Wunderman Snatches Creative Champion Mel Cruickshank as President of UK

LONDON, June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Wunderman, the largest digital and CRM agency network in the world, hired Mel Cruickshank as president to lead the agency's UK operations and serve as a member of the Wunderman Leadership Board.  She will report directly to Wunderman chairman and CEO Daniel Morel.  Cruickshank comes to Wunderman from LIDA, part of M&C Saatchi, where she was CEO since 2009.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120626/540087 )

A passionate believer in both digital CRM and the creative process, Cruickshank's proven track record in building brands has led to expanding business portfolios and coveted industry awards, including Marketing Magazine's Direct Marketing Agency of the Year for 2011.  Throughout her tenure at LIDA, Cruickshank added clients such as Boots, MINI, DHL, IKEA, International Hotel Group and O2.  She also championed a series of industry events involving creatives from top UK agencies that focused on celebrating and supporting the creativity in the UK direct industry.  

"Mel's in-depth knowledge of digital marketing is what clients look for; in a world that is always on, they want to know what works in social, what levers to pull in mobile, and what business outcomes will result," Morel said.  "Based on Mel's career track record, she knows.  That, combined with an entrepreneurial leadership style and a keen appreciation for how insights drive the creative process, makes her the right leader for our UK operation."

Cruickshank officially joins Wunderman later this year.  In the interim, Wunderman managing director, Martin Conneen, will take on additional responsibilities for managing UK operations until she begins her official duties.  Cruickshank replaces Brendan Tansey, who headed Wunderman in the UK since 2008 and presided over the UK's expansion to include partner companies Blast Radius, KBM Group and ZAAZ.  Tansey moves on to explore opportunities both within WPP, of which Wunderman is a part, as well as outside the group.

Before joining LIDA, Cruickshank worked for TBWA GGT, Smith Bundy and MRM in the UK, with clients in the financial services, automotive and consumer sectors.  

About Wunderman

Wunderman is the largest direct and digital marketing network in the world. It was founded in 1958 by Lester Wunderman. We are brand-minded storytellers and business-minded strategists who connect "always-on" customers with brands everywhere. The Wunderman difference lies in our approach: We combine fact with imagination and test our creativity against business reality. Throughout our network of 150+ offices and 20+ companies around the globe we are obsessively engaged in the art of creating conversations.

Wunderman is a member of WPP (NASDAQ: WPPGY) and part of Young & Rubicam Group. For more information, visit http://www.wunderman.com.    

Contact in the UK
Scott Wilson
scott.wilson@cohnwolfe.com
(office) +44(0)20-7331-5425
(mobile) +44(0)791-709-0070

Contact in the U.S.
Nancy Maffucci
nancy.maffucci@wunderman.com
(office) +1(212)210-4498
(mobile) +1(917)821-6617