Justin Cooke named non-exec chairman as The Drum makes four top appointments
The Drum has named former Possible chief executive Justin Cooke as non-executive chairman in one of four key appointments to its senior team.
Non-executive chairman Justin Cooke, pictured, is one of four new appointments at The Drum
Cooke brings to the post vast business and marketing experience having founded the global digital agency Fortune Cookie, which he sold to WPP in August 2012, before running Possible in the UK for three years.
He is also a former chair of Bima, current vice-chair of Unicef UK and an advisory board member to No 10 Downing Street and the British Museum.
“I have had many interactions with The Drum over the past 20 years,” Cooke said. “I have been a reader, a sponsor, a follower, partner, writer, a liker and a swiper. An attendee, a panelist, a retweeter, a member, speaker, judge and a jury. But most importantly through it all, a fan.
“In a world smack bang full of transformation, disruption and tectonic shifts, the beat of The Drum can be heard by tens of millions of marketers across every channel and continent. I feel privileged to be given the opportunity to work with a such a driven and talented team of individuals to help ensure that The Drum continues to inform, educate and inspire us all to ensure marketing continues to change the world.”
Cooke joins a senior team bolstered by three further high-profile appointments including fellow former Fortune Cookie director Ravi Ruparel as non-executive strategic financial adviser.
Matt Sullivan, meanwhile, has been hired from the International Echo Awards, where he was managing director, to head up The Drum Network’s peer-to-peer learning offering. Sullivan has previously served as head of membership for the Marketing Agencies Association and will ramp up The Drum’s drive to create products and services that help marketers make better decisions.
And completing the new line-up is Tim Molony, the founder of Comparethetreatment.com, who becomes head of product for The Drum Recommends, the solution for clients seeking proven agency partners.
Diane Young, The Drum’s chief executive, said: “Our four new UK appointments bring a range of welcome skill to the company.
“Matt and Tim are experienced practitioners with exactly the right kind of energetic approach that will help us to bring more value to our members and set a firm course to expand our membership and training services. And Justin and Ravi's combined strategic and financial input is proving really valuable in propelling the business forward.”
The new hires arrive as The Drum strengthens its international teams with the appointment of vastly experienced journalist Ginger Conlon as US editor and the promotion of Charlotte McEleny to APAC publisher.