Long-time Hill Holliday CEO Karen Kaplan is stepping down after a 41-year career with the IPG agency, which is based in Boston. 

Kaplan has been CEO for 10 years. The agency said that current president Chris Allrapp will assume Kaplan’s leadership role. Kaplan is staying on through the end of the year as Chair Emerita to assist with the transition. 

“Karen has been a champion of the Hill Holliday legacy, preserving the personality, expertise and culture that have defined the agency for its 55-year year history, while embracing change in the face of a constantly evolving business landscape,” stated IPG CEO Philippe Krakowsky.  

In 2013, noted Krakowsky, Kaplan was one of a very small number of women CEOs in Adland. “Today, over 60% of IPG’s revenue is overseen by women CEOs. Karen is a true trailblazer who showed all of us the path forward, for which we are all grateful.”   

Kaplan has spent her entire career at the agency.  

Throughout her career, Kaplan has paved the way for the next generation of women in advertising, who today represent over half of the agency’s senior leadership and 65% of all employees.  

She’s worked to open doors for women and underrepresented talent, partnering with organizations like Dear Black Talent and 600 & Rising. She has served on the boards of organizations like Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Ron Burton Training Village and The Ad Council.  

“This moment is bittersweet,” said Kaplan. “When my predecessor, Mike Sheehan, became CEO he said he’d serve for 10 years. He believed that was long enough to accomplish everything he wanted to do and prepare the agency for a future under new leadership, and I have to agree with him. It’s been quite the ride and I wouldn’t trade a single day of it, but the time has come for me to hand the reins over to Chris to write the next chapter.” 

Wallrapp has been at Hill Holliday for 13 years, joining as Chief Growth Officer before being promoted to President. During his tenure, he’s been instrumental in driving the agency’s growth and securing marquee client wins like BMW Motorrad and Frontier Communications. Previously, he served as CMO at Modernista!, where he led marketing strategies for brands like Cadillac, (RED) and TIAA-CREF. 

“These are big shoes to fill and I don’t take that lightly,” said Wallrapp. “Karen has been a great mentor, boss, friend and confidant and, as we look ahead, I believe there’s no better tribute to her than to live by her example. Being the kind of hungry, humble human that sees opportunity everywhere, works hard and smart with the kind of determination it took for Karen to start at the reception desk and earn her way to the corner office.”