The Martin Agency is strengthening its creative bench following Danny Robinson’s elevation to Chief Creative Officer in mid-August.  Ashley Marshall, a former Wieden+Kennedy CD, is appointed executive creative director, marking the agency’s first major announcement since announcing seven new business wins and 45 open positions on its social channels a few months ago. In addition, Alberto Orte, previously at 72&Sunny, is relocating from Spain to Virginia to serve as Creative Director working on Buffalo Wild Wings account. And Creative Director Allison Rude is joining Martin’s CarMax team after stints with MullenLowe and Modernista. “Picking the right creative …

Media and marketing advisory firm MediaLink, part of Ascential, has hired Dentsu veteran Reshma Karnik as vice president, data and technology solutions (dts). Based in Chicago, she will report directly to managing director Mark Wagman, who leads the DTS specialty. In the role, Karnik will work with the DTS team of strategists and architects to assess, recommend, and implement plans for software, hardware, and partnerships on both the buy and the sell-side. Karnik brings 15 years of business development, ad tech and analytics expertise to her new job, much of that experience stemming from an eight-year tenure at Dentsu, where …

Engine is naming Jennifer Jones media director to lead media strategy and execution with internal teams, media partners, and clients including Jägermeister, National Veterinary Associates, and American Public Education. She is based in Utah. She previously worked as Noble People and earlier in her career led media for Goldman Sachs and Armani Exchange while at Media Kitchen.

Marketing  services company Stadiumred Group has appointed Jeff Stelmach group president. Stelmach will report to Founder and Group CEO Claude Zdanow and will oversee agency finance and planning, operations and performance, new business and client relationships, and talent functions. Previously he was president of Chicago-area experiential marketing firm Opus, which he left in April. Earlier he was president of Mosaic, also in the Chicago area and before that executive vice president/experiential marketing at WPP’s Geometry Global. Stadiumred owns specialist agencies offering experiential, branding, video production, digital marketing, and influencer marketing services. It has offices in New York, …

The Many is expanding its media services team with the appointment of Vanessa Shanahan as group director, analytics to lead the data science and measurement solutions within the agency’s media group.  Prior to joining The Many she served as VP of Analytics & Insight at Wunderman Thompson, leading the Social Analytics practice unit across North America, and VP Analytics & Strategy at social agency Smarty.  

MediaMonks is hiring a team of former Omnicom fashion and luxury specialists departing the holding company’s Wednesday Agency shop. Ex-group business director Liam Osborne joins MediaMonks to lead its efforts in fashion and luxury digital marketing for brands. Others departing Wednesday Agency to join Osborne’s team include executive creative director Alix Pennycuick, head of experience design Ben Lunt and head of strategy Duncan Gowers.

New York-based PR, digital marketing and social media agency Lippe Taylor has appointed Stephanie Smirnov as the agency’s Chief Engagement Officer.  Smirnov joins from Scholastic, where she served as executive vice president and head of global corporate communications. Reporting both to the CEO and CSO, she oversaw earned and social media, CEO communications, corporate marketing, crisis management, internal communications, events and partnerships. 

Angela Barber has been appointed senior vice president/ content production North America, Wunderman Thompson.  Barber has worked in content production for agencies such as Deutsch, 72andSunny, 180LA, BBDO, R/GA, and others. She has also served as executive creative producer for brands like Beats by dr. dre/Apple, Twitter, Mattel, and Snap, Inc.    

WPP’s Wunderman Thompson, has appointed Ezinne (Kwubiri) Okoro to the newly created role of Global Chief Inclusion, Equity and Diversity Officer. Ezinne joins the network this month, based in New York, and will report to Wunderman Thompson Global CEO, Mel Edwards.  As part of the Wunderman Thompson global executive leadership team, Ezinne will be responsible for creating a comprehensive diversity, equity and inclusion strategy for the agency network. She will work on overall business and culture transformation, communication strategy to create a more diverse and equitable environment. She will also work closely with parent WPP’s global inclusion, equity and diversity leaders to contribute to the group’s strategy, policies …

Austin, TX-based full-service agency GSD&M, part of Omnicom, has appointed Dave Kersey executive media director. Kersey will be responsible for growing and evolving the agency’s media offering. He brings more than 20 years of industry experience, previously serving as Carat’s senior vice president/ group director.  During his tenure there he oversaw major accounts including Disney and Intel. Earlier Kersey held senior leadership roles with OMD and Horizon Media, where he led strategy and innovation for clients in a number of categories. Kersey will be relocating from Los Angeles to Austin.