 |
| Michael Houston |
WPP has named Grey Global CEO Michael Houston its first US president. He will oversee about 20K staffers in the US and $6B in annual revenues.
In making the announcement, CEO Mark Read noted that the US is the UK-based ad/PR combine’s biggest market and home to many of its most important clients.
He said Houston “is admired and respected across the industry and has made an exceptional contribution during his 15 years at Grey.”
Houston took the Grey CEO title in 2017 after serving as New York managing director and North America CEO. Earlier, he worked at KB+P, Landon and Y&R.
As WPP US president, he will promote WPP offerings and collective capabilities, support agency heads, shape its campus strategy and attract/retain talent.
He also will serve as WPP’s executive sponsor for its substantial P&G account.
BCW, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Ogilvy and FGS Global are WPP’s PR shops.
DGA Group has added Hilton alum Jonas Neihardt as a senior advisor to bolster its hospitality, travel and tourism offering.
Ed Harnaga, who most recently served as SVP, chief marketing and communications officer at Pfizer, joins Vantage Data Centers, which provides hyperscale data center campuses, in the chief marketing and communications officer spot.
Lucas Public Affairs, a Sacramento-based firm, adds Sallie Poggi, who has worked at both FleishmanHillard and APCO, as a VP. Most recently, Poggi was chief communications officer at the University of the Pacific... Allied Universal, a security and facility services company, brings on Melissa Butler as VP of communications. She was at Burson... Talk Shop Media, a firm that operates in Canada and the U.S., specializing in PR, corporate communications and social media, promotes Stuart Martin to managing director of its U.S West Coast operations.
The Estée Lauder Companies names Madeleine Boyd SVP, global brand communications. Most recently, she served as global SVP, beauty & wellness at Together Group... Cohen & Steers, a global investment manager specializing in real assets and alternative income, names Erik Schneberger as EVP, chief marketing officer... CooperVision, a contact lens company, brings on former Bayer VP Brenda Raphael as VO of marketing, Americas.
Edelman names United Entertainment Group CEO Jarrod Moses as vice chairman. Moses will continue in his role at UEG... Burson brings on Matthew Wagner, who was most recently global client relationship manager and energy sector lead at Edelman, as EVP and global client leader... The Key PR appoints Jodi Maroney as principal. Maroney joins the agency after a 25-year run at Access Brand Communications.
