• by Amy Corr  @MediaPostOTL, March 10, 2016

Deutsch New York named Andrew Dawson as partner, chief strategy officer. Since February, Dawson has worked with Deutsch as a freelance strategist and consultant on existing clients and new business efforts. Prior to freelancing at Deutsch, Dawson was chief strategy officer at Johannes Leonardo on clients including Google, Mondelez's Trident, adidas Originals, TripAdvisor, and PlayStation Vue. Before that, he was co-founder of the Master & Dynamic brand, makers of headphones sold at Apple Stores and fashion boutiques, leading strategic vision and brand development. Dawson acquired agency side experience in planning roles at R/GA and McCann Erickson, and on an array of clients including Chobani, Victoria's Secret, Johnson & Johnson, Pepsi, E-Trade, Land Rover, Levi's, SC Johnson's, US Army and Walmart. "Anyone who has worked with Andrew, as we have over the years, will tell you his business acumen combined with his creativity makes him a real game changer. He's a thought leader, motivator, and wicked smart," said Val DiFebo, CEO of Deutsch NY. "We're excited to have him joining us in one of the most critical positions within the agency. It's clear that creative business, and business in general, is his passion and it inspires a lifestyle that he truly loves." Dawson reports to DiFebo and replaces Brent Vartan, who left the agency in June, 2015 to start accelerator agency Bullish. In addition to hiring Daeson, Deutsch promoted Shobha Sairam to executive vice president, director of planning, up from executive vice president, group planning director. At Deutsch since 2012, she has been leading strategy on J&J's Acuvue and Green Giant and will now take on a broader role with the department on existing clients and new business opportunities .