Publicis Sapient Adds Creative Lead

• by Larissa Faw , January 23, 2020

Publicis Sapient is continuing to add talent under the leadership of Chief Experience Officer John Maeda by appointing Ian Wharton as executive creative director, based in London.

Wharton’s newly created position will see him working for the international Sapient as well as for the Groupe’s UK operations. Under his wide-ranging role, his duties will include helping to shape and integrate Publicis Sapient’s capabilities to best assist clients in their digital transformation efforts as well as work closely with Ben Mooge, who took the role of CCO Publicis Groupe UK, in June 2019.

Wharton previously spent six years at WPP’s AKQA where he served as part of the global creative leadership team. His credentials also include being one of four founding partners of technology start-up Zolmo and leading the creative for Apple Design Award.

“Ian Wharton represents the new ‘digitally native’ generation of senior leaders with a history of bringing a necessary spark to some of the world’s most interesting businesses,” says Maeda.

Wharton is just the latest member of Maeda’s team who are tasked with helping him redefine and develop “customer-centric experiences.”

Earlier this month, the team added two other members, Karin Giefer as senior vice president experience while Quinnton Harris was named group creative director, experience and Maeda’s Chief of Staff.