VML made some changes to its leadership team, promoting Derek Clark to executive creative director, Kelly Durham to executive producer of integrated production and Rob Romine to group director, experience design. The agency also hired hiring Susan Hatten as senior producer, integrated production.
As executive creative director, Clark will lead creative for the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development account, as well as the Electrolux/Frigidaire account the company consolidated with VML in October. Clark joined as a group creative director working on Gatorade and MLB Urban Youth Academy in October of 2015, following nearly a year as a creative director with Cavalry, working with brands such as Coors Light and Smith & Forge. Before joining Cavalry he spent nearly two years as a creative director with mcgarrybowen, working with brands including Sears and Cars.com.
Durham will focus on managing broadcast production out of VML Chicago and report to head of production Tyler Smith.
“Kelly has worked around the clock and traveled many miles to help build the clients she has worked with into some of the most recognized and respected accounts at VML,” Smith said in a statement. “Through it all, she has also found time to work closely with Chicago leadership in continuing to grow processes and lead workflow within that office. She has been a great advocate for this department, a mentor to other producers and a strong leader every step of the way.”
Durham joined VML as a senior producer in May of 2015, following nearly twenty years with FCB Chicago, where she rose to the rank of executive producer.
Hatten will join the integrated production team as a senior producer working on Pepsi, producing projects for brands including Gatorade and Tropicana out of VML’s Kansas City headquarters, also reporting to Smtih. She joins the agency following nearly a dozen years at Ogilvy & Mather Chicago as a senior art buyer and senior content producer.
As group director, experience design, Romine will 
report to managing director, experience design Chris Wallen. He joined VML as a user experience designer almost nine years ago, was promoted to associate director of user experience at the beginning of 2011 and director, experience design in June of 2014. During his time with the agency he has worked with clients including Electrolux, FordPass, Common Wealth Bank of Australia and Korean Airlines. Before joining VML he worked on user design for Sprint Nextel and Handmark.