Wavemaker UK Promotes Sian Runnacles to Chief Growth Officer

Wavemaker has promoted client managing director Sian Runnacles to the role of chief growth officer as it continues to expand its executive committee. 

Sian, who first joined Wavemaker’s predecessor MEC in 2010 as a planning director, has enjoyed a successful 13 years in planning and client leadership at the agency, successfully managing accounts including Morrisons, William Hill, Vodafone, Kingfisher and Henkel, and recently winning new business in the form of William Hill, 888, Avon and INEOS.  Prior to this, she held planning roles at Vizeum and Starcom MediaVest working on clients such as Coca Cola and Proctor & Gamble.

She joins a new-look executive committee which includes recently promoted chief strategy and planning officer Elliott Millard, together with CEO Kelly Parker, chief operating officer Katie Lee, chief commercial officer Shil Patel and chief investment officer Ian Stevens. 

Sian will report to Kelly with a remit that includes unlocking new modes of growth for both Wavemaker’s existing and prospective clients; growing the agency’s specialist services such as commerce, addressable, SEO, and applied innovation; and building Wavemaker’s reputation for positive provocation.

Sian will spearhead Wavemaker’s dedicated growth team, which comprises new business and marketing. She will oversee both of these functions, guiding the team as it shapes and shares Wavemaker’s ‘positive provocation’ mantra with its clients, its people and the industry at large. Bringing her client-first mindset to the new role, her knowledge of their businesses and the ways in which they operate will enhance the agency’s new business and marketing communications output, building on its current momentum. 

The role was previously held by Katie Lee, who was promoted to COO in June 2022 following Parker’s promotion to CEO the same month. 

This announcement follows the recent news that Wavemaker is building out its specialist skills in three areas – Fast Growth, Consultancy and B2B – at a global, regional and local level. These capabilities will be crucial in winning and retaining clients, with stronger global ‘go to market’ strategies and product development. 

Kelly Parker, CEO, Wavemaker UK said, “I’m delighted to welcome Sian to the Executive Committee. Anyone who has worked with Sian will know that she has a special ability to deliver growth for our current clients and support the agency in winning new business. Sian embodies the Wavemaker attitude of Positive Provocation in everything that she does. This, alongside her knowledge of how we operate, her forward-thinking capabilities and client-first mindset make her an excellent addition to the team. 

“Having delivered an exceptional 13 years at the agency already, I’m excited to work closely with Sian as she takes this next step in her Wavemaker journey.”

Sian Runnacles added, “I’m super excited that I get to focus on the aspects of the job that get me out of bed in the morning; demonstrating why any client should partner with Wavemaker, ensuring we’re future fit, and working with existing and new clients to find new sources of growth through our core capabilities and specialist consultancy services. And what’s even better is that I get to do it in an agency that’s supported my own personal growth over the last decade. I can’t wait to get stuck in.”