Vizeum Exports Patrick Affleck To Head Up U.S. Innovation
- by Larissa Faw , August 14, 2015
Vizeum UK is sending Patrick Affleck over the pond to become EVP of Digital and Innovation at Vizeum U.S., a newly created position. He will have wide-ranging responsibilities including to
build "globally scalable ideas and solutions" with Vizeum’s partners, as well as lead initiatives to expand Vizeum’s startup collaboration program. He will also define and manage the
innovation agenda of the agency as well as its clients. He will report to Vizeum U.S. CEO Steven Feuling and will remain a part of Vizeum’s Global Management team, led by Thomas Le Thierry,
Vizeum’s Global President. advertisement
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The position underlines the Dentsu Aegis Network agency's shift to focus on digital strategy and innovation. He is assuming a leadership role across
digital, so will ultimately have functional authority over all of Vizeum’s digital products.
Affleck's "creativity, commitment to game-changing and scalable innovation, and comprehensive
understanding of our largest global businesses, matched with an unparalleled passion for Vizeum, is central to our agency’s advancement and presence within the U.S. and global market," says
Feuling.
Affleck will also be racking up frequent-flyer miles. Although he will officially be based in San Francisco, the position will require him to regularly travel between all
three U.S. offices in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Still, given the growing proliferation of media and technology companies – companies that define the future of media
– in northern California, agency executives feel it is important to have Affleck near to what will continue to be the innovation drivers of the industry.
Affleck's unique background is perfect for
this role. Previously as Head of Innovation in London, one of Vizeum's seven global hubs, Affleck helped build dynamic real-time activation solutions for brands like Pernod Ricard and Burberry. He
also developed and launched a global training initiative that was designed to elevate "Vizeum's client work by turning creative thinking into real-doing," say agency executives. Affleck has also
worked for brands such as BMW, Fox, Puma, Heinz, Sonos, Kraft, and P&G and he has previously held leadership positions at ZenithOptimedia.
“Patrick has brought a significant
contribution to the business supporting our growth and working closely with clients like Burberry, ABInBev and Burger King," says Thomas Le Thierry, Global President of Vizeum. "He adds to
his current remit the leadership of our innovation practice in the U.S. Growing our top talents is truly part of our culture, so this is a major step for him; this is an opportunity Vizeum is
delighted to offer given his exceptional track record.”
Affleck will soon be joined by other high-profile executives. Since he assumed the title of US CEO a year ago, Feuling has
been working on a plan to rebuild Vizeum into the "Agency of Today's Future" and says he will be taking some dramatic steps to achieve this, including the announcement of several new key talent in the
coming weeks. The agency currently employs 200 in the U.S.
Tia
Castagno will be replacing Patrick in his previous role as Head of Innovation.
