Former Brookstone chief marketer Kiran Smith joins Arnold as CEO
Havas Creative North America announced today (June 28) the appointment of Kiran Smith as chief executive for Boston-based creative agency Arnold.
Kiran Smith, formerly CMO of Brookstone, joins Arnold Worldwide as its new chief executive. / Arnold Worldwide
In her most recent role, Smith held the role of chief marketer at Brookstone, in the 55-year-old brand’s attempt to ‘re-energize’ and put the customer back at the core of its business. Prior to that, Smith was vice president of marketing at Stride Rite, overseeing the team at Stride Rite, as well as children’s lines for Sperry, Saucony, Keds, Merrell, and Hush Puppies.
Smith also brings years of experience working at Accenture and Alliance Consulting Group, the former entity in the news for its attempts to rival the offerings of traditional advertising holding companies.
She has replaced longtime head Pam Hamlin, who had spent 20 years within the Arnold network and will stay onboard through late summer to assist in transition of power. In a statement, the company said Smith will work alongside chief creative Icaro Doria and report to Havas NA chairman and chief executive Paul Marobella.
Marobella said: “The landscape is changing and requires an approach that blends top-tier business strategy with an understanding of a client’s challenges and how to bring solutions to life through creativity. Kiran has built a career as a leading marketer, driving creative and data-driven results at iconic brands. This, combined with her experience consulting on the service side, brings a truly unique blend that will help Arnold write a new future.”
Smith added: “I’m deeply passionate about business transformation, taking something that is already strong to its highest potential. To join an iconic creative agency like Arnold is an amazing opportunity and I’m excited to see where we can take both the agency and our client’s brands in this next chapter. The team at Arnold is solid and we’ll continue to strengthen and modernize the agency moving forward.”
Her hire comes weeks after Havas announced a five-year, $100m investment in its AMO Network practices to enhance its standing in both finance and communications.