• by Larissa Faw , February 9, 2015

Omnicom Group’s 180LA is naming agency veteran Mike Harris to the newly created position of global chief strategy officer. He will oversee the agency’s strategic offering for both its Los Angeles and Amsterdam offices, which combined have 200-plus staffers, and is also tasked with new business development.

“There isn’t an agency or brand in the world that wouldn’t benefit from the strategic and creative thinking of Mike Harris,” says 180 Global Chief Executive Officer, Michael Allen. “We’re lucky to have him onboard to help us continue 180’s momentum.” 

The heads of strategy in both offices -- Jason Knight in LA and Ben Armistead in Amsterdam -- will report to Harris, who will split his time between the two offices.

Harris will report to the 180 Partners and join the agency’s executive management team; including Allen, William Gelner (chief creative officer, 180LA), Al Moseley (president & chief creative officer, 180 Amsterdam), and Chris Mendola (founder/chairman).

“The success of our clients depends on people who can blow the doors off conventional thinking, and Mike has plenty of dynamite," says Moseley.

180LA approached Harris as the need for an executive strategy officer became more important to the growth of the agency. Harris, agency higher-ups believe, is uniquely qualified having most recently served as president of creative advertising services for Deluxe Entertainment, and previously as president, CEO at DDB California and chief strategy officer for TBWA\Chiat\Day, San Francisco. 

Clients of 180 include HP (who now engages both offices), Mitsubishi, PlayStation, Qatar Airways, and DHL. Other clients include Pepsi, Expedia, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Boost Mobile, and Replay Jeans.