Cohn & Wolfe Digital Transformation Advances with New Senior Talent

-- Agency appoints Head of Digital & Social Media, UK and EVP, West Coast Digital Leader

LONDON and LOS ANGELES, Dec. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- To drive the agency's digital growth strategy, Cohn & Wolfe today announced two regional leadership appointments.  The BBC's Gabrielle Lovering becomes the new Head of Digital and Social Media in the UK and Mark Burr, former Chief Innovation Officer of GSW, fills a newly created position as EVP, West Coast Digital Leader, based in Los Angeles.  Both will have dual reporting to Global Digital President, Chad Latz, and their respective market leaders.

At BBC Worldwide, Lovering held the post of Director of Strategy, Digital, Global Brands and Marketing Technology.  She worked across emerging consumer business to create a global multi-platform strategy, linking up digital products including iPlayer, Games and Live Events, while taking in both pan-business marketing and eCRM strategy.  Lovering also served as BBC Worldwide's Head of Digital Design, leading creative digital strategy for the BBC's major global brands across mobile, social and web.  Mark Burr brings over sixteen years of deep digital and tech background applied across health and wellness, pharmaceutical, consumer electronics and food and beverage industries.  Prior to his role as Chief Innovation Officer at GSW Worldwide, where he led the development of integrated campaigns for clients such as Pfizer, Novartis and Mylan, he specialized in global digital health communications within the Publicis Healthcare Communications Group, as well as at Sudler & Hennessey and Heartbeat Digital.

Over the past two years, Cohn & Wolfe has invested significantly in digital talent.  Under the leadership of Latz, the agency has hired over 40 digital leaders to drive digital and social media strategies for clients, leading to remarkable year on year, double-digit digital growth.  These leaders act as catalysts to achieve the agency's goal of embedding digital capabilities throughout the enterprise.

"Cohn & Wolfe no longer considers digital an isolated marketing discipline.  Rather, it is an integrated part of our full communications offering," said Donna Imperato, CEO.  "Key digital hires are critical to ensure we have the best expertise leading digital innovation and creativity across the agency."

"Gabrielle and Mark both take a 360 approach to brand building, which is the cornerstone of Cohn & Wolfe's offering.  They bring remarkable digital capabilities that will benefit clients as well as our own employees across all practices," said Latz.

About Cohn & Wolfe

Cohn & Wolfe, a global communications agency, builds brands and corporate reputations through an uncompromising commitment to creativity.  The agency's strategic approach unearths fresh, relevant insights leading to communications solutions that deliver measurable business success.  Over its 40-year history, Cohn & Wolfe's award-winning brand marketing work and world-class digital media campaigns have attracted top brands around the world.  In 2012, Advertising Age recognized Cohn & Wolfe's independent-minded, entrepreneurial culture by naming it one of the "Best Places to Work in Marketing & Media" for the second consecutive year.  The agency has more than 1,100 employees in over 50 offices across North America, EMEA, and Asia.  Cohn & Wolfe is part of WPP (Nasdaq: WPPGY), the world's largest communications services group.