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Gyro shakes up leadership team as Kate Howe is elevated to chief executive

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By Jessica Goodfellow, Media Reporter

November 16, 2017 | 3 min read

Dentsu Aegis agency Gyro has elevated Kate Howe to the newly created role of UK chief executive as part of leadership overhaul.

Kate Howe, chief executive of Gyro UK

Kate Howe, chief executive of Gyro UK

Howe has been managing director of the agency's UK operations since May 2014. In the new role, she will work with Liz Jones, chief executive of B2B at parent company Dentsu Aegis Network, to lead the B2B marketing agency's evolution.

The agency has tapped Beth Freedman, head of clients services at B2B marketing agency Saatchi & Saatchi Pro, to replace Howe in the role of managing director. Freedman will oversee overall client relationships and the agency’s operations.

Gyro has also swiped talent from Dentsu, including Ian Bell, global strategy partner at media agency Carat, who becomes chief strategy officer. Bell will lead the 12-strong strategy team across Gyro UK.

Finally, the agency’s executive creative director David Harris has been promoted to chief creative officer of Gyro UK.

The new leadership team structure will be in place from January 2018.

The changes come nearly 18 months after Dentsu acquired the agency and subsequently merged it with the network’s B2B media shop, Interprise.

Howe said: “The arrivals of both Beth and Ian greatly enhance our creative and strategic thinking alongside our expertise in how to intertwine B2B creativity with media, tech and data. This will be vital as we continue on our integration journey following the merger with Interprise.

“We’re building an agency around clients, and their customers, and not just channels. I have an ambitious UK growth plan for Gyro, and this expanded leadership team will help us achieve it.”

Liz Jones, chief executive of B2B at Dentsu Aegis Network, added: “More and more clients are demanding integrated expertise and capabilities in their B2B communications. This increases the need for agencies to weave together media, digital and creative to create campaigns that truly resonate with a company’s target audience. The strong, entrepreneurial leaders that we have at the helm of Gyro UK means the agency is now perfectly placed to prosper and grow in this marketplace.”

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