Arnold Names N.Y. President

BOSTON Arnold said it has named Mary Maroun president and managing director of its New York office.

She succeeds Fran Kelly, who in March was named CEO and president of the Havas-owned agency’s U.S. operations, succeeding Ed Eskandarian, who retains the title of chairman [Adweek Online, March 8].

Maroun, 50, will partner with John Staffen, Arnold’s chief creative officer and managing partner in New York. The move reunites the pair, who first worked together a decade ago on the award-winning Nynex Yellow Pages campaign at TBWA\Chiat\Day, where Maroun rose to the level of managing director of its New York office.

Maroun joins Arnold from Young & Rubicam in New York, where she was a North American managing partner. Prior to joining Y&R two years ago, she founded Love Collective, the creative boutique behind the launch of Delta Air Lines’ Song brand.

“It’s a privilege to be joining a forward-thinking creative organization like Arnold, and teaming with John again to build on the momentum that he and Fran Kelly have built for Arnold in New York. I’m looking forward to the opportunity and the challenge,” she said in a statement.

The office has grown from 80 employees to nearly 150 in the past two years; that number represents about 20 percent of Arnold’s overall national staff.

Arnold’s New York office has in recent months enjoyed a number of high-profile new-business wins, including assignments from Hershey’s, Viacom’s SpikeTV, VF Corps’ Lee Jeans and interactive work from Pfizer.

Kelly noted Maroun’s experience at building and maintaining senior client relationships and driving new business as key reasons she was hired.

Boston-based Arnold has been setting the stage for Eskandarian’s eventual retirement, shoring up key holes in its management structure. (The agency has said he will remain at the agency at least through year’s end. Eskandarian, 69, also holds the title of CEO of Arnold Worldwide Partners, the agency’s immediate corporate parent under Havas.)

In March, when Kelly’s new role, was disclosed, Arnold creative chief Ron Lawner was named vice chairman and global chief creative officer, a new position. Pam Hamlin and Pete Favat were tasked with running the Boston headquarters office, with Hamlin as president and Favat as chief creative officer.

A month before, Arnold hired Kristi Argyilan in the new post of evp, media strategy from crosstown rival Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos, a unit of Interpublic Grroup, where she had been general manager.

Despite losing its signature Volkswagen account late last year to Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Arnold enjoyed an estimated 12 percent overall rise in billings and revenue to $2.9 billion and $255 million in 2005.