iris Worldwide Names Chief Strategy Officer

iris Worldwide has appointed current Global Head of Planning Sam Noble as its first Chief Strategy Officer, creating a new role that will sit across all agency divisions worldwide. 
 In the role, Noble, who is also a founding partner, will be responsible for harmonizing all aspects of strategy, planning and insight, which will include the recently acquired Datalytics proposition.  He will also be driving the continued evolution of the overall agency proposition and its consistent application across the still expanding global network.

 

 Ian Millner, Joint Global CEO said of the new role: “As our global network grows, it is vital that we bring to life the full range of strategy skills that iris has to offer in a clear, consistent and coherent way.  We have a truly unique proposition – we bring together the best in management consulting, CRM, data, analytics, brand planning, innovation, user experience, content...  It is this bringing together of the best from both left and right brain that makes what we do so interesting for clients."

 

 “We’re at the cutting edge of where the industry is going; and Sam’s new role is part of blending our skill set together in a way that creates distinctive and definite value for our clients around the world.”

 Noble’s appointment comes as current CEO of iris London, Steve Bell is promoted to European CEO to focus on building the network throughout Europe across all divisions, include the agency’s management consulting division, iris Concise, as well as iris Culture's experiential, social and PR outputs.

 

 Millner added: “We are growing at a rapid rate and increasingly working with clients that need an agency that can deliver on a global scale, quickly and effectively.  Both Sam and Steve are founding partners and have played a big part in growing iris into an agency that we believe is the way all agencies should be.”

 

 2013 has been a strong year for the agency, with wins including MINI, the global launch of Vype e-cigarettes after a three-way pitch, and Domino’s above the line work as well as increased assignments from existing clients Philips, Shell and Pepsi Britvic.  iris also recently appointed Chris Bayliss, Executive Creative Director of Tribal DDB London as Executive Creative Director for iris London as part of its global growth mission.