VMLY&R Elevates Chris Wood to Chief Marketing Transformation Officer, EMEA

VMLY&R has announced the promotion of Chris Wood to the newly created position of chief marketing transformation officer, EMEA. In his new role, Chris will spearhead marketing transformation across the EMEA client base, empowering them with proactive and continuous improvement initiatives within their marketing operations. He will orchestrate experts from technology, customer experience, branding, consulting, and commerce — assembling teams to identify and address opportunities, propelling clients to get ahead in their transformation agenda.

Chris’ appointment represents a growing need to embed people with an operational knowledge of a breadth of marketing capabilities, someone who can orchestrate and deploy the right marketing people, platforms, and processes to achieve defined objectives. Chris and his transformation team have successfully led impactful projects for brands such as Ford and Vodafone. Leveraging the power of technology, offshoring strategies, process redesign, and cultural change programs, they have consistently surpassed their objectives and delivered exceptional results.

In parallel, Chris will stay heavily engaged in network operations, continuing to work with the VMLY&R EMEA offices and the global Centres of Excellence to ensure the network consistently delivers what clients need from their agencies, addressing both immediate and long-term objectives.

He has previously held roles at VMLY&R, including as CEO of VML UK, overseeing five years of continued growth. He has assumed pivotal roles as a digital, client, and strategy lead for global client teams, including Ford, WBA, Sanofi, and Bridgestone. He most recently oversaw network capability for the EMEA region, seamlessly integrating the agency’s diverse range of offerings through a series of strategic mergers and acquisitions.

Chris’ breadth of experience and digital platform expertise gives him an ability to help clients build future-facing marketing operations,” said Andrew Dimitriou, CEO, VMLY&R EMEA. “This new role is instrumental in helping clients stay ahead and create competitive advantage through marketing.”

“This is a challenging era for marketing, but equally an exciting opportunity to build teams and capabilities that deliver outstanding marketing that connects with customers and leads to growth,” Chris said. “We are uniquely positioned due to our scale and capability to help clients recognise that opportunity.”