Changing of the guard at JWT led by double promotion for James Whitehead & Joe Petyan
J. Walter Thompson has shaken-up its leadership team with a double promotion for London-based executive partners James Whitehead and Joe Petyan, who will now serve as London CEO and European regional director respectively.
Whitehead’s move will see him assume overall responsibility for the agency’s employees, creative output and client offering as well as integrating several newly formed divisions with JWT’s existing digital, one-to-one, experiential and above-the- line capabilities. These include digital innovation and e-commerce division Mirum; always-on content division Colloquial and shopper marketing unit Geometry@JWT.
Petyan meanwhile will take on operational responsibility for the continental market at a time of considerable uncertainty pending Brexit negotiations. Both will report directly to European CEO Toby Hoare.
Hoare commented: “This is a great moment for us to expand James and Joe’s responsibilities and influence across J. Walter Thompson London and Europe. As we continue to drive entrepreneurialism and agility in London and across the region, they will provide all the right leadership for our people to best deliver this with our clients.”
Several other hires and promotions were conducted in tandem with Emma Hoyle, formerly Channel 4’s head of HR, joining as director of talent; Kate Muir as head of new business; Alan Blair as head of digital planning and the promotion of Simone Forster to director of client partnership.
These appointments follow the naming of Ramzi Chaabane as digital strategy dirtector in Singapore.