Publicis Groupe’s Rokkan, which the agency’s own PR firm admits has been a bit press-shy lately, announced its first staffing change in several months: the hiring of Matthew Garcia as SVP of client services.
Garcia joins the shop after spending two and a half years with Richard Kirshenbaum’s NSG/SWAT, where he was partner, managing director and director of account management/biz dev. Prior to joining that operation in early 2013, he held mostly accounts-focused roles at Deutsch, mcgarrybowen and Saatchi & Saatchi. His client list to date includes Chase, Verizon Wireless, MillerCoors, Procter & Gamble, Mondelez and Morgans Hotel Group, among others.
Regarding the appeal of a move to Rokkan, Garcia cites “the quality of the work that the agency produces” as well as its “dynamic and committed leadership team” and “the care that the team takes to truly understand its clients and their products.” He adds, “Rokkan goes above and beyond to identify the root of a problem and craft informed solutions that become real game-changers for some of the world’s most recognized brands.”
Garcia will report directly to Rokkan co-founder/CEO John Noe, and the release positions his hire as the latest step in the shop’s shift from a “digitally native” operation to a full-service agency. Its leadership team now includes Garcia as well as SVP of strategy Sean Miller, VP of media/analytics Lindsay Williams and CCO Brian Carley (formerly of Saatchi & Saatchi and JWT New York).
The Publicis agency, which moved its headquarters uptown to the Flatiron District earlier this year, named two new creative directors in a round of hires and promotions back in February. Recent headlines have been tied to projects like the drone puppy delivery campaign for HSUS and the stunt encouraging travelers in New York’s Penn Station to buy the world a Coke…and a smile.
Speaking of press-shy, we haven’t heard from NSG/SWAT in quite a while.