MRM//McCann Promotes Chief Operating Officer and Hires New U.S. President

McCann Worldgroup, Adweek's U.S. Agency of the Year, made two notable leadership changes at its MRM//McCann subsidiary, including promoting its COO, Kate MacNevin, to global president of the digital shop. MacNevin has scored the top global position at MRM, according to McCann, and, as a result, her COO responsibilities will be expanded. "Kate has one of the most passionate, deliberative and exceptional minds in all of advertising," praised Bill Kolb, McCann Worldgroup global president of diversified agencies and MRM global chairman. "She is respected not just among our partners but across every level of our organization because of her relentless dedication and determination." In addition to MacNevin's promotion, MRM hired Joyce Karel as president of its U.S. East division, where she will lead the New York and Princeton, N.J., offices. Karel hails from Wunderman, a digital agency in the WPP network, where she served as director of client services and as a global client leader. Before Wunderman, she held positions at MullenLowe and Ogilvy & Mather. For MacNevin, much of her roots trace back to McCann. She first joined the agency in Toronto in 2006 and was named head of its Canadian General Motors account in 2009. She quickly moved up the ranks, becoming executive director of global operations for Commonwealth, McCann's Detroit shop for client Chevrolet. Since being named COO of MRM in January 2016, MacNevin has overseen its business expansion and creative growth and elevated the McCann shop to critical acclaim. This year, MRM won its first Cannes Lions Grand Prix (the Entertainment Grand Prix) for "Beyond Money" for client Santander Bank, along with 12 other Cannes Lions, three Effie Awards, two One Show nods, six Clios and one Webby Award—all of which played a factor in Adweek's decision to name its parent company, McCann Worldgroup, a part of the larger IPG network, the 2017 U.S. Agency of the Year. Under MacNevin's leadership, MRM has grown 10 percent this year, adding several clients such as GSK, BASF, Mitsubishi Electric and Benjamin Moore. MacNevin herself won an Impact Award from She Runs It, the group formerly known as Advertising Women of New York. "Kate has played a key role in overseeing our General Motors operations and strengthening MRM//McCann's capabilities and organization over the years," said Harris Diamond, McCann Worldgroup chairman and CEO. "As she moves into her new expanded global role, and with the support of proven leaders such as Joyce and those already in place, she will be focused on creating the next level of customer experience on behalf of our clients." The hiring news comes as MRM continues to reorganize leadership, especially at its New York headquarters. In April 2016, ICF Olson snagged MRM's previous president of the U.S. East division, Louise Clements, to serve as global agency lead—one of several prominent departures including that of former MRM CEO Michael McLaren.