• by Fern Siegel , March 15, 2023

VMLY&R Commerce, part of WPP, has strengthened its global and U.S. management teams.

Beth Ann Kaminkow, VMLY&R Global CEO, said the agency begins 2023 “with a commitment to leading the industry in the delivery of data and tech-enabled creative commerce across a new customer commerce journey. Commerce has moved from evolution to revolution. In the future, there will be no distance between brand love and brand buy.” 

The new staffers cover leadership posts in tech, innovation and creative. They are:

*Ivan Mayes – Global Chief Technology Officer. The promotion sees Mayes expand the Connected Commerce Platform to optimize value across key clients, while integrating mixed reality and AI.

*Charlie Wade – Global Executive Director, Growth and Innovation. Wade will expand co:lab (Commerce Laboratory) that enables growth through emergey tech, such as Web 3 and gaming. He launched co: lab in 2021. He is also a core contributor to the WPP Open X North America Operating Unit, focused on delivering creative commerce across entertainment, partnerships and sports.

 *Joe Grigsby – Global VMLY&R Commerce lead on the Coca-Cola Co. account. Coca-Cola is the fast-growing global account for WPP Open X. In this capacity, he will work across market and creative departments.  

*Aisha Krupski – Global Commercial Lead. Krupski is charged with standardizing the agency’s core IP and tech to drive client growth and well as business strategies.

*Logal Allanson – Global ECD/Casey Diehl – SVP Group Creative Director. The duo will bring a combined 30 years of creative experience here and abroad to the agency to enhance brand creative excellence.  

*Chance Chapman, EVP, Innovation. Chapman will accelerate brand growth for the agency’s North America roster. In this new role, Chapman will align commercial strategies, distinct IP and new business models.