• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, June 13, 2017

Effie Worldwide has appointed Traci Alford President and CEO. The group is best known for presenting the marketing effectiveness awards, The Effies. She will officially join the organization at its New York headquarters and will report to the Effie Worldwide Board of Directors. 

Alford succeeds Neal Davies, who indicated he would be stepping down earlier this year. He is returning to his native UK and was recently appointed chief executive at Irish International BBDO.    

Alford has spent her career in marketing around the world, from her native Australia to the US, France, UK and, most recently, Singapore as the VP External Relations, Asia Pacific at Shell International.  

Prior to joining Shell in 2013, she spent 13 years at Cadbury Schweppes in a variety of marketing and business roles, lastly as Global Business Development Director for the company.  

In the early 1990s, she spent three years at Walmart in a senior national sales role for Dr. Pepper and 7Up.  

“Traci has an impressive global marketing track record and will bring a strong client-side perspective to her role and the organization,” stated Daryl Lee, Global CEO, Universal McCann and Chairman of the Effie Worldwide Board of Directors. “She’s inheriting a powerful brand and a dedicated team.” 

As president/CEO, Alford will oversee Effie Worldwide’s 48 Effie Awards programs and strategic partnerships and will develop and evolve the nonprofit’s education initiatives, including the Effie Index, and a voluminous case study database. 

MediaLink handled the search for Davies’ successor at Effie Worldwide.