. Prior to joining Publicis London he held roles at AKQA, Full Six, Fallon and M&C Saatchi. Reporting into Karen Buchanan, CEO, Publicis London, Dowgierd will sit on the Publicis London management board tasked with leading Publicis London's integrated digital disciplines across all clients.

Publicis London has hired Phil Dowgierd as managing director of digital

Guy Wieynk, Publicis Group CEO, for the UK & Nordics said: “Phil brings a unique perspective on how to deliver digital solutions at scale for clients. He is a great talent who builds strong teams that deliver ground breaking work.” Dowgierd himself added: “Everyone can see Publicis UK is evolving and I am delighted to be able to play my part within Publicis London. Our business is about ideas, but today they exist where technology, data and creativity meet. Publicis is best prepared to harness this given its flat structure and single P&L.”

 

Weber Shandwick

*

Weber Shandwick has announced the appointment of several key hires in the firm's San Francisco office across its Creative, Digital and Corporate ranks. Jonathan Carroll has been appointed senior vice president and will lead Weber Shandwick's Digital and Creative teams in San Francisco. He will work with clients across practices on content creation, digital strategy, social media engagement and creating interactive solutions across a wide variety of platforms. Heather Gallegos also joins as senior vice president in the Employee Engagement & Change Management group. In this role, Gallegos will help senior business leaders across practice areas translate complex, strategic business imperatives into compelling stories. Finally, Douglas Myers has also been hired as vice president in the firm's Corporate Practice. He will work with the firm's corporate clients to support corporate positioning, reputation management, media relations and thought leadership.

Weber Shandwick has announced the appointment of several key hires in the firm's San Francisco office

Weber Shandwick's Northern California region continues to expand its integrated communications and content marketing expertise following the appointment of Luca Penati as general manager, San Francisco and Silicon Valley, and Mediaco lead for the Western region late last year. Penati said of the new hires: “Jonathan, Heather and Douglas each bring significant value to the San Francisco team as we expand our capabilities and continue to integrate traditional PR with social, digital and broader marketing services. Our West Coast operations have generated major momentum over the past year and we're thrilled to welcome new talent with diverse backgrounds and knowledge to help meet growing client and market demand.”

 

Ogilvy & Mather Hong Kong

*

Ogilvy & Mather Hong Kong has announced the appointment of Huw Gildon as its first chief strategy officer. In the newly created role, Gildon will oversee the next phase of the agency’s business strategy aimed at embedding a more integrated approach to servicing clients across all disciplines within the agency.

As chief strategy officer, Gildon will be responsible for bringing together the extensive range of strategic tools that live within the group under one, unified vision. He joins Ogilvy after almost ten years with Leo Burnett in Chicago where he had various senior strategic planning roles, most recently as the head of global planning for Samsung.



Ogilvy & Mather Hong Kong has announced the appointment of Huw Gildon as its first chief strategy officer

Commenting on the appointment, Adam O’Conor, CEO for Ogilvy & Mather Group Hong Kong said: “The creation of the chief strategy officer role will enable the Hong Kong leadership team to be even more effective at responding to all our clients’ challenges in a dynamic and seamless way. Huw’s vast experience of managing brand planners, digital and social strategists across different markets means he is ideally placed to help lead Ogilvy Hong Kong into the next stage of its evolution.”

 On his immediate plans in the new role, Gildon added: “Ogilvy Hong Kong has developed an unparalleled range of strategic tools that can solve real problems for clients. I want to ensure we maximise our full array of strategic and analytical capabilities so we can consistently deliver stronger ideas, and even better results, for clients.”

 

Leo Burnett Shanghai

*

Danny Mok, CEO of Leo Burnett China, has announced the appointment of Rocky Hao as head of creative for the Shanghai office. In his new role, Hao has been tasked with leading the Shanghai’s creative and creative services teams as well as working closely with general manager, Angie Wong to oversee Leo Burnett Shanghai’s day-to-day operation. Hao started his creative career in Beijing 16 years ago and moved to Shanghai in 2004. Prior to Leo Burnett, he has worked at various leading international agencies in China including Dentsu, Bates, BBDO, Grey and Ogilvy & Mather working across brands that include Pepsi, 7UP, Pizza Hut, Gillette, New Balance, Chrysler, Dumex, Kangshifu, Vanke and Changyu, just to name a few.

Leo Burnett China has announced the appointment of Rocky Hao as head of creative for the Shanghai office



“Rocky represents a fusion of the best of East and West. Combining his deep understanding of local Chinese market and consumer insights with his experience and exposure at international agencies, he has created work that helped many brands, both local and multinational, shine in China,” said Mok. 

“A copy-based creative, Rocky’s remarkable track record in brand-building in China as well as his award-winning showing across both creative and effectiveness-based shows including Cannes Lions, One Show, Spikes Asia, Long Xi and EFFIES made him one of the most up and coming creative leaders in China. We are thrilled that he is on board with us as we chart a new growth chapter for Leo Burnett China.”

 

Brothers & Sisters

*

In a major coup, Brothers & Sisters, the independent creative agency, has hired Lucy Robinson to the newly created role of Head of Comedy. Highly experienced, Lucy has produced comedy programmes for every UK broadcaster, worked with many of the UK’s leading comic performers; and produced comedy entertainment shows, sketch shows, sitcoms, animation, comedy dramas and comedy films for TV. Her list of credits include The 11 O'clock Show for Channel 4, which launched the careers of Sacha Baron Cohen and Ricky Gervais, and The Wrong Mans with James Corden. The role at Brothers and Sisters is part-time to allow Lucy to continue to run Little Comet, the production company she co-founded in 2010 with BAFTA award-winning writer Chris Reddy.

Brothers and Sisters, the independent creative agency, has hired Lucy Robinson to the newly created role of Head of Comedy

Andy Fowler, Founder and Executive Creative Director of Brothers and Sisters, said: “Online viewing habits require a new kind of creative department where advertising creatives and top programme makers collaborate to engage with audiences who have lost interest in advertising. With Lucy’s expertise, we will blaze a trail by working with contemporary comic talent to produce consistently entertaining content for our clients to regain consumer interest.” Robinson, who will collaborate on pitches and new campaigns, added: “I was intrigued by this role. Brothers and Sisters understand the role of humour in entertainment, and are genuinely interested in connecting the comedy production world with advertising.”

 

Mother

*

Michael Wall, the Global CEO Lowe and Partners and formerly founding partner of Fallon London is to join Mother as an equity partner and Global CEO. He will take up his role alongside the existing Mother Holdings partners, Matt Clark, Andy Medd, Robert Saville and Mark Waites. Whilst Wall will be based in London he will lead the Mother business across all existing offices in London, New York and Buenos Aires, as well as developing Mother into new markets and new sectors. Wall is best known as one of the five founders of Fallon in London. It was during his tenure that Fallon rose to be one of the most highly regarded and awarded creative agencies in the world. It was also during his time in charge that a healthy (sometimes) rivalry grew between Fallon and Mother, a rivalry that has now (presumably) been put to bed.

Michael Wall is to join Mother as an equity partner and Global CEO

Robert Saville said: “We have been chasing Mr Wall for years. He’s not an easy man to catch. He wasn’t an easy man to beat either as Mother and Fallon faced up against each other over the years. Mother has needed Michael’s skills in business leadership for a while. But more importantly we welcome a genuinely good person with the same passion for the transformative power of creativity into the family. I suspect Michael will make us all better.” Michael Wall added: “Mother is a special company. I'm delighted to take on this role. Our shared ambition is to make sure Mother continues to lead the creative frontline and we accelerate our growth and impact in the markets we are already in as well as those that we are eyeing up. And have some fun along the way.”

 

Deutch New York

*

Deutsch New York has hired Tara Levine as Chief Marketing Officer, she'll be reporting to Deutsch NY CEO, Val DiFebo. Levine joins from OMD Worldwide, where for the past five years she served as Managing Director, Global Marketing & Business Development. During her tenure at OMD, she helped grow the company’s business by landing accounts, including: J&J, Disney, General Electric, Walgreens, Experian, Levi’s, and Chobani.

Deutsch New York has hired Tara Levine as Chief Marketing Officer

“We are thrilled Tara is joining the Deutsch NY team,” said DiFebo. “She is smart, determined and comes with tremendous experience in marketing – she will undoubtedly be a critical player for the agency as we focus on driving business growth.” Prior to OMD, Levine gained experience at agencies including Euro RSCG Worldwide, Arnold, and the American Stock Exchange.

 

GSD&M

*

GSD&M announced two major moves this week. Jay Russell is moving from SVP/Executive Creative Director to EVP/Chief Creative Officer and J.B. Raftus from SVP/Chief Marketing Officer to EVP/Chief Marketing Officer. In these roles, Russell and Raftus will continue to work alongside fellow GSD&M leaders CEO Duff Stewart and President Marianne Malina to enforce the agency’s approach to purpose-based marketing.

GSD&M announced two major moves this week

Jay is a GSD&M boomerang. He returned to the agency in 2011 after helping launch the Windows phone during his brief tenure at Crispin, Porter & Bogusky/Boulder. As EVP/CCO, Jay will continue to push GSD&M’s creative department to come up with ideas that contribute to the agency’s momentum and provide solutions to clients’ business challenges. J.B. has been with GSD&M nearly 25 years, with the exception of a one-year stint at McKinney in 1999. In 2014 alone, he led the agency to win multiple stellar accounts including Northwestern Mutual, Hampton Inn and Suites, Whole Foods Market, Chipotle and PetSmart.

 

72andSunny Amsterdam

*

This week, 72andSunny Amsterdam welcomed Tom Griffin as its new Director of Brand Management. He'll be responsible for setting the agency's vision. Championing 72andSunny's modern approach to the way brands and agencies collaboratively make smart work, Tom will also lead the Google account. Sharing 72andSunny’s passion for attracting, and learning from, entrepreneurs from across the globe, Tom will be responsible for cultivating its diverse team, as well as nurturing the personal growth and creative self-expression of the 72andSunny people. Before relocating to Amsterdam, Tom spent time as Client Services Director at Anomaly London, working on many big global campaigns. This experience fuels his passion for delivering work that both maintains global relevancy and resonates with local culture.

72andSunny Amsterdam has welcomed Tom Griffin as its new Director of Brand Management

72andSunny Amsterdam’s Managing Director, Nic Owen, said: “This company interests me every day because we are equally obsessed with working out smart ways to do great for our brands and do great by our people. I am excited to see how Tom helps us nail both these vital things.” Griffin himself, added: “72andSunny is all that excites me about Amsterdam - a unique mix of people and experiences that come together to nurture a truly collaborative environment.”

 

Publicis Mojo Melbourne

*

Georgina Pownall has been named general manager of Publicis Mojo Melbourne. She will start at the agency on June 1st.

 Pownall was Group Account Director at Cummins & Partners Melbourne, a role that saw her lead a number of brands including Novartis, ME Bank, Fonterra and Tourism Western Australia. She has also worked with CHE, DDB, The Campaign Palace and, prior to that, in marketing at Mattel.

 Other businesses in the Melbourne group include CRM and digital agency Publicis Cubed, mobile specialist Publicis Front Foot and Publicis Loyalty. All the businesses will now directly report to Publicis Worldwide Australia CEO Andrew Baxter.



Georgina Pownall has been named general manager of Publicis Mojo Melbourne

Baxter said: “Georgie is a stand out talent and we are thrilled to have her joining the agency. She has a very impressive record in being integral to major new business wins, as well as working with top clients on campaigns that do well in creative and effectiveness awards. She is also a proven team and relationship executive who will fit very well with our Melbourne group operations and capabilities.”

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!