• by Larissa Faw , July 13, 2016

Y&R New York is rounding out its leadership team with three newly created senior level creative and digital positions that expand the agency's creative capabilities. Ryan Blum is departing from Publicis Seattle to serve as executive creative director. Blum will lead the Navy Partnership and help launch Y&R’s Memphis office.

Catherine Patterson joins as director of interactive and activation to "help incubate, define and execute innovative campaign programs and platforms for our clients," said the agency. Patterson was most recently at McCann NY, where she created the agency’s interactive and experiential unit and led the Nature Valley account. This role also reunites her with Leslie Sims, CCO, Y&R New York whom she worked with at McCann. 

Lastly, Eric Ackley joins as digital experience director to "design and curate user-centric experiences that engage and delight while solving business needs." Ackley joins from sister agency Geometry Global, where he worked on projects such as the Great Ritz Holiday Parade, a digital parade for Ritz Crackers; and with brands such as Pepperidge Farm Goldfish, Dos Equis, American Express, Nikon, Volvo and Charles Schwab.

Patterson and Ackley will work closely together to concept, create and execute fully integrated digital and experimental campaigns that draw from media channels, across all clients, said the agency.

All three report to Sims. “These hires will help us to be led more by creative and digital, to move into areas like user experience and experiential,” said Sims.