• by Amy Corr  @MediaPostOTL, April 3, 2014

VML promoted Chuck Searle to chief client officer, up from executive director of client services. He succeeds Beth Wade, who was appointed the agency's first chief marketing officer in 2013. In his new role, Searle will continue to lead the client services department and major client engagements, including Gatorade, PepsiCo, Southwest Airlines, U.S. Soccer and Wendy's. Searle joined the agency in 2000, beginning as a media associate and working up to various leadership roles within the client services department. Co-managing directors Jennifer McDonald, Joe Grigsby, Renee Holmes and Conan Venus, will continue the day-to-day management and leadership of the department. Searle will report to Jon Cook, CEO and president of VML.