Code3 Announces New Executive Appointments
Code3, the independent digital marketing agency at the intersection of connections, commerce and creative, proudly announces several new executive appointments, on the heels of significant new client growth and further integration and expansion of service offerings. Mike Montagna joins as chief activation officer, while Anne Buehner is promoted to head of creative, and Yvonne Williams moves into the VP, connections role from client strategy.
Mike Montagna will oversee Activation at the agency, with a mission to expand the strategy, platform and technology decisioning for the firm. Mike has a vast background in Commerce and Retail Media, most recently serving as Starcom’s executive vice president, Commerce, Omni-Channel and Shopper. Prior to Starcom, Mike was the head of eCommerce at Kraft-Heinz, and also held roles in merchandising and buying at Jet.com and Macys.
Following a sustained influx of new business - winning more than 25 new clients in the past nine months - Code3 is in a position to push boundaries and bring a more robust suite of services and technology solutions to market. “As efforts in Commerce, Social and digital media converge, and quick-turn, high-performing creative is more important than ever, we are delighted to bring additional client-facing leadership forward,” said Craig Atkinson, CEO of Code3. “Mike’s background and energy brings a unique perspective to Code3 that our clients are craving. He has a phenomenal vision on what psychological and behavioural factors cause shoppers to fill their carts, digitally or otherwise.”
Atkinson added, “Anne and Yvonne have both been exceptional performers for Code3 for years, and have high aptitude, standards for their work, and grit that our clients and teams love. They embody the values and leadership qualities that give us an exceptional opportunity to scale our media and creative operations.”
In her new capacity, Anne is poised to propel the creative department forward, leveraging her extensive two-decades experience. A trailblazer in developing impactful narratives for both emerging and challenger brands, Anne’s expertise lies in navigating the ever-evolving intersection of culture and technology. Her mission is to even further integrate Code3’s creative offering across all clients, including Social channels, Amazon and Retail Media, Google, and upper funnel CTV and video campaigns. Tapping into AI opportunities and new ways of framing customers’ stories are top of mind.
With a background as an Enneagram coach, Anne brings a unique approach to nurturing creative talent, emphasising that great creativity extends beyond pixels and letters; it's about connecting with the people who experience it. Anne shared, "I'm excited to further intertwine creative into every channel so our way of engaging consumers mirrors their shopping behaviour. Social equals commerce, and commerce equals social; the consumer gets to know a brand in those spaces, so it matters how a brand shows up at every touchpoint."
Yvonne joined Code3 in 2021 and brings two decades of experience in media buying and client strategy across a number of industries and channels, both traditional and digital. Formerly a business unit leader for food & beverage at Code3, Yvonne has demonstrated that her passion and media philosophy extend far beyond her former remit. “Given the growth that we are experiencing in our Media and Connections business across Social, Search, Streaming and Online Video, we knew that Yvonne is the perfect fit to build out the structure, strategy and rigour needed to deliver the best possible activation plans for our clients,” said Atkinson. “There’s nothing she can’t do; her curiosity and determination for connecting consumer behaviour with where to spend media dollars, across any space, is among the best I’ve seen in my 30-year career.”
These appointments mark a new chapter for Code3. With a recently completed brand refresh, new website and go-to-market strategy and focus on people development, the independent agency is realising its full potential as a nimble, fully integrated option for Fortune 500 and challenger brands alike.
Code3 is an independent digital marketing agency operating at the intersection of media, creative, and commerce. We call ourselves ‘confidently curious’ because we exist to push boundaries and accelerate growth for our clients' businesses. With strong partnerships across both major and emerging ad platforms and technologies, Code3 delivers best-in-class services with quality, efficiency, and nimbleness at the forefront of our partnerships. Today’s landscape demands brands and advertisers be everywhere at all times. At Code3, we make this possible with a fully integrated service offering that lives under one roof.
