WPP’s SJR Welcomes Meredith Montgomery as Managing Director, Head of Canada

Group SJR, the strategic content and PR consultancy within the WPP network, has announced Meredith Montgomery has joined the agency as managing director, head of Canada. Tara Hauser-Pope who served as managing director since 2018, has been promoted to head of North America.

The first agency to lead the content marketing revolution that turned brands into publishers, SJR was founded in 2009, acquired by WPP in 2013, and launched in Canada in 2016. The agency has 200+ employees globally with locations in Toronto, New York, London, Los Angeles and Sydney. The Toronto office is in the WPP campus building, located at 155 Queens Quay East.

In Canada, SJR specialises in blending PR and content delivered through seamless UX and design. Powered by an in-house studio, the agency builds brand stories at the speed of culture.

For Meredith: it’s a homecoming. Meredith was SJR Canada’s third employee when it launched its Canadian operations in 2016. Now, she’s returning to lead the region she helped start after spending the last 3+ years establishing the PR department at Rethink. 

“I’m excited to be back because the team has always been what makes the agency special,” said Meredith Montgomery, MD and head of Canada, SJR.” 

“SJR is built newsroom style, backed by backed by former journalists, public relations pros, and creative strategists who can tell stories in unique ways. We're going to do great work and keep growing by tapping into the powerful talent and energy here,” said Meredith.

Previously, Meredith was head of brand narrative at Rethink, Canada’s most awarded independent creative agency. Meredith joined Rethink in 2021 to build the agency’s new PR department. Under her leadership, Rethink was named Strategy’s Silver PR Agency of the Year (twice), CPRS’s Agency Team of the Year in 2023 and recently won two North American SABRE awards. Meredith’s award-winning PR work at Rethink spanned from Scotiabank’s The Hockey Jersey and Pride Tape, Molson’s See My Name, Decathlon’s Ability Signs, YWCA’s Add The M, and included always on work with A&W and Tangerine Bank. Prior to Rethink, Meredith held roles at Hill+Knowlton and Ketchum.

Since joining SJR in 2018, Tara Hauser-Pope has spearheaded remarkable growth for the Canadian business, cultivating a high-performing team renowned for delivering impactful communications and content at scale. Her leadership has been instrumental in securing and serving a diverse portfolio of clients across fintech, automotive, QSR, CPG, and pharma.

Prior to joining Group SJR, Tara held positions at Coca-Cola Canada, Coca-Cola Australia and was the digital marketing director for Corby Spirit & Wine Ltd. With over 20 years of global experience spanning both agency and client-side, Tara brings a unique and comprehensive perspective to brand building and digital marketing. Her strategic vision and proven track record position her perfectly to drive continued innovation in the US market.

“New York is where it all started for SJR,” said Tara Hauser-Pope. “Our editorial team of 35+ journalists, creators, and strategists is the best out there. The opportunity to lead the agency through the next era of content marketing innovation, particularly in AI, is a dream. I'm proud of what we've built in Canada, and the sky’s the limit with Meredith leading this market.”