• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, January 18, 2017

VML, part of WPP, has promoted two of its top creatives—John Godsey and Mike Wente—to a new post: North American Chief Creative Officers. 

The two creative execs will report to the agency’s Global CCO Debbi Vandeven, who will now have more time to focus on the shop’s expanding global client base and creative efforts on their behalf. 

The agency credits Godsey and Wente with much of its recent new business success, including the New Balance and Electrolux/Frigidaire wins in 2016. 

Godsey currently leads the creative department at VML’s global headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri.

His leadership has helped the agency win a trophy case full of awards for work on campaigns such as the “Everything to Prove” branded content series for Gatorade, Wendy’s Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger Love Songs and Nashville’s For the Love of Music. 

Wente joined VML in 2007 and since 2012, he has served as managing director and executive creative director of VML New York. Since then, the office has more than doubled in size, servicing organizations and brands such as the International Olympic Committee, New Balance, Chevron, LEGOLAND Florida Resort and Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. 

Separately, VML has hired Craig Badynee as director, creative recruiting. Badynee will be based in Chicago and concentrate on leading talent acquisition for VML’s creative teams across the U.S. 

Badynee has more than a dozen years of creative recruiting experience and has put his talents to work for traditional agencie,s such as JWT and FCB, as well digitally-focused shops like DigitasLBi and Digital Kitchen.