Former Mcgarrybowen Managing Director Returns as President of New York
Ida Rezvani has been serving as IHG global client leader at WPP
Mcgarrybowen has named Ida Rezvani president of its New York office in a move that marks her return to the Dentsu Aegis Network agency. She will officially come aboard sometime later this spring.
Rezvani previously was managing director of mcgarrybowen London from 2010 to 2013 and then held that same position at the agency’s New York headquarters from 2013 to 2015. She has since been serving as senior partner and global client leader on the IHG account at WPP.
At WPP, Rezvani oversaw the IHG business across 15 operating companies, 12 brands and four regions. She also implemented a global operating model that led to the development of an integrated team that then created global platforms for IHG’s growth brands.
A WPP spokesman declined to comment on her departure so it is unclear what plans, if any, the holding company has made for replacing her.
“I am excited to join mcgarrybowen at an interesting time in our industry when big organizing ideas matter more than ever,” Rezvani said in a statement. “mcgarrybowen has always been, and still is, a lean, fast-paced, community of characters and creators and I am looking forward to being a part of that again and driving the next phase of their evolution and growth.”
According to mcgarrybowen, the New York office has grown significantly over the last year following relatively recent account wins such as Subway (picked up in December 2017) and American Express (June 2017).
Rezvani replaces Angela Johnson, who was recently promoted to lead global, cross-Dentsu client engagements. Chief creative officer Matt Ian and chief strategy officer Conner Huber will now be part of the team that reports to the incoming president.
“Ida is a dynamic marketing leader who inspires teams and enables great work,” mcgarrybowen U.S. president Patrick Lafferty said in a statement. “Her ability to create and grow enduring client partnerships is legendary.”
Rezvani began her career in London in 2000 at RKCR/Y&R (now VMLY&R London), where she ended up holding various positions in account and business leadership. While there, she managed campaigns for Marks & Spencer, Visit London and Virgin Trains, which garnered awards including the Cannes Lions Grand Prix IPA Effectiveness Award for Marks & Spencer.
While at mcgarrybowen London, she helped oversee the transformation of the agency from Dentsu London, growing the office and building its stature with prominent creative work for Canon Pixma, Wallpaper Magazine and Uniqlo.
She relocated to work with founder Gordon Bowen in the agency’s New York headquarters, where she led two of its top five clients at the time: United Airlines and Marriott Hotels.
“We are fortunate to welcome Ida back to the mcgarrybowen family,” Bowen said in a statement. “Working with Ida is having a stealth weapon fueled by passion and focus. Her gracious and uncanny ability to gain the trust of clients and her teams will lead the New York office to places they never imagined.”
