Wieden+Kennedy has hired Laura Rowan as chief strategy officer for the nearly 500-person New York office.
Rowan joins W+K from Anomaly New York, where she most recently served as managing partner, head of strategy. Rowan will now lead a department of brand, comms, social and data strategists to help drive growth across the agency’s New York’s portfolio of partners.
“Wieden+Kennedy isn’t just an ad agency, it’s a platform that carefully nurtures a culture of creativity,” Rowan said in a statement. “It’s the place where people and brands meet their full potential. I’m truly honored to become a part of the magic that the very talented and kind people of W+K have built together.”
Prior to Wieden, Rowan spent more than a decade of her 20-year career at Anomaly, in both New York and Toronto, where she led the agency’s total strategy approach for marketers. She has helped with creative storytelling for brands including AB InBev, Google, YouTube, Ally Financial, Hershey and Panera. While at Anomaly, Laura also co-chaired the agency’s LGBTQ+ champions group, which focused on driving inclusiveness and visibility of the community within the industry and in the work.
Before joining Anomaly, Laura was a vp, global strategy director at Grey working across P&G globally, helping Febreze become P&G’s fastest-growing billion-dollar brand. Her work has been recognized by Cannes Lions, APG, One Show, D&AD, Effies, Jay Chiat, Emmys and Clios.
“It’s hard not to be drawn to Laura when you meet her,” said Jiah Choi, president of Wieden+Kennedy New York. “She shares our belief that the best creative briefs are born out of truth, and she has a strong track record of work to demonstrate it.
Choi added that Rowan will work with the planning department to provide a north star that allows them to grow in their own ways and strengthen their own perspectives.