McCann New York Removes Chief Creative Officer and Head of Progression Positions
McCann New York is shaking things up, ditching top creative and growth positions as part of a restructure. This move places decision-making and creative leadership closer to the action, overseen by regional North America execs. The changes aim to simplify the internal structure, reducing layers of leadership and emphasizing roles that are directly involved in creating client work rather than those in broader executive positions.
Longtime Chief Creative Officer, Shayne Millington, and Head of Growth, Suresh Raj, are departing, and their roles won't be replaced individually. Instead, Britt Nolan, who hails from Leo Burnett, will now oversee creative operations for North America, including New York and Detroit offices. Nolan has taken a position on the agency's executive leadership team, working alongside exec creative directors Leo Barbosa, Cuanan Cronwright, and Lance Parrish.
The departure of Millington and Raj reflects this shift towards regional oversight and integrated leadership, rather than separate top-level roles in the New York office. This move aligns with broader business challenges that McCann is facing, including staff reductions and leadership exits within McCann Worldgroup, its parent agency network.
Over the past few years, McCann has been quietly trimming staff in non-revenue-generating roles and focusing on centralizing corporate functions. This effort emphasizes investing in service platforms such as production and analytics, focusing on greater consolidation into "centers of excellence" to streamline operations and enhance service delivery.
This internal shake-up is closely tied to the broader industry and business context of a proposed merger between Interpublic Group (IPG) and Omnicom. While IPG states that the current workforce reductions and restructuring are separate from the merger transaction, the long-term goal is to identify cost savings and operational efficiencies that will benefit the combined company post-merger. By making these moves now, the agency is streamlining itself to integrate more smoothly with Omnicom, which is expected to create a more competitive, efficient, and digitally sophisticated communications powerhouse.
In essence, this restructure is a strategic response to economic pressures, industry consolidation trends, and evolving client needs, all aimed at maintaining McCann's creative output while adapting to a more streamlined, business-agile environment. So, here's to the next chapter at McCann, with Britt on the creative helm and Michelle Tang leading the New York growth team!
- The departure of Suresh Raj, previously Head of Growth at McCann New York, is indicative of the agency's shift towards regional oversight and integrated leadership, like Shayne Millington, Longtime Chief Creative Officer, who is also departing.
- Britt Nolan, now overseeing creative operations for North America, will be returning to McCann from Leo Burnett, and she will be joining the agency's executive leadership team, working alongside Leo Barbosa, Cuanan Cronwright, and Lance Parrish.
- The upcoming business year, 2024, could witness a significant shift in McCann's growth strategy, as Michelle Tang will be leading the New York growth team.
- The proposed merger between Interpublic Group (IPG) and Omnicom presents an opportunity for McCann to integrate more smoothly with Omnicom, aiming to create a more competitive, efficient, and digitally sophisticated communications powerhouse.
- The restructure at McCann is a strategic response to economic pressures, industry consolidation trends, and evolving client needs, aiming to maintain McCann's creative output while adapting to a more streamlined, business-agile environment.
