WPP’s AKQA has unveiled a new leadership team for the Americas including the appointment of Tesa Aragones as regional CEO.  

The announcement coincides with a global restructuring of the agency that followed the departure of agency co-founder and global CEO Ajaz Ahmed last fall. The new structure unifies operations and services, with a simpler, three-region P&L model (The Americas, Europe Middle East, and Asia Pacific) rather than a separate P&L for each office (or studio in AKQA parlance).  

Aragones was formerly President of North America.   

Jabari Hearn, previously Managing Partner, steps into the role of Chief Marketing and Growth Officer, and Giles McCormack, a 16-year veteran of AKQA and former Managing Partner, has been appointed as Chief Client Officer.    

Shu Hung and Diego Machado, Global Chief Creative Officers and members of AKQA's Global Leadership Team, will continue in their roles. Machado will also focus on integrating AKQA Casa within the Americas. Casa was founded a decade ago in Sao Paulo as a unit where clients, agency teams and others can collaborate on projects.    

Andrew Missingham, previously Executive Director of Consumer Insights, has been named Chief Data Insights Office. Katje Chiller, formerly Head of People, becomes Chief People Officer.  

Supporting the Americas leadership team will be Jon Eggar, AKQA's Chief Financial Officer, and Haley Hammerling, AKQA's Global Head of Communications. Additionally, the Americas Leadership team will be supported by an incoming Global Chief Strategy Officer and Global Chief Technology Officer, both set to be appointed this quarter.  

The search also continues for a new Global CEO.