Erwin Penland co-president and COO Allen Bosworth announced three key promotions today: Karen Mawhinney and Kat Shafer will both serve in the newly-created position of managing director while Jeff Hoffman will take on the role of director of business development.
“These promotions are well-earned by proven members of the Erwin Penland team, and recognize individuals that will be an asset in our next generation of leadership,” Bosworth said. “Jeff, Kat and Karen have proven themselves as committed, integral parts of our family day in and day out. I know each of them will thrive in these new positions, continuing to lead our agency teams and establishing new client relationships.”
Hoffman, who previously served as senior vice president, group account director, was selected for the director of business development role “due to his ability to foster organic growth on multiple accounts.” He originally joined Erwin Penland as management supervisor in March of 2005. He left to become an account director with Hill Holiday three years later, returning to accept a position as vice president, group account director in 2010 and received a promotion to senior vice president, group account director two and a half years after that.
Shafer will report to Bosworth and handle half of the agency’s client portfolio, including Verizon, L.L. Bean, Califia Farms, CIT Bank, hello products and TUMI. She was promoted from her previous position as senior vice president, group account director, a role she has held for the past two years. Shafer joined Erwin Penland as senior vice president, account director on Verizon in August of 2011, also working on the agency’s Bojangles and QuickenLoans accounts in the position before receiving a promotion to group account director. Before her current stint at Erwin Penland she spent almost three years as vice president, management supervisor with Hill Holliday, also working on Verizon. That followed a prior stint with Erwin Penland in which she spent around three and a half years as an account supervisor.
Mawhinney will also report to Bosworth, continuing to lead accounts including Denny’s, The UPS Store, and Sears Auto Center. She also previously served as senior vice president, group account director, a role she has held since joining the agency in 2005. Prior to Erwin Penland she served as a senior account supervisor with Henderson Advertising for a year and a half, following stints in account executive positions at BBDO South and Scharbo & Company.
The last major senior-level change at Erwin Penland came in February, when CEO Karen Kaplan of sister agency Hill Holliday promoted Bosworth and chief creative officer Con Williamson. The two now share the title of president.