Lotta Malm Hallqvist Joins MDC Partners as European MD & CMO

MDC Partners today announced the appointment of Lotta Malm Hallqvist as the company’s first Managing Director, Chief Marketing Officer in Europe, a new role designed to amplify growth and drive collaboration opportunities for the global agency network, which continues to build strength as the partner for clients seeking innovative, modern and nimble global marketing solutions.  She will report to Bob Kantor, Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer at MDC.

Malm Hallqvist’s hire comes on the heels of significant global momentum for MDC Partners, including the recently-announced partnership with Sweden-based agency Forsman & Bodenfors, which aligns the strengths of creative powerhouses CP+B and F&B in a powerful global alliance.  The new role will accelerate MDC’s growth and agency collaboration opportunities by creating a centralised point of contact in Europe to navigate the unique needs of a growing group of agency partners located there, including 72andSunny, Allison+Partners, Anomaly, Concentric, CP+B, Doner, Forsman & Bodenfors, Hunter PR, KBS Albion, Kwittken, Northstar, Redscout, The Media Kitchen and VarickMedia Management. 

“Our global expansion has been a significant growth engine for MDC, as we continue to attract an elite set of ambitious, modern client and agency partners across Europe and beyond,” said MDC Chairman and CEO Scott Kauffman.  “With the addition of Lotta to our global team, we are committed to advancing our model in support of the global ambitions of our clients and agencies.  Lotta has the experience and boundless entrepreneurial spirit to fortify MDC’s reputation in Europe, and to help us take full advantage of our distinguished proposition, which has resonated so positively in the market.”

“We are not new to the European market, but we have only barely begun to realise our potential, reach and capabilities as a global player,” added Kantor.  “We have within our family some of the most recognised and creative agencies in the world, deep regional experience, an extraordinary track record, and a nimble global model that can flex to give clients both the scale and creative impact they are looking for.  With Lotta’s dedicated focus on Europe, we can better capitalise on new and emerging opportunities for MDC and our agencies.” 

Malm Hallqvist joins MDC from Cheil Worldwide, where she most recently served as President, Global Chief Growth Officer, charged with fusing together a disparate collection of agencies and networks into a more powerful force and extending its international client base.  There she led a number of collaborative new business wins spanning Cheil’s worldwide agency network, which includes the Barbarian Group and Iris Worldwide, bringing in global business from Ethiad Airways, Abbott Pharmaceuticals and CZ Cussions’ personal care business.  Malm Hallqvist got her start in the agency business as co-founder of Propaganda, which she sold to McCann in 2000.  She remained at the agency for 15 years, becoming EVP, Global Chief Growth Officer in 2011.  She also spent time working at Mother in London, and earlier this year, Malm Hallqvist was named among Advertising Age’s first Women to Watch Europe, which recognises outstanding women in marketing, advertising and media.

“MDC Partners is a force to be reckoned with in Europe, and while the MDC agencies and their work are celebrated globally, this market has yet to see the full strength of the network or appreciate its stark contrast to the legacy models of its peers,” said Malm Hallqvist.  “I am thrilled to be joining the MDC family at such an important inflection point, and extremely excited to be able to partner with senior client leaders to create truly modern global solutions to today’s business challenges.”