Cheil UK Hands MD Pye Wider Remit

Cheil UK is powering the latest stage if its growth with a succession strategy that sees managing director Matt Pye take on a wider remit.

 

The move, which follows Chris Harris’s decision of to step down as president and COO of Cheil Europe, will see Pye lead a top-tier team that includes Logan Wilmont as executive creative director, Daniele Fiandaca as head of innovation, Peter Martin as director of shopper, Simon Hathaway as European president, shopper marketing and retail operations, and Tony Evans as head of planning.

 

Harris said: ‘It’s an awesome senior line-up brought together through an 18-month investment in the best talent in the industry to offer clients outstanding levels of creativity, planning and strategy, coupled with impeccable delivery to move their businesses forward.  This has been a deliberate strategy – I knew when I joined that this would be my last role in advertising and my intent was to build a team that could carry on without me.

 

‘Over the past two years, this agency has almost doubled in size, and made enormous progress in its capabilities. Growth has been driven by stellar campaigns such as the Olympics work for Samsung as well as the NX/We are David Bailey campaign, to name just two of the highlights of last year. So I’m not leaving for negative reasons – and I’m not leaving to go to another agency. After 33 years in advertising, I’m leaving the sector to do something completely new to me and I don’t yet know what that will be. What I do know is that I am immensely proud of what we have achieved and very excited for the future potential. It’s testament to Matt’s brilliant contribution that he’ll be taking it on.’

 

Pye added: ‘Chris leaves the agency in great shape – the team we’ve created is already proving potent, as witnessed by our growth. My focus will be to maintain this momentum in 2013 by continuing to grow our relationship with Samsung balanced with an ambitious new business strategy. Pitch activity is picking up, and we’re already lining up against the big names in advertising.  Needless to say, our commitment to delivering quality for our clients through great talent is ongoing – we’ll be announcing key new appointments over the next few weeks.’

 

Harris will remain with Cheil in a consultancy role until June.