McCann Enhances Global Agency Network With Chief Technology Catalysts

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Jan 10, 2012, 07:24 ET

NEW YORK, Jan. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- McCann, the global advertising agency network, has created a new team discipline, Chief Technology Catalyst (CTC). The CTC will be responsible for driving technology innovation, including new models and partnerships, internally and externally in each of the company's four operating regions, announced today at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show. While this type of role is typical on the client side, it is very new to the agency side, and even newer to a global agency network.

Four highly regarded industry executives have been named to the Chief Technology Catalyst (CTC) team. For North America: Lori H. Schwartz, a founder of the Interpublic Emerging Media Lab; for Asia Pacific, Gregory Armshaw, from Regional Technology Director; for Europe: Mark Jackson, from UK Digital Client Services Director; for Latin America: Glauco Yasuda, from Regional CIO.

The CTCs are focused on three main areas with technology as the core thread: Clients, Partnerships and Innovation. They will work with the top creative and strategic executives at McCann ensure understanding of new and evolving technology, and emerging business models surrounding content, distribution, licensing and data.

This new discipline is aimed at accelerating McCann's ability to identify solutions and opportunities and connect these solutions to its clients and their needs.

McCann sees this team as critical to the future enhancement and evolution of the rapidly changing agency network model.

Said Schwartz: "We are challenging our world to evolve. In addition to working with the talent we already know, I want everyone out there to call me and say, I have an idea, I want to work with you...I want to be part of what you're building."

Said Yasuda: "Latin America has always had a massive amount of energy and creativity and I fully expect to see our ideas and inventions become global showcases and new standards in business models."

Added Armshaw: "As well as forging ahead with new business models for McCann, we will be giving our employees new outlets for their inventions, recognizing the entrepreneur residing in all our people."

Said Jackson: "If we want to be thought leaders in innovation, investment in technology alone will not give us the edge. The key will be in incubating inspiring ideas that can then shape how that technology can be applied, which in turn will form the future in which we aspire to live."

SOURCE McCann Worldgroup