Stagwell's Code and Theory Expands Leadership Team

 

Stagwell’s digital transformation specialist Code and Theory is expanding its leadership team with hires for two newly created posts. 

Veteran editor and communications executive Kenneth Hein has been appointed Chief Communications Officer while Nike veteran Stacy Tarver Patterson has been named Head of Brand Strategy.  

advertisement

advertisement

The moves come as Code and Theory is rapidly boosting its network and expanding its client growth capabilities. The agency, one of the fastest growing networks in the group, includes nearly 2,000 people, half comprised of engineers and half creative talent. 

Earlier this year Stagwell folded digital product and design agency YML into the Code and Theory operation as CMOs increasing consider technology’s impact on marketing. Hein, who is the first Chief Communications Officer in Code and Theory’s 22-year history, has served as both an agency communications executive as well as editor at some of the industry’s top publications. Most recently, he served as U.S. editor for The Drum.  

Previously he was US Chief Communications Officer at Dentsu. He was promoted into the role after Dentsu acquired the B2B creative agency gyro where he served as Global Chief Communications Officer. Hein also held leadership roles at J. Walter Thompson and Brandweek.   

Tarver Patterson is a 13-year Nike vet who has served in a variety of key digital leadership roles. Patterson’s career began at Bear Stearns' Financial Analytics and Structured Transactions Group where she built automated tracking and analytics tools. She left to make a more grassroots impact, leading her to nonprofit fundraising and marketing for the YMCA. She then headed for Nike working across brand strategy, planning and marketing, including leading the marketing teams for Nike Beijing and Greater China Digital Commerce, two of Nike's largest growth areas. She is currently CMO in Residence at the Columbia Start Up Lab and had served as managing director at West Ventures as well as co-founder and CMO of COR, a lifestyle science digital tech startup. 

The hires follow Code and Theory’s new AI partnership with Oracle, designed to unlock AI-powered innovation at scale for the agency’s clients, initially targeting the financial, automotive, hospitality, and retail industries.   

Co-founder and executive chairman Dan Gardner says: “Code and Theory is ... driven to prepare our clients for change by helping them navigate complex and interconnected ecosystems. From a talent standpoint, Ken brings a serious background of communications and marketing expertise. He will put a bright spotlight on who we are today. Stacy's background as a strategist has the right mix of global, startup and academic experience that our clients are looking for in solving their problems through creativity and technology. We’ve got a lot of firepower with more to come.” 

 

 

 

 

 

Next story loading loading..