Dentsu Aegis Network Focuses on Growth with New Uk&I Leadership Team

Dentsu Aegis Network today announces the new senior leadership team for the UK & Ireland, which includes three promotions and two new appointments. 

Following a series of recent new business wins including Mondelez, Heineken, Intel and most recently Co-operative Group, the network is promoting three of its talented leaders to focus on continuing recent momentum and driving growth. In addition, two proven and respected client-side figures join from Sky and Liberty Global.

The new team will work closely with the UK & Ireland Leadership Executive, which includes agency brand CEOs, regional and central function leads, to focus its full spectrum of data-led innovation and creative capabilities to accelerate growth and build sustainable competitive advantage for its clients and partners.

Kate Howe, CEO of Dentsu-owned business-to-business (B2B) agency gyro, is promoted to Chief Growth Officer and will work closely with the network’s portfolio of agency brands to drive overall growth. This includes bringing together the disciplines of new business, marketing and communications. She will become Chairman of gyro and support the search for her successor.

James Connelly, Founder and Executive Chairman of Dentsu-owned mobile-first digital agency Fetch, is promoted to the new role of Chief Strategic Development Officer to drive the development of innovative products and services across the network, as well as lead the UK M&A strategy and new routes to market. He remains Chairman of Fetch.

Matthew Platts, CEO of media brands, is promoted into the new position of Chief Commercial Officer. In this role, Platts will be responsible for building on existing relationships to maximise the commercial success of the network, its clients and partners. There are no plans in place to replace his current role.

Also joining the team are two respected client-side figures in the roles of Chief People Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

Putting a renewed focus on the network’s 4000 people in the UK & Ireland, Anne Sewell joins from Sky in the new role of Chief People Officer. She will be responsible for creating a dynamic and agile culture to meet the progressive needs of Dentsu Aegis Network’s clients and teams. Sewell brings more than 20 years’ experience working at some of the country’s most respected brands including Sky, Kraft Heinz, 3G, Kingfisher and Santander and is well versed in developing high performing and inclusive teams, leading transformation and enabling breakthrough growth.

Finally, Dennis Romijn becomes Chief Financial Officer and will oversee all financial matters and compliance for the business, which include helping to develop further integration and procedures across all agency brands. Prior to joining the business, Romijn spent more than sixteen years at the world’s largest international TV and broadband company Liberty International. 

Completing the senior leadership team line-up is Chief Strategy Officer, Matthew Hook, who will continue to focus on the strategic output across the network, and Jay Tallon who remains in her role as General Counsel. Both have held these positions since 2016. 

All will report into Stef Calcraft, Executive Chairman, UK & Ireland.

Stef Calcraft said: “We are drawing on some of our most talented leaders and bringing in some new faces with a strong track-record of building, transforming and growing some of the world’s most successful businesses and brands. Together with the promotion of Jo Sutherland to Carat CEO and the arrival of Pippa Glucklich earlier this year, as well as our other established senior leaders, we have a multi-skilled entrepreneurial team of progressive thinkers to lead Dentsu Aegis Network’s next phase of growth.”