McCann Worldgroup nabs Havas CEO as new global president

McCann Worldgroup has named industry veteran Stephanie Nerlich (pictured) as its global President of the McCann agency in a dual role. In her role, she will drive business growth for McCann with its regional presidents with a focus on expanding new capabilities in global markets.

She will also provide executive leadership and counsel on the Verizon business for McCann in the US, according to the brand on LinkedIn.

In this newly created role, Nerlich will report directly to Daryl Lee, the global CEO of McCann Worldgroup and McCann.

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Nerlich’s dual role is part of the group’s new leadership structure spearheaded by Lee. In the new structure, top executives will undertake dual roles at both the agency and client level which aims to foster deeper collaboration and better access to resources for McCann’s key clients.

Before joining McCann Worldgroup, Nerlich was the CEO, North America and global chief client officer at Havas Creative Network from January 2020 where she led the creative network to strong growth and a successful new business track record, added McCann Worldgroup.

“Could not be more excited for this chapter at McCann — such an honour to work alongside amazing McCann Worldgroup leadership and Daryl Lee,” said Nerlich on LinkedIn.

Nerlich has also held business leadership roles at other agencies such as MDC Partners where she served as the executive vice president from 2017 to 2019. She was also the agency’s interim co-CEO from September 2018 to April 2019.

McCann Worldgroup has been ramping up its growth efforts worldwide as it recently bolstered its Southeast Asia leadership team with new appointments, including Charlie Lowe being promoted to the newly-created regional role of chief strategy officer and Aishah Haroon being named the director of client services and operations across MRM Singapore and Hong Kong. Both of them report to McCann Worldgroup SEA's president, Nick Handel.

Formerly the regional strategy director on the Cigna business, Lowe will be responsible for leading the strategic teams across the markets of Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong in his new role, as well as having a focus on new business and thought-leadership. Lowe is also a member of McCann Worldgroup Asia Pacific’s Strategy Leadership Community (SLC), with key industry activities including judging at APAC Effies.

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