WPP’s Wavemaker – the product of merging MEC and Maxus – has appointed Aaron Smith as global chief client officer.
Smith joins from brand and marketing consultancy, Prophet, where he has been a partner in the company’s Chicago office for the last four years.
Prior to joining Prophet, Smith worked at US-based brand consultant Envision and the Sterling-Rice Group, a strategy and innovation consulting firm.
Commenting on the appointment, Wavemaker’s global CEO, Tim Castree, said: “Aaron has over 20 years of experience in consulting to CMOs and brands.
“That makes him the perfect choice to head up a client leadership practice that delivers on our purpose to grow and transform our clients’ brands through unique purchase journey insights and a deep understanding of their business needs.”
Smith added: “The plan that Tim and his team have laid out for Wavemaker, is truly client-centric and answers the most burning question of CMOs today – how to build and grow brands in a transformed media and marketing landscape. This is an amazing opportunity and I’m excited to join.”
Smith joins Wavemaker on 2 October and will be based in Chicago.
In June GroupM, the investment arm of WPP, announced it was merging the global operations of its agencies MEC and Maxus, with Jason Dormieux taking on the role of UK CEO and reporting to Castree.
GroupM’s portfolio will now comprise three global media agency networks – Mindshare, MediaCom, and Wavemaker – each with more than one billion dollars in annual revenues.
Wavemaker, a brand name which is already a division of MEC, will have offices in 90 countries and over 8,500 employees. Clients include L’Oréal, Vodafone, Marriott, Colgate-Palmolive and Paramount.
The new brand, along with a new identity, will go live locally as the merger completes in each country, to be finalised by January 2018.
