Agencies are building their rosters for 2024 with new executives across creative, business development, strategy and operations functions.
AAF
The American Advertising Federation selected its 2024 class of most promising multicultural students. The group of 50 students wll participate in a four-day industry immersion in New York.
Buntin
Buntin promoted Jillian Wyatt to vice president of communications and community. Wyatt will oversee internal and external communications, new business and employee experience initiatives.
Clarity
As its founder and CEO Sami McCabe departs from the company, Rachel Gilley is stepping in as CEO. Gilley has been an asset at the company for five years now, overseeing operations in Europe, managing the London office and serving on the global leadership team.
CTI Digital
CTI Digital appointed Matt Davies as its new chief commercial officer. Davies will work to develop and implement a comprehensive growth strategy across the organization.
Curious Jane
Curious Jane named two new executives at its company in newly created positions. Lisa Runyon will serve as COO and Gloria Burbano will serve as chief strategy officer.
Cut+Run
Cut+Run added editor Tyrone Rhabb to its roster. Rhabb is known for his creative collaborations with brands like Nike, Away, Adidas, Fitbit, ESPN and The Lion King.
Decker
Decker introduced a new creative leadership team with several additions to its staff. Dom Deloya was appointed to creative director, Alan Duda to associate creative director, art, Adrienne Sullivan to senior motion designer, Brighid Docherty to senior designer, art director and Chris Gunderson to production artist.
Designit
Designit made several new appointments at its Copenhagen studio, affirming its global ambitions. Mikkel Lemvig was named creative director and Niklas Mortensen was promoted to head of design.
Digitas
Digitas made two new executive appointments to further fuel its approach to networked experiences. Melissa Berger was promoted to chief solutions officer and Ali Amarsy was promoted to chief strategy officer.
Edelman
Edelman U.S. named Kirsty Graham as its new CEO. Graham will continue serving on the company’s executive leadership team, while also overseeing the firm’s largest region with nearly 2,500 people in 12 offices.
Extreme Reach
Extreme Reach named Jo Kinsella as its new group president. This comes on the heels of its rebrand launch as XR, both of which were announced at the CES conference in Las Vegas.
French/West/Vaughan
French/West/Vaughan started the new year with several new hires and promotions. Jake Coltrane was hired as associate creative director, Josh Corn as art director and Allecia Hamilton as creative project manager. Promotions include Deegan Mundy to director of creative content, Haley McGraw to account executive and Kayla Brown to assistant media planner.
Grey London
Grey London appointed Eric Shapiro as director of data strategy. Coming from his previous role as insights planner for Google, Shapiro will work to elevate the agency’s data strategy practice.
Havas
Havas made two new appointments to its leadership team. Alberto Canteli will continue as chairman and CEO for Havas Nordics, Benelux, central and eastern Europe and the Middle East, while adding new responsibilities for special projects. Rana Barua, group CEO at Havas India, will assure oversight of South East and North Asia.
Helo
Emmy-nominated director Nik Kleverov joined Helo for global representation. Kleverov joins with creative experience collaboration with brands like Netflix, UFC and Chevy.
Interbrand New York
Interbrand New York promoted Holmfridur Hardardottir to president. Hardardottir has been with the company for six years as COO, overseeing finance, HR, operations and the restructuring of the business into four units.
Live & Breathe
Live & Breathe named Rebecca Cook as its new head of HR. Cook will work to attract top talent, develop existing teams and foster an environment of creative excellence.
Partners + Napier
Partners + Napier made two new hires to boost its NYC presence. Krystal Garvin was hired as director of new business and Nathan King joined as global group account director.
Quorum
Quorum appointed Diane Wiley as programmatic account manager. Wiley brings over a decade of expertise to help the company capitalize on market demand and achieve aggressive growth in 2024.
Reputation
Reputation appointed Shantanu Sarkar as chief technology officer. Sarkar brings experience leading product and engineering teams at public and private organizations, particularly through critical phases of business growth.
Shine Talent Group
Shine Talent Group hired Manar El Mugammar as its new COO. El Mugammar is tasked with translating the group’s strategic objectives into operational plans and actions.
SocialChain
Gemma Newton was named client services director at SocialChain. Newton will work to nurture and grow existing client relationships across the agency’s portfolio of clients, including General Mills, Holland & Barrett, TikTok and Jameson.
Superprime
Superprime added Molly Gordon to its directorial roster for representation. The director and actress is best known for her roles in The Bear and Booksmart.
TBWA
TBWA welcomed back Mikko Pietilä to its collective as the regional CCXO of Next. Previously the executive creative director of 180 New York, he will work as regional chief creative experience officer and work to develop the collective’s brand experience and innovation arm Next.
TBWA\Chiat\Day LA
TBWA\Chiat\Day LA promoted Courtney Nelson to president. In this new role, Nelson will work alongside the agency’s U.S. leadership to reaffirm its commitment to disruptive ideas and creative excellence.
TBWA\Media Arts Lab
TBWA\Media Arts Lab named Terence Long as its executive creative director in South East Asia. Long brings experience from creative leadership roles at Wieden+Kennedy Shanghai, JWT and R/GA.
The Beyond Collective
The Beyond Collective named Laura Batt marketing and new business director. Batt will promote the group’s agencies externally, identify new business opportunities and get on pitches.
UTA
UTA named Julian Jacobs as the partner and co-head of its entertainment division. Jacobs will continue his entertainment marketing leadership and take on new responsibilities to further agency momentum.
WPP Open X
WPP Open X hired Amelia Torode as chief strategy lead Europe. Torode will work across the Coca-Cola Company portfolio of brands.
Zulu Alpha Kilo
Zulu Alpha Kilo made several additions to its leadership team. Christine McNab was promoted to COO, Kelly Flynn was promoted to marketing and communications director, Sean Bell was promoted to executive director, comms planning and technology, Laura Dubcovsky was promoted to executive producer and Sylvia Stultz was promoted to global head of talent attraction and Christina Hill joined the executive team as creative operations director.