VML shored up its senior leadership team with six senior-level appointments.
Julia Hammond and Chris Furse were both promoted to positions as North American executive director, tasked with leading select global clients, new business ventures and expanding current client relationships. Hammond will continue serving as managing director for VML Chicago, while taking on new responsibilities as WPP team leader for Tyson Foods. Furse will continue his leadership role at VML New York, while taking on the global New Balance and Miami Tourism accounts and new business ventures. Hammond and Furse will report to VML president Eric Campbell.
Rosanne Johnson joins VML as executive director, client engagement. She arrives at the agency from Red Fuse Communications, where she has spent nearly five years as global director, digital lead and served as senior strategic digital lead for its global Colgate-Palmolive account. Prior to that she served as a group account director for Ryan Partnership in Wilton, Connecticut, and was senior client lead for digital and relationship marketing efforts for Dove US personal care.
Tomas Gonsorcik was promoted to the newly-created position of managing director, integrated strategy, tasked with overseeing collaboration of the channel, planning, advisory and data & insights teams while delivering integrated marketing strategy solutions for clients while reporting to chief innovation officer Brian Yamada. In the position, which is based in VML’s New York office, he will work closely with chief strategy officer Amy Winger and executive director, channel activation Amy Worley. Gonsorcik joined VML as group director, strategy and innovation in April of 2011.
Jen McDonald was promoted to executive director, client engagement, tasked with client engagement in Kansas City, while also growing agency talent in the office and reporting to chief client officer Chuck Searle. McDonald originally joined VML in September of 2008 as a group account director and served as managing director, client engagement before her most recent promotion and leads the agency’s relationships with Wendy’s and NAPA Auto Parts.
Jason Bass was promoted to McDonald’s former role of managing director, client engagement in Kansas City and will report to McDonald. Bass formerly served as group director, client engagement and has led clients including Wendy’s and Electrolux during his time with the agency.