Chicago-based full-service agency Schafer Condon Carter has tapped its top media executive—Jack Hennessy—to oversee agency-wide operations, promoting him to the new position of chief operating and media officer. 

In his new role he’ll continue to lead the media practice while shaping operations agency-wide. He will report to Ben Behrman, president and CEO, working closely with the agency’s executive leadership Team. 

The promotion follows a banner year for the agency’s media operations—it added more than a dozen new clients and assignments during that time, including commercial-grade lawn mower manufacturer Ferris Mowers, charter school management company National Heritage Academies and eco-friendly apparel brand Toad & Company.  

A number of those assignments expanded to include creative accounts, the agency said, citing oral healthcare brand GUM as an example.  

Forty percent of SCC clients now use the agency's media services. As a result, media contributes about a third of the agency's revenues, and the department is handling about $50 million in managed media.   

“Since joining SCC six years ago, Jack has played a significant role in shaping the trajectory of our agency,” said Behrman. “He stepped in to lead our media team with a clear vision for how the offering needed to evolve. Since then, he has modernized our media capabilities and grown the business into roughly a third of our overall agency revenue.”  

Behrman added that over the past year Hennessey has expanded into broader operational leadership that includes helping to evolve department-level financial reporting and creating an agency-wide talent planning tool that provides greater clarity on capacity, budget, and hiring decisions.   

Prior to joining SCC Hennessy was a digital strategy lead at WPP’s Wunderman Thompson, running the agency’s P&G business. Earlier he served at Edelman and Digitas.   

Hennessy said that going forward, “My focus will be on continuing to elevate our capabilities, investing in talent, and ensuring we stay ahead of how media can drive measurable growth for our clients."