• by Fern Siegel , October 19, 2011

Tim Harris leaves Denuo to become executive vice president, global innovation at McCann Erickson, strengthening the agency's digital push. He reports to Matt Freeman, McCann's vice charman and global chief innovation officer.

Harris will be charged with creating a unit that fosters new products to enhance revenue streams for various brands. He will also be responsible for acquisitions. Freeman lauded Harris as a "visionary" who can help "create a global platform for brand-focused invention and innovation.”

Previously, Harris was at Denuo, where he was senior vice president, managing director, leading work for clients such as Mercedes Benz, General Mills, Procter & Gamble and Redbox.

He stated that he accepted the post because “I get to throw the rulebook out," noting it offers an opportunity to work "outside the norm, outside the brief and outside the typical definition of advertising.

“I’ll be building a team of evil hybrid misfits who are fiercely curious, locked into culture and dedicated to ideas," he added.

Before Denuo, Harris was the founder of SMG Play, which leveraged games in marketing efforts.