Dive Brief:
- Campbell Ewald, an Interpublic-owned 105-year-old ad agency, has named Jo Shoesmith its first female chief creative officer.
- The move comes at a time when the agency industry has been under fire for both sexism and racism, something Campbell Ewald directly experienced after an insensitive email from a creative director hit the internet and eventually led to CEO Jim Palmer losing his job.
- Kevin Wertz, who has served as president of the IPG agency, has been named CEO.
Dive Insight:
"We’re thrilled Jo is taking the lead creative role at Campbell Ewald," Interpublic CEO Michael Roth, told the Wall Street Journal. “We know that she will continue developing the award-winning and innovative work she’s known for—ideas that move the needle on her clients’ business goals.”
According to an EEOC report, Interpublic’s creative departments have 30% women in management positions, but the Shoesmith is significant because she will be heading the entire creative section of the agency. Shoesmith replaced Mark Simon who is retiring after 16 years at Campbell Ewald.
"It’s also fitting Kevin [Wertz] is adding the CEO title. He’s a leader who understands and lives up to our values and culture of accountability," Roth said.
A separate lawsuit charging then-CEO of WPP’s J. Walter Thompson agency, Gustavo Martinez, of racist and sexist behavior led to his ouster. It also sparked a clash of words between WPP’s CEO Martin Sorrell and Publicis Groupe CEO Maurice Levy at the American Association of Advertising Agencies' (4A's) annual conference in March.
As the advertising industry wrestles with its very real diversity issues, it's clear that more shake ups like the ones at Campbell Ewald and JWT are all but certain.