Blue Chip Forms Restructures Leadership with New Partners

To answer the combined pressures of omnichannel marketing, agile resourcing and technology innovation that are reshaping the agency business, brand and shopper marketing agency Blue Chip has created a new collaborative C-suite, named six new partners and launched a growth accelerator. 

The C-suite includes a new president, chief marketing officer, chief growth officer, and chief financial officer, in addition to a redefined COO position. 

Jamie Olson will serve as the first president, responsible for leading the agency. Jamie is a 15-year Blue Chip veteran who has consistently brought together people and solutions by leveraging strengths across talent and disciplines for maximum client impact. She's navigated many roles at Blue Chip, most recently overseeing the Client Leadership department, which has doubled the client base and expanded the agency into new verticals during her tenure. Jamie will lead all Blue Chip's services and oversee the success of client relationships and deliverables.

Dan Eisenberg is Blue Chip’s first chief marketing officer. Previously serving as svp/marketing and business development, he has elevated Blue Chip’s presence and created such client relationships as White Castle, Merrell Footwear and E. & J. Gallo Winery. Dan brings foresight to clients’ marketing challenges and maps sophisticated commercialisation strategies. In addition, he directs the agency’s executive leadership team. 

Sarah Vanheirseele is Blue Chip’s first chief growth officer, dedicated to developing growth strategies that can propel clients and technologies to yield new revenue streams. An innovator grounded in the business, she sees the gaps between consumer change and client realities. Previously serving as svp/strategic services, she built Blue Chip’s digital department, and has already steered the creation of several successful proprietary marketing technologies.

Amy Ireton will serve as the chief financial officer, stewarding the implementation of new software platforms and financial modelling to better match the increasing diversity of client engagements. As evp/finance and human resources, Amy has led successful mergers and acquisitions and managed over $1 billion in revenue for Blue Chip.

Jeff Skolnik is Blue Chip’s new chief operating officer, responsible for institutionalising new models to client delivery – from budget allocations to outsourcing and internal resource management. He’s worked across disciplines and understands the perspectives of multiple teams. As evp/general manager of revenue & resources, Jeff previously helped the agency increase productivity by 68%.

Also, vp/group creative director Joel Walker has been made a partner. 

“We’re changing the way we think about growth,” said Jamie. “In addition to selling our existing services in new ways to more clients, we’re creating new products and revenue streams. We need to keep advancing our capabilities so we can lead clients and scale our business more powerfully, and we need dedicated leadership to do it. Innovation can’t be anyone’s homework.”

The new structure and team will allow Blue Chip to provide the elite omnichannel experience, technological innovation and speed to market that world-class consumer brands increasingly require. More clients are leaning into agency talent and technology to help reshape how consumers engage with brands and shop differently. Clients are also shifting to heavier project work with shorter timelines and changing compensation structures.  

“Omnichannel demands full-service and rapid acceleration,” said Kawer. “That’s an opportunity for us as a fully-integrated independent steeped in brand commerce for consumer products. We’re built for scale that boutiques can’t provide and a speed of collaboration that holding companies can’t match. That can make us a nimbler, full-service alternative for brand commerce.”

Over the past few years, Blue Chip has created numerous platforms that deliver measurable returns for clients. For example, an enterprise version of Blue Chip’s loyalty and rewards platform allows companies to support numerous brands and retailers routinely. Additionally, a new retail media planning tool, allows advertisers inexperienced in shopper marketing – and those with limited budgets – to launch right-sized retail programs quickly.

Blue Chip is on a roll with new business this year. The agency has been awarded assignments to lead brand positioning and creative for Splenda, shopper marketing and E. & J. Gallo Winery, the retail rollout of Pioneer Woman seasonings, shopper marketing for Hershey’s ONE brand and media planning/buying for Fellowes air purifiers.

“Consumers are reconfiguring commerce while clients race to reorient a traditional, linear marketing system,” said Jamie. “By reorganising, we’ll be able to develop brand and commerce solutions that start from any point on the continuum where consumers interact with a brand.”