Creative media agency Empower has promoted Cathy Shaffner to the role of chief investment officer.
The Cincinnati-based agency has also hired Ryan Devine as vice president-head of digital. He joins from global marketing agency Reprise Digital.
In his new role, Devine will be tasked with playing a key role in thought leadership, external relations and business development, as well as managing the practice leaders across all of Empower’s digital offerings.
Shaffner has been at Empower for more than 25 years, most recently serving as senior vice president of marketing and media. In her new role, she will lead all aspects of the negotiation and buying side of national and local media. This new role will also involve strengthening external relationships with media partners, representing Empower’s buying expertise to key clients and working closely with the agency’s business unit leads to ensure client expectations are delivered.
“Shaffner’s well-suited for the role of chief investment officer with her strong negotiation chops, media savvy and tenure at Empower. And we couldn’t be more thrilled to have Devine’s west-coast perspective, digital strategy experience and future-forward thinking stretch across the agency,” Rob FitzGerald, president and chief operating officer at Empower, said in a statement.
According to Empower, their appointments come on the back of a successful year for the agency, which experienced a 30% revenue increase and brought on more than 80 new hires.