Wednesday, 15/12/10

Karen Blackett named as new CEO of MediaCom UK and Ireland

Jane Ratcliffe will take the role of Chairman of the UK's largest media agency in 2011.

Jane Ratcliffe names Karen Blackett as CEO of UK

The pair will work together to reinvigorate the UK's most successful media agency and create an even stronger offer for the agency's clients across our London, Edinburgh, Manchester and Dublin offices.

Karen will take charge of the agency's day-to-day operations and management of the London office. Her brief is to focus on attracting and retaining talent, boost the new business offering and ensure integration across the agency.

Jane will focus on key client relations and improving the wider perception of the MediaCom brand. She will also run the Manchester, Scotland and Ireland offices.
"Karen will reinforce the MediaCom position of People First, Better Results and ensure that our offer and delivery for clients becomes even stronger. She's been an incredible part of the MediaCom success story both in the UK and across EMEA since 2008. I'm confident that she'll reinforce MediaCom UK as the best place to work, position us as the best strategic thinkers in the market and establish us as deliverers of business results par excellence," says Jane Ratcliffe.

Karen comes to the UK CEO position with a track record of success in a range of UK and international roles. She was UK New Business Director when MediaCom won Sky, Shell, T-Mobile and VW Group. During her six-year tenure the agency picked up £400m in billings.

Since 2008 she has been Chief Operations Director for the EMEA region, working to restructure local offices and improve new business performance. The agency has risen from number seven to the number three in this time, winning briefs from Merlin, Bayer and Ikea among others.

She has been listed in Management Today's 35 under 35 twice and also named as one of the 100 Most Influential Black People in the UK both in 2008 and 2010.

"Jane and Karen will make a fantastic team. They will make the most dynamic media duo in the UK with complementary skill-sets," says Nick Lawson, CEO for MediaCom Europe, Middle East and Africa region.

This year MediaCom UK has picked up new business wins such as the COI consolidation, as well as retaining the GSK, EA and DigitalUK account.