• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, March 13, 2018

VML has announced five new hires and one high-level promotion within its brand strategy and data department.   

The agency announced the moves just a day after word that it is one of the WPP agencies that will help service the newly-won Office Depot account. 

“Great strategy thrives on the richness and diversity of talent and perspective,” said Amy Winger, chief strategy officer. “That’s what I love about all of these people. Our ensemble has never been stronger.” 

Nick Yecke has been promoted to group director, integrated strategy. Yecke will lead the work for Bayer Animal Health. He will report to Frank Jurden. 

Chase Cornett has been hired as a group planning director. Cornett relocated from Chicago where he worked as the svp, strategic planning director, at FCB Global, with prior experience at PlanG Holdings. Cornett’s primary responsibility will be leading work on multiple PepsiCo brands. He will report to Ian Davidson, managing director, strategy and insights. 

Adrian Adshade has joined VML as a group planning director. Adshade comes from TBWA\Asia Pacific where he led the strategy team for TBWA’s digital transformation specialist agency, Digital Arts Network (DAN) Singapore. He’ll report to Davidson. 

Todd Harris has been hired as a group planning director. Harris will lead VML strategic partnerships and innovation initiatives, particularly custom integrations with platforms, startups, and emerging technologies, on behalf of Gatorade and other VML clients.His most recent role was executive vice president of strategic partnerships at the SaaS company, SquareOffs. He will report to Davidson. 

Carrie Patterson Reed joins VML as group director, research. Patterson Reed’s new role will aid the planning, experience design and channel teams in understanding consumer insights and translating those insights into strategies in the creative development process. She brings 15 years of experience working in brand development, strategy and insights research.She will report to Paul Hauser, managing director, strategy and insights. 

Jerod Overley arrives at VML in the role of group director, data technology. Overley will oversee the agency’s data sciences group, which is based out of VML Kansas City. He has more than 20 years of experience and previously led the analytics and insights group at Boehringer Ingelheim. Overley will report to Eric Beane, managing director, strategy and insights.