Last month, Grey London was left reeling by the surprise resignation of three executives: CCO Nils Leonard, CEO Lucy Jameson and managing director Natalie Graeme. Now the agency has made two key executive promotions as it looks to better define itself as “the most progressive agency in the world” going forward.
Wayne Brown, formerly managing director of specialist digital unit GreyPOSSIBLE will now serve in the newly-created role of chief operating officer, while head of planning Matt Tanter was promoted to the role of chief strategy officer. Going forward, Brown and Tanter will both report to CEO Leo Rayman. Tanter fills a vacancy created when Rayman, who formerly served in the position, stepped up into the CEO role following the news of Jameson’s departure.
“By promoting Matt and Wayne, Grey London is accelerating its push to be the most progressive creative firm in the world. Their energy and diversity, combined with their modern marketing expertise are a brilliant representation of the open culture we continue to build at Grey,” Rayman said in a statement.
Brown joined Grey London to launch digital unit GreyPOSSIBLE three years ago, building it into a team of 50 strong which works with 90 percent of Grey London’s clients. He joined Grey following a two and a half year stint as managing director at glue Isobar, working with the executive team to run the agency. Brown originally joined glue Isobar nearly two and a half years before that, serving as deputy managing director before receiving a promotion. Prior to that he spent a year and a half client-side as a marketing manager for Sara Lee’s Brylcreem brand. Before that he spent over a year and a half as an account director with TBWA on the agency’s John Smiths, Apple Computers and McCain accounts. That followed nearly six years with Lowe Lintas, rising to to the role of associate brand director and working with clients such as Orange, Direct Line, Saab and HSBC.
“We’ve already built a diverse group that is true to our Open way of working,” Brown said in a statement. “To realise the vision of becoming the most progressive agency in the world, I now want to accelerate the integration of our multi-talented team, as well as drive the cultural and commercial agenda around technology, innovation, data, content and earned media and willsoon be making further announcements.”
Tanter, who at 35 is now one of the youngest CSOs in the agency world, also joined Grey London three years ago, give or take a few months. He, too, arrived at the agency from glue Isobar, where he spent four years serving as a planning director and working with clients such as The Guardian, Kellogg and Three Mobile. That followed four and half years as an account planner at Proximity London, working with brands including Sainsbury’s, Vollkswagen, Eurostar, and a brief stint as a planner with Leagas Delaney.
“We have grown a phenomenal strategy team at Grey London, driven by the belief that none of us are as smart as all of us,” Tanter added. “We have fought to get to where we are and as the world faces new challenges, we are not stopping. If you are up for it and want in, come and see us.”