Rick Hirst Named CEO of mcgarrybowen London

LONDON, Oct. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- mcgarrybowen, a Dentsu Aegis Network agency, today announced that Rick Hirst will be joining as CEO of the company's London office next month. Reporting to the agency's International CEO, Tim Scott, Hirst will partner with mcgarrybowen London's leadership team to grow existing client relationships and further fuel new business.

Rick, a former Campaign "Face to Watch," joins from The Engine Group, one of the UK's largest and independent communications companies. There, Rick serves as a Client Managing Director leading a cross media team on the agency's BMW account. Concurrently, Mr. Hirst is also a Managing Partner at WCRS, the advertising agency owned by The Engine Group, where he leads a number of accounts, including Warburtons, Global Radio, and Safestore.

Gordon Bowen, mcgarrybowen's Global Chairman and Chief Creative Officer, said he admired Rick's innovative leadership on brands. "Storytelling continues to evolve quickly and furiously in today's digital age. And yet, Rick has consistently demonstrated his ability to help brands stay on the cutting edge of that conversation while finding new ways to engage with consumers," he said. "Rick's strong track record of setting industry 'firsts' while pushing the boundaries on innovation will be vital to the leadership of mcgarrybowen London and the clients that we serve."

At The Engine Group, some of Hirst's "firsts" include the world's first 3-D cinema ad for UK charity Women's Aid and an innovative, 360-degree, interactive mobile film for the launch of the BMW i3.

Hirst said he was attracted to mcgarrybowen's growing presence in the London ad market. The agency's recent wins include brands such as Honda's CR-V, Mondelez International's Tassimo and Toblerone brands, and Branston Pickle, within the last year.

"mcgarrybowen has a unique success formula and proven track record. Their focus is on creating lasting client relationships by delivering 'work that works.' Combine that with the agency's creative culture and desire for innovation with a really committed team and you have great potential," Hirst said. "I see mcgarrybowen as a growing, global force in the advertising world, and am honored to help lead us in London."

Prior to The Engine Group, Rick was a business director at BBH, London, where he ran the agency's Unilever Lynx global account and led its successful pitch for the brand's European digital business. Before that, he worked at Fallon, where he oversaw the agency's launch of Sony's memorable, "Like No Other" campaign.

Rick and his wife, Julie, are the proud parents of three. In his spare time, he enjoys cycling, cooking and football–but not all at the same time.

About mcgarrybowen

mcgarrybowen is a global, full-service, integrated marketing communications agency network headquartered in New York, with offices in Chicago, London, Düsseldorf and Shanghai. The Agency was founded in 2002 on a simple request to clients: "give us your biggest challenge." Over the decade since, mcgarrybowen has grown to become one of the most successful agency start-ups ever, earning "Agency of the Year" honors from Advertising Age in 2009 and again from both Ad Age and Adweek in 2011. Famous for big, organizing ideas and "work that works," mcgarrybowen counts some of the world's most iconic companies as its clients, including Disney, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Verizon, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Kraft, Mondelez International, Marriott, Pizza Hut, Chevron, Crayola, Procter & Gamble, Sears and United Airlines. www.mcgarrybowen.com l facebook.com/mcgarrybowen l twitter.com/mcgarrybowen

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