Today in News We Missed, DigitasLBi announced some changes atop its North American organization last Friday.
Most prominently, the Publicis network promoted chief communications officer and frequent recipient of AgencySpy email queries Jill Kelly to the role of chief marketing officer. This is not an unprecedented move as various agencies like, for instance, R/GA have recently promoted their heads of PRs into CMO or other top marketing roles.
In the new position, Kelly will “lead the shape and form of the agency’s brand ‘voice’ to key audiences, outside of new business prospects and consultants.”
The Drum first reported the move. Kelly replaces outgoing chief marketer Kenneth Parks, who was EVP/executive managing director at DigitasLBi until getting the North American CMO promotion in early 2013. He has left the agency to “pursue his next chapter,” according to a statement provided to The Drum.
Parks also led the organization’s new business efforts in North America, and former DigitasLBi San Francisco EVP/managing director Dave Marsey will assume those responsibilities while holding the newly created chief growth officer title for North America.
Marsey, who was promoted to MD in the Bay Area in January 2013, has been replaced in that position by Christian Birk, former managing director of DigitasLBi operations in Denmark and Norway.
All will report directly to North American CEO Tony Weisman, who said this about Marsey: “Dave has the ingenuity and creativity to help us win and grow — that’s why he has one of the best new business run rates within the global network. His proven talent as a skilled relationship and team builder has followed him throughout his nine-year journey at the agency. We are so very proud of his story.”
Kelly has been with DigitasLBi since 2011. She previously served as head of communications at Starcom MediaVest and marketing manager at Universal McCann.
Image via 4A’s/DigitasLBi